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Consumer assistance programs
Support options for qualifying low-income customers
Qualifying customers have access to these support programs:
- Affordable Connectivity Program — Federal assistance for qualified households for internet service.
- Lifeline — Federal assistance for income-qualified customers for phone or internet service.
- Telephone Assistance Program (TAP) — Assistance offered by some states, in addition to Lifeline.
Affordable Connectivity Program overview
The Affordable Connectivity Program provides up to $30 per month towards broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on Tribal Lands. The ACP is limited to one monthly service discount per household.
Lifeline overview
Lifeline is the FCC's program to help make communication services more affordable for low-income consumers. Lifeline provides subscribers a discount on monthly telephone or broadband service purchased from participating providers. The discounts can be applied to voice services, a voice bundle, broadband services, or bundled broadband packages (either fixed or mobile).
The Lifeline discount may be used for voice or qualified broadband service, but not both.
- Lifeline discounts on voice services are available to participants of both state and federally-recognized aid programs.
- Lifeline discounts on broadband services are available to participants of federally-recognized aid programs and is limited to certain broadband services. Broadband speeds must be 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload or faster to qualify.
- If you purchase voice and qualifying broadband services, the federal Lifeline discount will apply to your qualifying broadband service.
- If you purchase voice service and a non-qualifying broadband service, you may qualify to receive both state and federal Lifeline discounts on your voice service.
Standard Lifeline — provides federal monthly support of up to $9.25 for qualifying broadband service and $5.25 for voice services. In some states, additional monthly support is also available.
Tribal Lifeline — offers a deeper monthly discount as well as installation assistance through the Link-Up program to qualifying customers who live on federally-recognized Tribal lands.
How to apply for Lifeline
1) All customers must apply for Lifeline through the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). You can do this on the USAC website, which guides you through eligibility and the application, or by submitting a downloaded form (see the link below).
2) After the USAC qualification has been completed, notify CenturyLink with your confirmation number to get the discount added to your qualifying service.
General eligibility requirements for Lifeline:
- Lifeline is available to qualified customers in every U.S. state. Qualification requirements vary by state.
- One Lifeline discount is available per household, even if the household has more than one telephone or broadband account, including landline or wireless service.
- Under the Lifeline program, a household is defined as any individual or group of individuals who live together at the same address and share income and expenses.
- The Lifeline discount is not transferable and only eligible customers may enroll in the program.
For details about service standards for the Lifeline program, please see the USAC pages:
Telephone assistance programs at the state level
Please select your state from the options below to see information about any additional assistance programs available to you. Each state has its own application requirements, and not all states provide additional assistance.
- Select your state:
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Florida
- Idaho
- Iowa
- Minnesota
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- South Dakota
- Utah
- Washington
- Wyoming
Arizona telephone assistance programs
In addition to Lifeline, the State of Arizona offers a state telephone assistance discount — the Senior Telephone Discount Program. The telephone assistance program offers up to $3.14 per month discount on home landline telephone service.
To qualify for the Senior Telephone Discount Program:
- Must have voice service
- Qualifying participant must be a senior
- Subscriber has qualified for Lifeline
- The qualifying member of the household has an income at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
Click the link below for the English or Spanish application and follow the instructions to complete the form.
Colorado telephone assistance programs
The State of Colorado does not currently provide any telephone assistance in addition to the federal Lifeline program.
Florida telephone assistance programs
The State of Florida does not currently provide any telephone assistance in addition to the federal Lifeline program.
Idaho Telephone Assistance Program
In addition to Lifeline, the State of Idaho offers a state telephone assistance discount. The Telephone Assistance Program offers up to $2.50 per month discount on home landline telephone service for customers and who have qualified for Lifeline based on income.
Click the link below for the Idaho application, only if you qualified for Lifeline via income, and follow the instructions to complete the form.
Iowa telephone assistance programs
The State of Iowa does not currently provide any telephone assistance in addition to the federal Lifeline program.
Minnesota Telephone Assistance Programs
In addition to Lifeline, the State of Minnesota offers a state telephone assistance discount. TAP offers up to a $10.00 per month discount on home landline telephone service.
Click the link below and follow the instructions to complete the form.
Montana Telephone Assistance Programs
The Montana Telephone Assistance Program provides a discount on monthly service for qualified subscribers. The telephone assistance program offers up to $3.50 per month discount on home landline telephone service. You do not need to participate in Lifeline in order to participate in the Montana TAP.
Qualifying customers (or a qualifying member of a household) must be certified by the Department of Public Health and Human Services as a recipient of Medicaid benefits. Copies of your official Medicaid documents must be submitted with this application.
Please be aware that the Montana Telephone Assistance Program discount is only available on voice service.
Click the link below and follow the instructions to complete the form.
Nebraska Telephone Assistance Program
The Nebraska Telephone Assistance Program (NTAP also known nationally as the Lifeline Program) assists qualifying low-income individuals with keeping telephone services affordable by lowering monthly service rates. Individuals can qualify for NTAP by participating in Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Veterans Pension Benefit/Survivors Pension Benefit, Federal Public Housing, or if household income is at or below 135 percent of the poverty level. Please see the section above about applying for Lifeline.
Citizen Attestation Form
To participate in the Nebraska Telephone Assistance Program, customers who reside in Nebraska are required to fill out the Citizen Attestation form. The telephone assistance program offers up to $3.50 per month discount on home landline telephone service.
The form must be completed and mailed to the address on the Attestation form before submitting a Lifeline application.
Click the link below and follow the instructions to complete the form.
Nevada telephone assistance program
In addition to Lifeline, the State of Nevada offers a state telephone assistance discount. The telephone assistance program offers up to $3.50 per month discount on home landline telephone service.
The Nevada state discount is automatically added when the subscriber qualifies for the federal Lifeline program.
New Mexico Telephone Assistance Program
In addition to Lifeline, the State of New Mexico offers a state telephone assistance discount. The Telephone Assistance Program offers up to $2.50 per month discount on home landline telephone service for customers and who have qualified for Lifeline based on income.
Click the link below for the New Mexico application, only if you qualified for Lifeline via income, and follow the instructions to complete the form.
North Dakota telephone assistance program
In addition to Lifeline, the State of North Dakota offers a state telephone assistance discount. The telephone assistance program offers up to $3.50 per month discount on home landline telephone service.
The North Dakota state discount is automatically added when the subscriber qualifies for the federal Lifeline program.
Oregon Telephone Assistance Program
In addition to Lifeline, the State of Oregon offers a state telephone assistance discount. The Telephone Assistance Program offers up to $10.00 per month discount on internet or home landline telephone service.
Apply on the Oregon Public Utility Commission website and follow the instructions to complete the form.
South Dakota telephone assistance programs
The State of South Dakota does not currently provide any telephone assistance in addition to the federal Lifeline program.
Utah Telephone Assistance Program
In addition to Lifeline, the State of Utah offers a state telephone assistance discount. The Telephone Assistance Program offers up to $3.50 per month discount on internet or home landline telephone service.
The Utah state discount is automatically added when the subscriber qualifies for the federal Lifeline program. For more information, see the Utah Office of Consumer Services website.
Washington telephone assistance programs
The State of Washington does not currently provide any telephone assistance in addition to the federal Lifeline program.
Wyoming telephone assistance programs
The State of Wyoming does not currently provide any telephone assistance in addition to the federal Lifeline program.
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