How Can I Get Internet for Free With Low Income

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In today'southward ever-connected earth, having access to the internet is quickly evolving from a luxury to a necessity. Everything from paying your bills to applying for a job to scheduling a doctor'south engagement is primarily done online. Only with cyberspace prices averaging most $60 a calendar month, according to Bruce Leichtman, president and chief analyst of the Leichtman Inquiry Group, information technology tin be difficult to notice low-income internet options that fit your upkeep.

Our guide to low-income internet options can help y'all identify government assistance, equally well as income-based and provider-specific programs that offer affordable cyberspace for families, students and seniors on a stock-still income.

Government-funded broadband assistance

Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)

Beginning in Jan 2022, qualifying low-income households tin sign up for the Affordable Connectivity Programme, a $14 billion program that subsidizes the cost of internet service.

Eligible low-income households will receive $30/mo. off their internet bill and those living on tribal lands volition receive $75/mo. off their internet bill. All qualifying participants can also receive a $100 disbelieve on a figurer or tablet.

Do I qualify for ACP assistance?

Households tin qualify for the programme in a range of ways, including:

If you or your kid or dependent participate in certain authorities assistance programs such every bit SNAP, Medicaid, WIC or other programs
If you lot or your child or dependent already receives a Lifeline benefitYou are a Pell grant recipient
If your income is 200% or less than the Federal Poverty Guidelines

Lifeline

Lifeline provides a discount of $nine.25 per month for either your phone or internet bill (only not both) and is limited to 1 discount per household.

COVID-19 update on Lifeline services

In response to the coronavirus outbreak, the FCC has waived six requirements for the Lifeline program that volition last until December 31, 2021:

Recertification
Reverification
Full general de-enrollment
Subscriber usage
Income documentation
Documentation requirements for subscribers residing in rural areas on Tribal lands

Programs that qualify for Lifeline

If you lot or someone in your household participate in a federal assistance program, you may qualify for Lifeline, the FCC'due south program that helps lower either monthly telephone or net costs.

The post-obit federal assistance programs may qualify you for Lifeline:

Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
Medicaid
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit

Some Tribal assistance programs may also authorize you for Lifeline, including:

Bureau of Indian Affairs General Help
Food Distribution Plan on Indian Reservations
Head Starting time (if income eligibility criteria are met)
Tribally-Administered Temporary Help for Needy Families

How to go Lifeline if you lot authorize through a government assistance program

To take advantage of Lifeline discounts, you first must establish that you qualify through one of the government programs above. Y'all may demand to show proof of qualification, such as presenting a card or award letter from Medicaid or SNAP.

Once you've determined your qualification, you can choose an cyberspace or phone company near you and asking an awarding. You volition need to provide your full legal name, date of nativity, concluding four digits of your Social Security Number (or Tribal identification number) and address on your awarding. Y'all may also be required to show an unexpired ID, a Social Security card, a Medicaid bill of fare, or other documents to prove your identity.

Your selected company will process your application and may require you lot to submit additional forms. If approved, you'll sign up and receive your Lifeline discount toward your nib.

How to get Lifeline if you qualify through income

If y'all exercise not receive assistance from one of the government programs listed above, you may nevertheless authorize for the $ix.25 per month Lifeline discount based on your income. Lifeline provides the monthly phone or internet discount to eligible low-income applicants who take an income at or beneath 135% of the federal poverty guidelines.

Yous'll need to constitute that you qualify by proving your gross annual income. Yous can do so by showing:

Current income land from an employer
Divorce decree, kid support award or other official certificate containing income data
Federal or Tribal notice letter of participation in General Help
Paycheck stub
Land, federal or Tribal tax return from the previous twelvemonth
Social Security statement of benefits
Unemployment or Workers' Bounty state of benefits

If yous authorize, you can employ in the aforementioned way: Choose a company in your area, submit an application and, if approved, sign up for the Lifeline program.

Summary of low-income internet programs by provider

Many cyberspace service providers also offer their ain depression-income assistance programs to provide affordable internet access. In many cases, you may need to run across income requirements or participate in a government aid programme. Additionally, some providers may require that you be a new customer and/or have no outstanding bills with the provider.

Depression-income internet options from top providers:

Altice Advantage Cyberspace – Upwardly to xxx Mbps for $14.99/mo.
Access from AT&T – Upwardly to 10 Mbps for $five/mo. or $x/mo.*
Cox Connect2Compete – Upward to 15 Mbps for $nine.95/mo.*
Mediacom Connect2Compete – Up to x Mbps for $nine.95/mo.*
Spectrum Internet Assist – Upward to thirty Mbps for $14.99/mo.*
Xfinity Net Essentials – Up to 15 Mbps for $ix.95/mo.*

Altice Advantage Internet with Optimum or Suddenlink

Altice is offering a low-income household discount through both Optimum and Suddenlink called Altice Reward Internet. Qualifying families can receive upward to 30 Mbps for $14.99/mo. Plus, the offset 60 days are free. Eligible households include families with a K-12 or college pupil who needs internet admission at dwelling due to COVID-19, seniors eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or veterans receiving public assistance.

Access from AT&T

Access from AT&T offers low-cost internet service to qualifying participants of up to x Mbps with prices ranging from $5-$ten/mo.* As role of the programme, there's no contract, no deposit and no installation fee required, plus an in-habitation Wi-Fi modem and access to more than 30,000 AT&T nationwide hotspots is included.

To authorize, participants must have at to the lowest degree ane resident who participates in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), take an address in AT&T's 21-land expanse where wireline home internet service is provided, and non have outstanding debt for AT&T fixed net service within half-dozen months.

Cox Connect2Compete

For $9.95/mo.*, qualifying participants can receive depression-toll internet upwards to fifteen Mbps from Cox. Additionally, plan members can take advantage of no deposits or annual contracts and a free Wi-Fi modem.

Qualifying applicants for the Connect2Compete programme must accept at least i K-12 student living in their household and participate in either the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), Public Housing, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

Visit Cox's Connect2Compete page or call (855) 222-3252 to learn more nearly the programme and check on your eligibility.

Additionally, for customers who do not run into the eligibility requirements for the Connect2Compete plan, Cox is also offering the Cox Internet Starter 10 (upwards to x Mbps) free for the starting time calendar month ($nineteen.99/mo.* for months ii-12).

Mediacom Connect2Compete

With Mediacom'due south Connect2Compete program, qualifying households can receive up to x Mbps for $9.95/mo.* with no contract, no deposit, no installation fees, and no equipment rental fees. A Wi-Fi modem is provided via a no-price lease.

You may qualify for the program if y'all have at least one child in grades G-12 living at abode and at to the lowest degree 1 kid receives free or reduced school lunches through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). Additionally, you must not exist a electric current Mediacom internet customer and not have an outstanding bill or unreturned equipment.

Visit Mediacom's Connect2Compete page or call (855) 904-2225 to see if you qualify and learn more almost the program.

Now available to all new customers, Mediacom is also offering Access Internet lx (upward to sixty Mbps) for $19.99/mo.* for the next 12 months. This is $10/mo. off the normal retail rate.

Spectrum Cyberspace Assist

Spectrum low-income internet is offered to eligible applicants through the Spectrum Internet Assist program with speeds up to 30 Mbps with no data caps for $xiv.99/mo.* Additionally, no contract is required and an internet modem is included. Y'all can add in-home Wi-Fi for an actress $five/mo.*

To authorize, a fellow member of your household must be a recipient of either the National School Tiffin Program (NSLP), the Customs Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the NSLP, or Supplemental Security Income (for age 65 and older).

Xfinity Internet Essentials

With Xfinity Internet Essentials, qualifying households tin get net speeds up to fifteen Mbps for $9.95/mo.* With the program, in that location's no credit check, no contract and no installation fee. In-home Wi-Fi is included and participants have the option to purchase a depression-cost reckoner for $149.99 plus tax.

Y'all may qualify for Xfinity Internet Essentials if your kid is eligible for the National School Lunch Program, y'all receive HUD housing assistance, you lot are a community college student in Colorado or Illinois or you lot are a low-income verified veteran or senior.

*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at whatever time. May or may non exist bachelor based on service address. Speeds may vary. As of 03/27/21.

Resources low-income households can use to get discounted internet

Saving money on internet costs

If you're struggling to pay for internet service simply don't qualify for 1 of the programs above, you can explore cheap cyberspace options from a variety of providers and have other steps to reduce your nib, such equally buying your own equipment if it's cheaper and keeping an eye on hidden cyberspace fees.

Another option is to rely on free public Wi-Fi if you alive near any stores, cafes, public parks or other establishments offering free internet. Additionally, don't be afraid to ask providers almost discounts. Many cyberspace service providers offer discounts for military and veteran families as well every bit senior citizens.

Call our experts today to learn more about affordable internet options in your area.

Last updated 09/23/21.

Written by:

Lisa Iscrupe

Writer, Broadband & Information Content

Lisa uses years of experience in sales and customer service for net-Tv set providers to inform her writing on broadband. Her work has been referenced past CNN and other national sources. In Lisa's Words: E'er… Read more

Edited by:

Trey Paul

Editor, Head of Content

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