In today's ever-connected world, access to the Internet is rapidly evolving from luxury to necessity. Everything from applying for jobs to paying bills to researching school paper is primarily done offline. But Internet prices average around $ 60 a month, according to Bruce Leichman, president and chief analyst at Lichtman Research Group, finding low-income Internet options that fit your budget.
The All Laconnect® Guide to Low-Income Internet Options and Affordable Internet Plans can help you identify government-assisted, income-based and provider-specific programs that provide low-income Internet for families, students, and seniors on a fixed income.
Government Aid Programs
If you or someone in your household participates in the Federal Assistance Program, you are eligible for the Federal Communication Commission's program Lifeline, which helps reduce monthly phone or Internet costs.
Lifeline offers a discount of 9.25 dollars per month for your phone or internet bill (but not both) and is limited to one discount per home.
COVID-19 Update on Lifeline Services
On 3/17/20, in response to the outbreak of coronavirus, the FCC made two changes to the Lifeline program.
Retrieval and regeneration requirements of the Life Line program for participating low-income customers will be waived for 60 days.
The 2019 order requiring registration of participating carriers with the Lifeline Program Administrator will be waived for 60 days.
Programs that are eligible for the Lifeline
The following federal assistance programs may qualify you for the Lifeline:
Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
Medicaid
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Veterans pension and survivor benefits
Some tribal support programs may also qualify you for a lifeline, including:
Assistance to the Bureau of Indian Affairs General
Food Distribution Program on Indian Reserves
Key start (if income eligibility criteria are met)
Tribal-led Provisional Assistance for Needy Families
How to get a Lifeline if you are eligible through the Government Assistance Program
To take advantage of Lifeline Discounts, you must first establish that you are eligible through one of the above government programs. You may need to show proof of eligibility, such as presenting a card or award letter from Medicaid or SNAP.
Once you've determined your eligibility, you can select an Internet or phone company near you and request an application. You will need to provide your full legal name, date of birth, the last four digits of your social security number (or tribe identification number) and address on your application. You may also need to show an unexpected ID, a Social Security Card, a Medic Medic Aid card or other documents to prove your identity.
Your chosen company will process your application and you may need to submit additional forms. If approved, you will be able to sign up and receive your Lifeline Discount on your bill.
Income-based programs
If you do not receive assistance from any of the government programs listed above, you are still eligible for the Lifeline Discount per month 9.25 based on your income.
Lifeline provides monthly phone or Internet discounts to eligible low-income applicants who have incomes of 135% or less under federal poverty guidelines.
How to get a Lifeline if you qualify for income
As above, you will need to establish that you are qualified by proving your gross annual income. You can do this by showing:
Current income status from employer
Divorce decree, child support award or other official document with income information
A federal or tribal notice letter for participation in general assistance
Paycheck stub
State, federal, or tribal tax returns from previous years
Social Security Statement of Benefits
Unemployment or workers' compensation state
Provider-specific low-income Internet programs
Many Internet Service Providers also offer their own low-income support programs to provide affordable Internet. Access. In many cases, you may need to meet income requirements or participate in a government assistance program. In addition, some providers may require you to be a new customer and / or the provider has no outstanding bills.
Low-income Internet service providers:
AT&T - Up to 10 Mbps for M5 / Mo. Or $ 10 / mo. *
Cox - 15 Mbps for M 9.95 / month. *
Mediacom - 10 Mbps for M 9.95 / mo. *
Spectrum - 30 Mbps for M 14.99 / mo. *
Xfinity - 15 Mbps for M 9.95 / month. *
Access by AT&T
AT&T offers partners with up to 10 Mbps for $ 5- $ 10 / mo internet service. * As part of the program, there is no contract, no deposit and no installation fees are required, plus an in-home Wi-Fi modem and more than 30,000 AT&T nationwide hotspots.
To qualify, participants must have at least one resident who participates in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), an address in the 21-state area of AT&T where wireline home Internet service is served, and has AT&T fixed No debt outstanding for internet service for 6 months.
Visit the Access Access page from AT&T to check the answers and availability of frequently asked questions.
COVID-19 Update on AT&T's Lifeline Services
In response to the public health crisis, AT&T has made the following temporary changes to their Lifeline program:
Newly qualified customers can receive two free months of service. Must be ordered by 4/30/20.
Forgive all home internet data overage fees.
Extensive eligibility for households based on income and participating in the national school lunch program.
Cox Connect 2 Compet
$ 9.95 / mo. * Eligible participants can get up to 15Mbps of low-cost internet from Cox. Additionally, program members will not be able to avail of any deposits or annual contracts and free Wi-Fi modems.
Applicants who are eligible for the Connect 2 Counseling Program must have at least one K-12 student living in their home and in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), Public Housing, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Must participate. ).
To find out more about the program and to check your eligibility visit Cox's Connect2Campaign page or call 1.855.222.3252.
COVID-19 Update on Cox's Connect 2 Compact Program
Cox's COVID-19 response includes the following temporary adjustments:
Two months free from the Connect 2 Compat service.
Free Phone and Remote Desktop by Cox Complete Care by 5/15/20 .P Support.
Resources for discounted, refurbished equipment, in collaboration with PC for People.
Cox also offers Internet Starter 10 (up to 10 Mbps) for the first month (. 19.99 / mo. * Months 2-12) for customers who do not meet the eligibility requirements for the Connect 2 Coupe plan.
Mediacom Connect 2puppet
With the Mediacom Connect 2Cuspect program, eligible families can receive 10Mbps at contract 9.95 / month * with no contract, no deposit, installation fee and equipment rental fee. A Wi-Fi modem is provided by a no-cost lease.
You may qualify for the program if you have at least one grade in K-12 grade and at least one child at home receives free or reduced school meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). In addition, you must not be a current Mediacom Internet customer and have no pending bills or untrained equipment.
To see if you qualify more about the program, visit the Mediacom Connect 2Chept page or call 1.855.904.2225.
A COVID-19 update on Mediacom's Connect 2 cockpit program
Mediacom's Covid-19 response includes the following temporary adjustments:
Two months connect 2 month service for qualified homes. Must be subscribed by 5/15/20.
Connect 2 speed internet download / upload increase internet speed from 10 Mbps / 1 Mbps to 25 Mbps / 3 Mbps.
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