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Do I Qualify?

DO I QUALIFY

Here are the ways you can qualify for *Lifeline:

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Based on Your Income

You can get Lifeline if your income is 135% or less than the federal poverty guidelines. The guideline is based on your household size and state.

Show proof of income, like three consecutive pay stubs or a tax return, when you apply for Lifeline.

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If You Use SNAP, Medicaid, or Other Programs

 

Federal Assistance Programs

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You can get Lifeline if you (or someone in your (household) participates in one of these federal assistance programs:

  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps

  • Medicaid

  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

  • Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)

  • Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit

  • Tribal Programs (and live on federally-recognized Tribal lands)

Show a card, letter, or official document, as proof that you participate in one of these programs when you apply for Lifeline.

 

Qualify Through Your Child or Dependent

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You can sign up for Lifeline if your child or dependent participates in any of the programs listed above.

 

Tribal Lifeline

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Tribal Lifeline takes up to an extra $25 off your monthly bill, for a total Lifeline discount of up to $34.25 per month.

You can get Tribal Lifeline if you live on Tribal lands. Tribal lands include any federally recognized Indian tribe’s reservation, Pueblo, or colony, including former reservations in Oklahoma, Alaska Native regions, Hawaiian Home Lands, or Indian Allotments.

If you live on Tribal lands, you can qualify for Lifeline if you or someone in your household participates in:

  • Any of the federal assistance programs listed above

  • Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance

  • Head Start (only households meeting the income qualifying standard)

  • Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tribal TANF)

  • Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations

Show a card, letter, or another document as proof that you participate in one of these programs when you apply for Lifeline, and tell them you’re applying for Tribal Lifeline.

 

Limit: One per Household

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You are only allowed to get one Lifeline discount (phone or internet, but not both) per household, not per person.

If someone at your address already gets Lifeline, your company will use a Household Worksheet to see if more than one household lives at your address.

 

Ready to Apply?

If you think you qualify for Lifeline, visit the How to Get Lifeline page to learn your next steps.

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INCOME REQUIREMENT
READY TO APPLY

How to Prove Income

 

Here is what to show your company when you sign up for Lifeline.

If your gross annual income is 135% or less than the federal poverty guidelines, you qualify for Lifeline.

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To prove your gross annual income, show one of these items:

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  • The prior year’s state, federal, or Tribal tax return

  • Current income statement from an employer or paycheck stub

  • Social Security statement of benefits

  • Unemployment or Workers’ Compensation statement of benefits

  • Federal or Tribal notice letter of participation in General Assistance

  • Divorce decree, child support award, or other official document containing income information

 

NOTICE: If the document doesn’t cover a full year, such as a pay stub, you must show the same document for three months in a row within the same year to prove your gross annual income.

PROOF OF INCOME

What is a Household?

 

Only one Lifeline discount is allowed per "independent economic household" (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 live together and don’t share money, you are 2+ households.

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Examples of Households

 

Examples of one household:

  • A married couple who live together are one household. They must share one Lifeline discount.

  • A parent/guardian and child who live together are one household. They must share one Lifeline discount.

  • An adult who lives with friends or family who financially support him/her are one household. They must share one Lifeline discount.

 

Examples of 2+ households:

  • 4 roommates who live together but do not share money are 4 households. They can have one Lifeline discount each, 4 total.

  • 30 seniors who live in an assisted-living home are 30 households. They can have one Lifeline discount each, 30 total.

 

Note: These are general examples only. If you are unsure about your number of households, ask your company for a Household Worksheet.

 

Someone in My Home Already Gets Lifeline

 

If you live with another adult who gets Lifeline and you want your own, ask your company for a Household Worksheet.

 

The worksheet asks about your relationship with the other adult(s) to count the number of households. After you complete the worksheet, your company will re-submit your application.

Your application will be approved if the worksheet shows there is more than one household at your address.

HOUSEHOLD QUALIFICATION

*BunJul agrees the follow the same Life Line program rules and qualifications.  The information provided will help guide all who are in need to get assistances direct with BunJul or from qualified service providers. 

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