The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a U.S. government program that helps low income households pay for broadband service and internet connected devices. The program provides up to a $30 per month discount on internet service and an additional one-time device discount of up to $100 for purchase of a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer. A copayment of more than $10 is required, but less than $50 when purchasing the device.

There is a national verification portal you can use to determine your eligibility, and if so, print out a document to use for verification with your local internet provider.

Do I Qualify?

You qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program if your household’s income is below 200% of the Federal Poverty Line, or if you or someone you live with currently receives a government benefit like SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, WIC, a Pell Grant, or Free or Reduced-Price School Lunches.

To Qualify Based on Your Income your household income must be below 200% of the Federal Poverty Line. For a family of two, that is $36,620 per year. For a family of three, that is $46,060 per year. And for a family of four, that is $55,500 per year. To determine eligibility for larger families, add $9,440 more per year for each additional person in the household.

To qualify based on your participation in another government program you will need to show documentation proving your current participation.

The full list of Government Assistance Programs that make a household eligible for the ACP benefit include:
-Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps;
-Medicaid;
-Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC);
-Supplemental Security Income (SSI);
-Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA);
-Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit;
-Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program or Breakfast Programs; and/or
-a Federal Pell Grant in the current award year of award.

You Are Also Eligible If You Already Receive a Lifeline Benefit. Lifeline is an older FCC program to help make communications services more affordable for low-income consumers. If you currently receive a Lifeline benefit, you automatically qualify for the ACP, and you can receive both benefits at the same time. You can apply the ACP benefit and the Lifeline benefit to the same or separate service providers. If you already receive Lifeline Benefits, you can use the same username and password created for the Lifeline National Verifier portal to apply for the Affordable Connectivity Program.

You May Also Qualify Through Your Child or Dependent. Any member of your household can make your household eligible if they participate in one of the programs previously mentioned. For example, if your child or dependent participates in the Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program, your household qualifies for the ACP benefit.

Only one monthly service discount and one connected device discount is allowed per household. A household is a group of people who live together and share money even if they are not related to each other. If you live together and share money, you are one household. If you either don’t live together or you don’t share money, you are two or more households, even if you share the same address. The FCC provides a worksheet that helps you discern how many ACP benefits are allowable at your address. This worksheet is available in both English and Spanish, and is helpful as you will need to answer questions about your household when you apply.

To receive the connected device discount, consumers need to enroll in the ACP with a participating provider that offers connected devices (Note: not all internet company offer device discounts.) The internet company will provide the discount to the consumer. Online application forms can be found for local providers including Verizon, AltaFiber, Spectrum, and many others. The FCC provides an online portal that helps you find companies nearby that offer Lifeline and ACP services and print a report of their contact information.

For more information visit: AffordableConnectivity.gov.  There you will find information on how to apply and/or transfer your ACP Benefit to a new company.

You can find more resources related to financial assistance by selecting the “Financial Resources” option from the dropdown tab on our Social Service “Utilization Library” page.