Renata is a single mom in Ohio raising two kids on about $2,400 a month. Her family used to get $30 off their internet bill every month through a federal program called the Affordable Connectivity Program. That program ended in 2024. Renata still needs help with her internet bill, and she still has options. This is what actually works right now.

The Program Overview: What’s Actually Still Running

The Affordable Connectivity Program, or ACP, gave millions of households a monthly discount on internet service. It ran out of money. The Federal Communications Commission froze new enrollments in February 2024 and closed the program on June 1, 2024, after Congress did not approve more funding. If an article or a friend tells you ACP is still active, that information is out of date.

The program that is still running is called Lifeline. Lifeline is older than ACP and was never tied to the same funding fight. It gives eligible households a $9.25 monthly discount on a phone or internet bill. Households on Tribal lands can get up to $34.25 a month. Lifeline will not replace the full ACP discount, but it is real money off a real bill, every month, for as long as you qualify.

Who Qualifies, in Plain Numbers

You can qualify for Lifeline two ways. The first is income. Your household has to earn at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines. In plain terms, for 2026 that means a one-person household in the lower 48 states can earn up to $21,546 a year and still qualify. A family of three can earn up to roughly $36,882 a year. Both numbers come straight from the 135% threshold applied to the 2026 federal poverty guidelines.

The second way to qualify is program participation. If anyone in your household is already enrolled in SNAP (food assistance), Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance, or a Veterans or Survivors Pension benefit, you already meet the bar. You do not need to hit the income number if you qualify this way. Only one Lifeline benefit is allowed per household, no matter how many people live there.

How to Apply

Start with the Lifeline National Verifier, the official system that checks your eligibility. You will need proof of income or proof that you are enrolled in one of the qualifying programs, like a benefits award letter. Once you are approved, you pick a participating phone or internet provider in your area and the discount gets applied directly to your bill. Not every provider participates, so ask before you sign up for new service.

What Most Families Get Wrong

The biggest mistake right now is assuming ACP is still an option and waiting for it to come back. It is closed, and Congress has not funded a replacement. The second mistake is assuming Lifeline and ACP were the same program. They are not. Lifeline has its own rules and its own smaller discount, and you have to apply for it separately even if you were previously enrolled in ACP.

A third mistake is picking a provider before checking if they participate in Lifeline. Not every internet company offers it, even in areas where service is available. Confirm participation first, then apply, so you are not stuck switching providers later just to get the discount.

What to Do If You’re Turned Down

If the National Verifier rejects your application, check the reason first. Most denials come from a documentation mismatch, like a name or address that does not match your ID exactly. Fix the paperwork and resubmit. If you believe the denial is wrong, you can file an appeal through the National Verifier and provide additional proof of income or program enrollment. Keep copies of everything you submit.

If you do not qualify for Lifeline at all, ask your provider directly about a low-income plan of their own. After ACP ended, the FCC encouraged providers to build their own affordability plans for households who no longer had the ACP discount. These plans vary by company and are not guaranteed, but they cost nothing to ask about.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Affordable Connectivity Program still available? No. The FCC froze new ACP enrollments in February 2024 and closed the program entirely on June 1, 2024, after Congress did not provide more funding. If you see a website offering to sign you up for ACP today, treat it as outdated or a scam.

What replaced the Affordable Connectivity Program? Nothing replaced it directly. The FCC’s Lifeline program is still active and offers a smaller monthly discount, $9.25 for most households and $34.25 for households on Tribal lands. It is not a one-to-one replacement, but it is the main federal option still running.

How do I know if my income qualifies me for Lifeline? For 2026, a one-person household in the lower 48 states qualifies at or below $21,546 a year, based on 135% of the federal poverty guidelines. A three-person household qualifies at or below about $36,882 a year. You can also qualify automatically through SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, or a few other assistance programs.

Can I get Lifeline if I was previously enrolled in ACP? Yes, but you have to apply separately. ACP enrollment did not automatically carry over to Lifeline. Use the Lifeline National Verifier to check eligibility and submit your documentation, even if you already went through a similar process for ACP.

What should I do if my provider doesn’t offer Lifeline? Ask if they have their own low-income internet plan first. Many providers built these after ACP ended. If they don’t, you can look for a different participating provider in your area through the Lifeline program’s provider search tool before switching services.