Low-income families or households can use Verizon Lifeline Assistance, which offers them a $9.25 discount on their monthly internet bill. Of course, in order to get that discount, a family must meet exact conditions; their income must be equal to or below 135% of the federal poverty threshold in most states. Some states define their bar at 150% of the federal poverty level.-
You must find a provider participating in the Lifeline Assistance program to be able to use that discount. In response to the question, some particular options do provide a limited amount of data transfer for free; nevertheless, generally speaking, there are no providers that provide free Verizon internet for low-income families.
As the title suggests, we will explore Verizon’s internet alternatives for low-income families. We will try our best to provide you with all the information you need to decide if Verizon is a good choice for you and what plans you can receive.
NOTE: Generally, low-income families do not have free internet. Two solutions, FreedomPop free 4G mobile and home internet (1 GB of free data per month) and NetZero dial-up internet (10 hours of free internet service per month), provide a limited amount of data free of cost, nevertheless. Though they will not meet most families’ needs, these are better than nothing.
Does Verizon Participate in The Lifeline Program
Yes, Verizon participates in the Lifeline program. Unlike some other wireless companies, which extended Lifeline Assistance to the next level with free plans and even free devices, Verizon maintains a very simple Lifeline participation level. This means that they enable families/households in certain areas in 11 states that meet the eligibility conditions to use the $9.25 monthly discount.
Note: The discount applies only to one kind of telecommunication service. Thus, a household can use the discount for both the internet and wireless. Verizon offers a Lifeline discount in the following states: Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington D.C., and Virginia.
How to Get Verizon Internet For Low-Income Families
Verizon used to provide several unique discounts for low-income households, and they might resurface going forward. Right now, though, a low-income household can only get a limited internet connection under the Lifeline Assistance program.
Further details regarding applying for Verizon’s Lifeline offer can be found here.
Based on The Lifeline Program, Verizon offers Lifeline plans for home phone service or broadband (internet) service. The broadband discount applies only to Fios internet service with a speed of 18 megabits per second or higher.
NOTE: In the following section, we will examine the specific plans in more detail.
Regardless of the state in which you reside, if you qualify through your income, you must include a photocopy of an official document or documents. See here for the complete list of acceptable documents. Do not send original documents, as they will not be returned.
Complete list of documentation for the low-income applicant:
- past year’s state, federal, or Tribal tax return
- Current income statement from an employer paycheck stub (see note below for required)
- Social Security statement of benefits, Veterans Administration statement of benefits, retirement or pension statement of benefits, unemployment statement of benefits, workers’ compensation statement of benefits, federal or tribal notice letter of participation in General Assistance divorce decree, the child support award, other official document containing income information
Note: If you are using a pay stub as proof and it does not cover the entire year, you must present documentation for three consecutive months throughout the preceding 12 months.
- Verizon doesn’t offer an online application. You must print off the USAC application, fill it out, enclose copies of the relevant documents and submit it to the correct address as per the instructions below.
- If you reside in Connecticut, send the USAC application with the appropriate proof documents to: Address: Verizon Lifeline Services, P.O. Box 16805, Newark, NJ 07101-6805 OR Fax all the paperwork, including the application, to 1.877.306.2190
- Send the USAC application including the necessary verification documentation whether your residence is Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Delaware, Washington D.C., Rhode Island, New York, or Virginia.
- USAC, Lifeline Support Center, P.O. Box 7081, London, KY 407
Verizon Wireless Internet Plans for Low-Income Families
How much does Verizon Lifeline cost? You have undoubtedly been asking yourself this question. This section will list all of the internet plans currently offered and for which you can use the Lifeline assistance discount.
As mentioned above, Verizon only allows you to use the Lifeline discount on Fios Home Internet. There are currently three types of Fios plans.
NOTE: THE LIFELINE DISCOUNT OF $9.25 IS DEDUCTED FROM THE PRICES LISTED BELOW.
200 Mbps.
- Use: Download and stream movies, TV series, and images at 200 Mbps.
- Cost: $39.99/month plus taxes and equipment fees with auto-pay
- EXTRA: Disney+ for an entire year on Verizon ($6.99/month after that)
- Visa® Prepaid Card, $50
- As part of Verizon’s Mobile + Home Rewards, you can save $10 per month with Unlimited Wireless (but only if you also choose to purchase a Verizon wireless plan).
400 Mbps
- Usage: Excellent for sharing big files and binge viewing, and for numerous users.
- Cost: $59.99/month plus taxes and equipment fees with auto-pay
- EXTRA: Disney+ for an entire year on Verizon ($6.99/month after that)
- Visa® Prepaid Card, $50
- As part of Verizon’s Mobile + Home Rewards, you can save $10 per month with Unlimited Wireless (but only if you also choose to purchase a Verizon wireless plan).
940/880 Mbps maximum
- Use of a gigabit connection: Perfect for an almost flawless entertainment experience.
- Cost: $79.99/month plus taxes and equipment fees with auto-pay
- EXTRA: Disney+ for an entire year on Verizon ($6.99/month after that)
- Rental of a router is included.
- Stadia Premiere Edition or a $100 Visa® Prepaid Card
- As part of Verizon’s Mobile + Home Rewards, you can save $20 per month with Unlimited Wireless (but only if you also choose to purchase a Verizon wireless plan).
Other Providers That Offer Internet to Low-Income Families
Has the question, “Where can I get free internet?” been on your mind? It may be more complicated than you anticipated. Only two businesses have a very restricted free internet connection, as was indicated in the first section.
Nonetheless, many internet service providers, like Verizon, accept the Lifeline Assistance discount. We chose to show you only the most affordable offers because a list of all the suppliers who accept would be too long. Check out the list below.
The Lifeline program of the Federal Communication Commission: Internet service through selected ISPs is discounted by $9.25. Xfinity’s Internet Essentials product costs $9.95 per month for up to 15 Mbps.
- Spectrum Internet Assist: Up to 30 Mbps with Spectrum Internet Assist is $14.99 per month.
- Cox Connect2Compete: up to 15 Mbps for $9.95/month
- Access from AT&T: $10/month for up to 10 Mbps
- Connect2Compete from Mediacom: $9.95/month for 10 Mbps
- NetZero dial-up: Ten hours of free internet connectivity per month using NetZero dial-up
- FreedomPop: It offers 1 GB of free bandwidth each month for 4G home and mobile internet.
Note: Although the goal of this post is to give you Verizon’s alternative, this does not imply that Verizon provides the most economical choice. As the list above shows, there are many less expensive possibilities, but you should remember that Verizon’s Fios offers better performance and dependability.
Can I Get Free Internet at Home
As you can see from the list in the previous section, there are just two providers who provide free internet. Furthermore, these free options only provide a certain quantity of data and are extremely limited.
WE ONLY FOUND THESE FREE INTERNET OPTIONS:
- Ten hours of free internet service per month are provided via NetZero dial-up.
- FreedomPop offers 1 GB of free bandwidth per month for 4G mobile and home internet.
As you always have in life, you have a few more “hustle” options to obtain free internet. To see the connections that are accessible, first switch on your WiFi (on your computer or mobile device). If you can identify any networks that are not locked, you can easily log in.
However, the available networks will probably be password-protected. In this situation, you could ask your neighbors for their password. If they are so kind, be careful not to overburden their network with excessive downloading or streaming.
Is Home Internet Available from Verizon?
Verizon does provide home internet, yes. Uploading and downloading are rapid thanks to their internet network, Fios, which is entirely functional on fiber-optic infrastructure (of course, it depends on your plan).
For further information, see the section above that outlines Verizon’s plans.
Are Seniors, Students, and Disabled Persons Eligible for Verizon Wireless Discounts?
Apart from choices on TV and the internet, Verizon provides extensively used mobile services. Though they do not now provide any specific discounts for people with impairments, they do have plans lowered for seniors 55 years of age or over.
Discounted plan details:
- Age Requirement: 55+
- Cost: $60 for a single line and $80 for two lines each month (offered exclusively in FL, MO, and IL); (For comparison: None to 55+ Cost: $130 for two lines, $75 for one line each month.
- Minutes: No limit
- Text: No limit
- Data: LTE unlimited
- Extra benefits: 600 kbps unlimited mobile hotspot
Students from Verizon Wireless have a few exclusive deals and exemptions access. Depending on your institution, you can cut the monthly value of your data plan by 10% to 25%. Enter your school email address to determine for which deduction you are qualified.
Who qualifies for the Verizon forward program?
Verizon offers the Verizon Forward Program, designed to provide affordable home internet service to eligible households. This program offers plans starting as low as $20 per month, with the possibility of reducing the cost to $0 per month for the first six months through limited-time promotions.
Eligibility for the Verizon Forward Program includes:
- Participation in Government Assistance Programs: Households currently enrolled in programs such as Lifeline or the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) may qualify.
- Recent Recipients of Federal Pell Grants: Those who have received a Federal Pell Grant in the last year are also eligible.
- Income Criteria: Households with an income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines may be eligible.
What is the Verizon affordable connectivity program?
It’s important to note that the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), a federal initiative that provided discounts on internet services to eligible households, ended on June 1, 2024, due to a lack of additional funding from Congress. Federal Communications Commission
However, Verizon continues to support affordable internet access through the Verizon Forward Program. Additionally, the Lifeline Program, a federal assistance initiative offering discounts to qualified low-income customers, remains available. Verizon participates in Lifeline, providing discounts on home phone and Fios Home Internet services to eligible customers.
For more detailed information on eligibility and application procedures for these programs, please visit Verizon’s official website or contact their customer service.
Bottom Line
The number of free home internet possibilities is not as significant as one might have imagined. Applying for Lifeline Assistance could be a terrific way for low-income families to receive at least a $9.25 discount on their monthly costs.
Nevertheless, it would be better to apply your Lifeline Assistance to a cell offer entitling you to a free plan and a free mobile phone. Just an idea—these often offer a reasonable amount of free data (up to 3GB), which you could use to browse the internet or use your laptop as a hotspot.
Additionally, Verizon’s Fios internet service offers incredible speed and dependability, so if you can afford it, you won’t be disappointed.
