Lifeline by state: the numbers for all 56 states and territories

Where the subscribers are

The USAC disbursement data show the number of subscribers for whom companies claimed Lifeline support each month. The concentration is striking: the top five, California, New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Puerto Rico, account for 46% of all subscribers. Puerto Rico, with 374,061, has more Lifeline subscribers than Texas or Florida. At the other end, the Virgin Islands and Guam count a few hundred each.

These figures do not measure need. They reflect how many companies are active in a state, how actively they enroll, whether a state program adds to the federal one, and how easily the National Verifier can confirm benefits there. Two neighboring states with similar incomes can have very different counts.

Who checks your application

In 54 of the 56 states and territories the National Verifier decides eligibility. Oregon and Texas, listed by USAC as opt-out states, run their own process; the federal rules still apply. Where the National Verifier works, the paperwork depends on the data each state shares. USAC’s table of data sources shows, for example, that it confirms Federal Public Housing Assistance, Medicaid, SNAP, SSI and the Veterans Pension automatically in Michigan, but only Federal Public Housing Assistance, Medicaid and the Veterans Pension in California. A benefit missing from your state’s list still qualifies you; you just send a copy of a benefit letter. The tool above gives the answer for any state and benefit.

All states and territories

Reading the table

“Companies” counts the companies USAC lists for the state, mobile and home service together; a company listed under several brand names counts once. “ZIP codes” counts the ZIP codes where at least one company is listed. A high company count does not mean better plans: in Texas most of the 74 companies are local home phone providers listed for very few ZIP codes, while the mobile companies number 11. The company finder narrows the list to your ZIP code.

“Tribal rate” counts the subscribers claimed at the enhanced amount for residents of Tribal lands. Oklahoma leads with 194,013, then Arizona with 29,135 and Washington with 26,959; in Alaska, 18,509 of 18,828 subscribers are at the Tribal rate. The Tribal Lifeline page explains who qualifies for it.

Four states have their own page: California, with its own state program and income table; Texas, with its own application; Florida and New York, with the benefits checked automatically there.