How to Get Affordable Internet Through Government Programs in 2026

When the Affordable Connectivity Program ran out of funding in June 2024, millions of American households lost a $30 monthly discount overnight. Two years later, the picture has changed considerably. The federal government has not yet passed a replacement, but a growing number of states have built their own programs, and the long-running Lifeline benefit is still available to those who qualify.

The Current Landscape of Federal Assistance

The most widely available federal option remains Lifeline, a program administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company under the direction of the FCC. It provides a monthly discount of up to $9.25 on phone or internet service, and up to $34.25 for residents on Tribal lands. That may sound modest compared to the old ACP benefit, but it stacks with other assistance and can make a real difference on a tight budget.

Eligibility follows two main paths. You qualify if your household income sits at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines, or if someone in your home participates in a qualifying program such as SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance, or the Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit. The application runs through the National Verifier system at lifelinesupport.org, where your status is checked automatically against government databases. If the system cannot verify you that way, you will need to upload documents such as a benefits award letter, a tax return, or a pay stub.

A few practical notes worth keeping in mind. Oregon and Texas residents do not use the National Verifier, so they must apply through their state Public Utility Commission instead. And because of a recent Justice Department opinion, non-citizens must meet additional residency and status requirements before enrolling. If you live on Tribal lands, ask about the enhanced benefit, since the higher discount applies there.

State-Level Programs That Fill the Gap

With no federal replacement on the horizon as of mid-2026, several states have stepped up on their own. New Mexico became the first to launch a direct ACP-style subsidy. Its Low-Income Telecommunications Assistance Program, known as LITAP, started on July 1, 2026, offering up to $30 a month toward internet or phone service, and up to $75 a month on Tribal lands. Households earning $45,000 a year or less, or already enrolled in Lifeline, are eligible. The program is funded through a small surcharge on phone and internet bills, which supporters say makes it more stable over the long term than a federal appropriation would be.

California launched its LifeLine Home Broadband Pilot in January 2026. It provides up to $30 a month off home internet service for households that qualify for the existing California LifeLine program, which generally means income at or below 135% of the federal poverty line or participation in Medi-Cal, Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, or Federal Public Housing Assistance. This one is worth checking if you live in the Golden State, since the discount applies directly to a home broadband connection rather than mobile service.

Oregon has taken a different route by enhancing its state Lifeline benefit. Qualifying households can receive up to $24.25 a month off high-speed internet service, well above the federal minimum of $9.25, plus an additional $25 a month for residents on Tribal lands. The eligibility rules mirror federal Lifeline, so if you already qualify there, the extra discount is essentially automatic.

New York and Connecticut are using yet another approach. Instead of writing subsidy checks, they require large internet providers to offer capped low-cost plans to qualifying households. The advantage of this model is simplicity, since you work directly with your provider rather than navigating a government application. The trade-off is that you may be limited to a specific speed tier. Several other states, including Illinois, Colorado, Washington, and Minnesota, are actively working on legislation, so the map of state programs will likely keep growing.

Provider Plans That Work Alongside Government Help

Even without a state program, most major providers operate their own low-income plans that can be combined with Lifeline. Xfinity's Internet Essentials starts around $14.95 a month and includes a free modem and access to low-cost computers. Spectrum Internet Assist is priced around $25 a month and offers download speeds that are adequate for remote work and school. AT&T Access is available to households below 200% of the federal poverty guideline or with someone enrolled in a qualifying assistance program. Cox ConnectAssist and Verizon Forward follow a similar model, typically in the $30 a month range.

Here is a quick comparison of the main options available right now:

Program	Monthly Benefit	Best For	Eligibility	Advantages	Watch Out For
Federal Lifeline	Up to $9.25 ($34.25 on Tribal lands)	Phone or internet bills nationwide	Income at or below 135% of FPG, or program enrollment	Works everywhere, stacks with other plans	Requires annual recertification
New Mexico LITAP	Up to $30 ($75 on Tribal lands)	New Mexico households	Income at or below $45,000 or Lifeline enrollment	State-funded, stable long-term funding	Only available in New Mexico
California LifeLine Pilot	Up to $30	California home broadband	Qualifies for California LifeLine	Direct discount on home internet	Limited to pilot participants
Oregon Enhanced Lifeline	Up to $24.25 plus $25 Tribal	Oregon internet service	Same as federal Lifeline rules	Bigger discount than federal minimum	State-specific application process
Xfinity Internet Essentials	Around $14.95 plan pricing	Households with school-age children or program enrollment	Qualifying assistance programs or income limit	Includes free modem, low-cost devices	Speed tier is limited
Spectrum Internet Assist	Around $25 plan pricing	Spectrum coverage areas	Qualifying assistance programs or income limit	No contract required	Availability varies by address

A Real-World Example

Take the case of Maria, a single mother in Albuquerque who lost her ACP discount in 2024 and was paying full price for a 100 Mbps connection. When New Mexico's LITAP launched, she checked her eligibility through the state portal, found that her SNAP enrollment made the process straightforward, and now receives $30 a month off her bill. That freed up enough room in her budget to keep her daughter's online tutoring sessions going through the school year. Stories like hers are becoming more common as state programs mature and more households learn about stacking Lifeline with provider discounts.

How to Get Started Today

Begin by checking your current bill and your household's eligibility status. If you receive SNAP, Medicaid, or SSI, you almost certainly qualify for something. The steps are simple enough:

Visit lifelinesupport.org and use the National Verifier to check your Lifeline eligibility. Have your benefits documentation or recent tax return ready in case automatic verification fails.
Call your internet provider and ask whether they offer a low-income plan. Mention that you are applying for or already receive Lifeline, since the discounts can combine.
If you live in New Mexico, California, or Oregon, look up your state program first, because the benefit is larger and the application process is tailored to residents.
Check the FCC's "Companies Near Me" tool or the provider lists on lifelinesupport.org to see which carriers serve your zip code with discounted plans.
Set a reminder to recertify annually, since missing the deadline will end your discount.

For seniors and veterans, local Area Agencies on Aging and VA facilities often have staff who help with these applications at no cost. Libraries in many cities also offer free internet access while you sort out your home connection, and some even lend Wi-Fi hotspots.

The landscape of government internet assistance has changed a lot since the ACP ended, but help is still out there. Between Lifeline, the new state programs, and provider discounts, most qualifying households can find a workable combination. The key is to apply through the right channel and stack every benefit you are entitled to receive.