Lifeline was established in 1985 as part of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) which is administered by Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) and provides a discount on monthly telephone service or internet access for eligible low-income subscribers. Originally dealing with landline phones, the scheme has now been expanded to include mobile phones and broadband internet since these have become more important to the average citizen.

Eligibility for Lifeline generally is determined based on either income or participation in a few specific federal assistance programs. A household qualifies if it’s earnings are at or below 135 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, or a member may engage in any of the following

First and foremost, you will need to satisfy income-based (up to 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines) or program-based (Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, etc.) eligibility conditions. If you don’t satisfy these conditions, you will fail to apply for Link Up. There are also rules that vary by state.

You may qualify if:

Your household income is 200% or less the federal poverty level.

You or someone in your house is enrolled in any government assistance program.

You are income eligible for a participating provider's income-based program.

The federally funded Lifeline program is one of the most famous and popular free phone programs, which provides free or discounted phone services to eligible low-income families. Thousands of companies provide Lifeline, offering free smartphones in addition to free monthly talk, text and data. And Lifeline has the most comprehensive and complete system to make those people in need be benefited.

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a United States federal program that works to help low-income families purchase connected devices and get online. The program, established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), offers families with income that qualify for the program a discounted broadband connection with a one-time discount for a laptop, tablet or desktop computer.

Link Up is a US Federal program to make telephone service more accessible to low income residents. Offered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) through the Universal Service Fund, Link Up complements the familiar Lifeline program by connecting low-income Americans up to vital communication resources.

Before you begin any process that results in change, confirm you are eligible or qualified for Lifeline. You also should verify that you have not already enrolled with another carrier, because the lifeline can be claimed only once by a household.

Eligibility rules differ by state, but generally include receipt of some form of government assistance, like Medicaid, SNAP or SSI, or an income at or below 135% of the federal poverty line. When they apply, they must show proof of their eligibility — benefit statements or pay stubs.

One of the most well-known Lifeline providers is Assurance Wireless, which operates on T-Mobile’s network. They will give a free android phone to the needy along with free monthly minutes and unlimited text and megabytes of data.

One of the best known companies participating in the program is Assurance Wireless (a T-Mobile subsidiary). Eligible customers receive a free smartphone, unlimited free text, and free monthly data courtesy of Assurance Wireless through these programs.

The poor, so as families and individuals with incomes below 200% of Federal Poverty Guidelines are the main group targeted by ACP. For instance, a one-person home earning below $29,160 per year would be able to qualify, while a family of four with an income of under $60,000 could also qualify.