Do I qualify?
Lifeline income limits for 2026, by household size
Pick your area, type your household size and gross yearly income: the calculator above shows the 2026 limit and how far you are from it.
Lifeline income limit for your household
2026 limit (135% of the guideline)
$36,882
| Your income | $32,000 |
| Room under the limit | $4,882 |
| Your income as a share of the guideline | 117% |
| Monthly equivalent of the limit | $3,073 |
Under the limit: the income route is open.
The Lifeline income limit is 135% of the federal poverty guidelines published by HHS, applied to the gross yearly income of everyone in the household. For 2026, USAC’s table sets it at $21,546 for one person, $29,214 for two, $36,882 for three and $44,550 for four in the 48 contiguous states, DC and the territories, plus $7,668 for each person beyond eight. Alaska and Hawaii have their own, higher tables: $26,933 and $24,786 for one person. Divided by twelve, the one-person limit is about $1,795 a month, and the limit for four about $3,712. Income is gross income as the Internal Revenue Code defines it, before taxes and deductions. A household at or under the line qualifies on income alone; a household over it can still qualify if someone receives SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance or a Veterans or Survivors Pension, because those programs bypass the income test entirely.
Rules and figures read by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method
The 2026 table, from the poverty guideline to the limit
Each figure is the HHS poverty guideline for the household size taken at 135%. For one person in the 48 states the guideline is $15,960, which gives $21,546; for four it is $33,000, which gives $44,550. The guidelines appeared in January 2026 and USAC notes they are adjusted every year, so the table below is the one in force for 2026:
| Household | 48 states, DC, territories | Alaska | Hawaii |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $21,546 | $26,933 | $24,786 |
| 2 people | $29,214 | $36,518 | $33,602 |
| 3 people | $36,882 | $46,103 | $42,417 |
| 4 people | $44,550 | $55,688 | $51,233 |
| 5 people | $52,218 | $65,273 | $60,048 |
| 6 people | $59,886 | $74,858 | $68,864 |
| 7 people | $67,554 | $84,443 | $77,679 |
| 8 people | $75,222 | $94,028 | $86,495 |
| Each extra person | +$7,668 | +$9,585 | +$8,816 |
Above eight people, add the last line once per person. A household of ten in the 48 states therefore has a limit of $90,558, and in Alaska $113,198.
The same limits per month and per week
Most people know their monthly pay better than their yearly total. The official limit is yearly, but dividing it helps you see where you stand before you gather documents:
| Household | Per year | Per month | Per week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $21,546 | $1,795 | $414 |
| 2 people | $29,214 | $2,434 | $561 |
| 3 people | $36,882 | $3,073 | $709 |
| 4 people | $44,550 | $3,712 | $856 |
| 5 people | $52,218 | $4,351 | $1,004 |
| 6 people | $59,886 | $4,990 | $1,151 |
A one-person household paid $400 a week earns $20,800 a year: under the line by $746.
Whose income is added up
The FCC definition counts all members of the household, which means every adult at the address who shares income and expenses, not only the person applying. Two adult roommates who keep separate money are two households, each compared with the one-person limit. A couple sharing bills is one household of two, compared with $29,214. Children under 18 living with a parent are counted in the parent’s household size, which raises the limit by about $7,668 per child.
Proof follows the eligibility rule: a yearly document such as a tax return, or documents covering 3 consecutive months. The calculator below shows which proof fits your case:
Which proof do you need?
Proof of benefit
1 letter or card
| Must show | name, program, issuing agency |
| Dated | within 12 months or not expired |
| Plus | identity proof if the check fails |
Three households close to the line
Two adults in Anchorage earning $36,000 together. The Alaska limit for two is $36,518, so they are $518 under it. In Ohio the same income would be over the $29,214 limit by $6,786.
A family of five in Texas earning $53,000. The limit for five is $52,218, so the family is $782 over and cannot qualify on income. If one parent receives SNAP, the income no longer matters: the food stamps route applies.
A single parent with two children in Hawaii earning $42,000. The Hawaii limit for three is $42,417, which leaves $417 of room.
A higher limit only for survivors
One case uses another ceiling. A survivor of domestic violence or human trafficking who asks to separate a phone line from an abuser’s plan can get emergency support for 6 months with household income up to 200% of the guidelines, $31,920 for one person and $43,280 for two. That route has its own conditions, explained on the survivor benefit page. For everyone else, the 135% table above is the only income test, and the documents page explains how to prove it.