Discount Programs for Low-Income and Disabled Consumers

Not all companies participate in the following programs.

Lifeline Program
This program offers a monthly discount to a qualifying household for voice services, qualifying broadband-only service or voice+qualifying service.* Qualifying broadband service refers to a broadband speed of 25 Mbps (down)/ 3 Mbps (up).

Discount Amount (depends on type of service):

• Landline service:
  • $24.00 (voice service or voice+broadband service).**
  • $9.25 (broadband-only service).
• Wireless service:
  • $9.25 (broadband-only service or broadband+voice service).
  • $5.25 (voice-only service).

Eligibility Criteria:

• Food Stamps
• MO HealthNet (Medicaid)
• Supplemental Security Income
• Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit
• Federal Public Housing Assistance, or
• Annual household income is at or below 135% of the federal poverty level.

How to Enroll:
For more information and to see what companies participate: www.lifelinesupport.org

Disabled Program
This program provides a monthly discount of $24.00 to qualifying landline consumers for voice service or voice service+broadband service. The program is not available for a broadband-only service. A consumer qualifying for both the Lifeline and Disabled program can not subscribe to both programs.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Veteran Administration Disability Benefits
• State Blind Pension
• State Aid to Blind Persons
• State Supplemental Disability Assistance Payments Administered by the Family Support Division
• Social Security Disability

How to Enroll:
Contact your local telephone company to see if it participates in the Disabled program and to obtain an enrollment form.

Persons with Disabilities and Seniors: Individuals who struggle to use a telephone or smartphone due to a physical disability, vision loss, memory/cognition, or require special access to relay services due to hearing or speech disabilities, may want to contact Missouri Assistive Technology to learn more about options for equipment. Telecommunications Access Program (mo.gov)

Affordable Connectivity Program
The Affordable Connectivity Program offers a $30 monthly discount to qualifying broadband subscribers. An ACP subscriber who also qualifies for the Lifeline or Disabled programs can combine the ACP discount with the discount from the other program. in such instances the subscriber will need to apply for ACP and the other program.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Participates in government assistance programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, WIC, or Lifeline.
• Participates in the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision.
• Received a Federal Pell Grant in the current year.
• Qualifies for participating provider's existing low-income program.
• Annual household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

How to Apply:
Consumers can apply for the ACP program through the consumer portal at Getinternet.gov or by completing a paper application.

The Affordable Connectivity Program is expected to end in April unless Congress appropriates additional funding. As a result, the FCC has begun taking steps to wind down the ACP. Importan dates regarding the ACP wind-down:

• February 7, 2024: This is the last day that the ACP will accept new applications and enrollments. Eligible households must be approved and enrolled with an internet company by February 7th to receive the ACP benefit. Starting February 8, 2024, there will be no more enrollments into the ACP.
• April 2024: The FCC anticipates existing ACP funding to run out in April 2024 if Congress does not provide additional funding. Consumers that are enrolled in the ACP will continue to receive their benefit on their internet service through April. This date is an estimate and may change.

* Qualifying service must meet the minimum broadband speed specified by the FCC or meets the exception identified in FCC rule 54.408(d). The current minimum broadband speed is 25 Mbps (down)/3 Mbps (up) as of December 1, 2020.

** The $24 combines federal and Missouri USF Lifeline support amounts ad shall not eceed the total of the company's local serivce rate plus subscriber line charge. The Missouri USF does not provide support for broadband-only service.