Does SNAP qualify you for Lifeline?
Yes. If you or someone in your household has SNAP, that participation can qualify the household for the federal Lifeline discount on phone or internet service. Having SNAP does not enroll you by itself.
Last updated October 29, 2026. BenefitBoost is not a government agency and is not affiliated with USDA or SNAP.
What the FCC counts
The Federal Communications Commission lists the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as a program that can show a household qualifies for Lifeline. Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Federal Public Housing Assistance, and Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit are on that list too. Income at or below 135 percent of the federal poverty guidelines is a separate way to qualify.
The FCC says Lifeline offers a discount of up to $9.25 a month on phone, internet, or bundled service, and up to $34.25 a month for consumers who live on qualifying Tribal lands. Not every phone or internet company participates, and the company you pick has to offer Lifeline where you live.
One benefit for the household
Lifeline is limited to one benefit per household. People who live together and share income and expenses count as one household even if they are not related. If someone at the address already has Lifeline, a second person generally cannot get another discount. The company and the Lifeline administrator check this.
BenefitBoost does not submit the application. You apply through a participating company or through the National Verifier at LifelineSupport.org. Bring proof of SNAP if they ask for it. Do not send an EBT card number or PIN to BenefitBoost.
What you get
In most states, Lifeline is free monthly service: a discount, a set of minutes, or a data allowance. You usually bring your own phone or use a SIM. Plan details depend on the company and the state.
California runs California LifeLine in addition to the federal rules. Read the Lifeline page on this site for that difference, and confirm the offer with the California program and the company.
The Affordable Connectivity Program is closed
The Affordable Connectivity Program, which was a larger internet discount, stopped accepting new applications on February 7, 2024. The FCC says the last fully funded month was April 2024, and USAC says the program ended on June 1, 2024, because Congress did not add funds. Do not pay a website that says it can still enroll you in ACP. Lifeline is the federal program that is still open.
Sources
- FCC: Lifeline program for low-income consumers
- Lifeline Support: do I qualify?
- FCC: Affordable Connectivity Program consumer FAQ
- USAC: Affordable Connectivity Program has ended
This page is an explanation, not an application and not a decision. Rules and prices change. Read the official source before you act.
BenefitBoost never asks for an EBT card number, PIN, or Social Security number.
Related on this site
Questions
If I have SNAP, am I approved for Lifeline?
SNAP can make a household eligible, but the phone company and the Lifeline program still have to confirm it. BenefitBoost cannot approve the benefit.
Does everyone in my home get a separate Lifeline discount?
No. The FCC program is one Lifeline benefit per household.
Is Lifeline the same as the Affordable Connectivity Program?
No. ACP ended on June 1, 2024. Lifeline is a separate, smaller discount that is still available to qualifying households, including many SNAP households.