What you get
Lifeline vs ACP: the two programs compared
Type your monthly internet bill and say whether you live on Tribal lands: the calculator compares the two discounts on that exact bill.
Your internet bill: ACP then, Lifeline now
Lost support per year
$249
| With the ACP (to May 2024) | $20 / month |
| With Lifeline today | $40.75 / month |
| Difference per month | $20.75 |
Lifeline still runs; the ACP ended on June 1, 2024 for lack of funding.
Lifeline and the Affordable Connectivity Program were two different federal discounts, and only Lifeline still exists. The ACP paid up to $30 a month toward internet service, $75 on qualifying Tribal lands, and up to $100 once toward a computer or tablet; it ended on June 1, 2024 when Congress provided no further funding. Lifeline pays up to $9.25 a month on phone, internet or bundled service, $34.25 on Tribal lands, and nothing toward any device. On a $50 internet bill, the ACP left $20 to pay and Lifeline leaves $40.75, a loss of $249 a year. On an $80 bill on Tribal lands, the gap is $489 a year. Lifeline also covers mobile phone plans and, through November 30, 2027, voice-only service at $5.25, which the ACP never did, and it asks for income at or below 135% of the poverty guidelines or a qualifying benefit.
Rules and figures read by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method
The two programs, line by line
The figures below come from USAC’s ACP page and the archived FCC ACP page for the ACP, and from 47 CFR 54.403 and the USAC support table for Lifeline.
| Affordable Connectivity Program | Lifeline | |
|---|---|---|
| Status | ended June 1, 2024 | running in 2026 |
| Internet discount per month | up to $30 | up to $9.25 |
| On qualifying Tribal lands | up to $75 | up to $34.25 |
| Voice-only phone service | not covered | $5.25 through November 30, 2027 |
| Computer or tablet | one discount up to $100 | nothing, hardware is not subsidized |
| Limit | one service and one device discount per household | one benefit per household |
| Funding | funding from Congress, not renewed | universal service support |
Two lines explain most of the confusion. Both programs were administered by USAC, and USAC built the ACP on the framework of Lifeline. And the FCC itself published a joint set of ACP and Lifeline questions and answers. The money, the rules and the end date were nonetheless different.
What the change costs on your bill
Because each discount is capped at the bill itself, the gap depends on what you pay. These rows use the same formula as the calculator at the top, with the standard amounts:
| Monthly bill | You paid with the ACP | You pay with Lifeline | Support lost per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $20 | $0 | $10.75 | $129 |
| $30 | $0 | $20.75 | $249 |
| $50 | $20 | $40.75 | $249 |
| $80 | $50 | $70.75 | $249 |
On a small plan, the loss is limited because the ACP could never take off more than the bill. On qualifying Tribal lands the enhanced amounts change the picture:
| Monthly bill | You paid with the ACP | You pay with Lifeline | Support lost per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50 | $0 | $15.75 | $189 |
| $80 | $5 | $45.75 | $489 |
| $100 | $25 | $65.75 | $489 |
Eligibility: the part that did not carry over
Former ACP households often assume they are already in Lifeline. They are not: an ACP enrollment never created a Lifeline account. Lifeline has its own test under 47 CFR 54.409: gross household income at or below $21,546 for one person or $44,550 for four in the 48 states, or a household member receiving SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance or a Veterans or Survivors Pension. The checker below runs that test with your figures.
Your income qualifies
$9.25 off per month
| 2026 income limit, 4 people | $44,550 |
| Your income is under it by | $2,550 |
| Share of the poverty guideline | 127% |
| Discount over a year | $111 |
| Where to apply | National Verifier (USAC) |
- Income route: proof of a full year of income, or 3 consecutive months of pay stubs.
- One Lifeline per household (48 states, DC and territories table). How to apply
Everything you enter stays in this browser: nothing is sent or stored. This is an estimate from the published rules; the decision is made by the National Verifier or your state.
If your household qualifies, the application goes through the National Verifier, or through the state in Oregon and Texas, and the discount then goes on the service you pick. The eligibility page details each route, and the ACP page tells how the old program wound down.
Choosing the service for the smaller discount
With one $9.25 discount per household instead of $30, the choice of service matters more than it did. A household whose ACP credit went on home internet can keep it there; the plan must reach 25/3 Mbps and 1,280 GB a month. A household where everyone relies on phones may get more from a mobile plan with at least 4.5 GB of data. The home internet page shows the bill for each case, and the FCC Lifeline page confirms the discount works on wireline or wireless service.