In 2025, being online isn’t optional — it’s how you apply for a job, join class, book a doctor’s visit, or reach 911. Yet for millions of Americans, a typical $60–$100 monthly internet or wireless bill is still out of reach. Here’s the part most people don’t know: free or near-free service is still possible this year for students and low-income workers — even after the big pandemic-era subsidy ended.
If you receive SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Section 8, Veterans benefits, or a Federal Pell Grant, you could qualify for up to $39/month in combined credits from enduring federal, state, and carrier programs — enough to drop many mobile or home internet plans to $0. In simple terms: the right mix of benefits can still erase your bill.
What’s changing — and what hasn’t
The big shift: The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which knocked $30 off monthly internet for more than 23 million households (and $75 on Tribal lands), ran out of funding in 2024. That triggered higher bills, disconnections, and a rush to cheaper (often slower) plans.
What hasn’t changed: The Lifeline program — the original federal communications benefit — did not end. It still offers $9.25/month off eligible phone or broadband service ($34.25 on Tribal lands). On its own, $9.25 doesn’t sound huge. But paired with low-income carrier plans and certain state caps, it’s the key that still unlocks $0 phone or single-digit internet in many places. That’s the “$39” you keep hearing about: $9.25 Lifeline + up to ~$20–$30 in carrier/state discounts = near-free connectivity.
Why this matters now: Prices didn’t fall when ACP ended. The average stand-alone home internet bill still hovers near $75/month, so losing ACP was like a $360/year pay cut. If you’re a student or low-wage earner, bridging that “missing $30” is the difference between being connected and being locked out.
Why it matters (in numbers)
- 23M+ households previously relied on ACP discounts.
- After ACP’s lapse, 1 in 5 affected families disconnected entirely; roughly 30% downgraded to slow, unstable speeds.
- The ongoing Lifeline discount of $9.25 can still zero-out a $9–$10 mobile plan or shave a $20–$25 low-income internet plan down to single digits — often $0–$10.
- Students with Pell Grants can qualify automatically for Lifeline — a huge, underused unlock.
Here’s what it means: even without ACP, $39-ish of relief is still achievable by stacking Lifeline with carrier “affordability” plans and state price caps where available.
The foundation: Lifeline (the program that didn’t go away)
What you get (2025):
- $9.25/month off eligible phone or broadband service
- $34.25/month off for residents on federally recognized Tribal lands
Who qualifies (any one of these usually works):
- SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8)
- Veterans Pension or Survivors Benefit
- Federal Pell Grant (current award year — crucial for students)
- Or household income ≤135% of the federal poverty guideline
How it’s applied: You enroll once, pick a participating provider, and the credit is auto-applied to your monthly bill. No guesswork. As long as you remain eligible, the benefit continues.
Why it still matters: Many carriers design special low-income plans priced at or below $9–$10, so Lifeline can bring them down to $0. That’s how “free” still happens in 2025.
The $30 gap: life after ACP (and the real workaround)
What ACP used to cover
- $30/month off internet ($75 on Tribal lands)
- $100 one-time device discount for laptops/tablets (with a copay)
- Combined with Lifeline, many households reached $39.25/month in total credits — enough to wipe out low-cost plans entirely.
The fallout
When ACP funding lapsed, millions got a sudden $30/month bill shock. Some canceled service; others dropped to plans too slow for Zoom, telehealth, or coursework. Rural areas and minority communities were hit hardest — precisely where access is most fragile.
The workaround in 2025
With ACP gone (for now), the path to $0 often looks like this:
- Claim Lifeline ($9.25) using program participation or income.
- Choose a carrier’s low-cost plan (often $9.95–$25).
- Let the Lifeline credit knock your bill toward $0–$10.
- Where available, state-level caps or city programs can finish the job.
It’s not as automatic as ACP, but it works — especially if you’re strategic about the plan you pick.
Who should act right now (and why)
- Students with Pell Grants: You likely qualify today. Apply your $9.25 to a budget mobile plan → $0 phone with talk/text/data in many cases.
- Low-income workers on SNAP/Medicaid: Your existing benefits usually unlock Lifeline immediately.
- Seniors, veterans, SSI recipients: Lifeline can cut your mobile bill to zero or ease home internet costs by a third to a half when paired with low-income plans.
- Households on Tribal lands: Your higher $34.25 Lifeline benefit is a game-changer; stack it with local offers.
If you were on ACP and lost it, don’t wait: Lifeline is still funded and still running.
Exactly how to claim (step-by-step)
- Start with eligibility. Use the National Verifier (no link needed here) to confirm via SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Section 8, Veterans benefits, or Pell — or by income.
- Pick a provider. Every national carrier and many regional ISPs participate in Lifeline. Look for low-income plans priced $9.95–$25.
- Enroll and apply the credit. Your provider will apply the $9.25 (or $34.25 on Tribal lands) directly to your monthly bill.
- Optimize. If your plan is still above $10 after the credit, ask about cheaper tiers, bundles, or state-specific discounts.
Pro tip: Students often miss the Pell shortcut. If you received a Pell Grant this award year, that single fact can fast-track your Lifeline approval.
Real-world examples (how the math shakes out)
Example 1: Community-college student (Pell + Lifeline)
- Signs up for a $10/month budget mobile plan (unlimited talk/text + useful data).
- Applies $9.25 Lifeline → effective bill ≈ $0.75 or $0 with a promo.
- Outcome: Free phone + data for school, work, and telehealth.
Example 2: Family of four (SNAP + low-income ISP plan)
- Chooses a $19.99 home internet plan offered to SNAP/Medicaid households.
- Applies $9.25 Lifeline → effective bill ≈ $10.74.
- Outcome: Stream classes, apply for jobs, run telehealth — for ~$10/month.
Example 3: Tribal lands household
- Selects a $25 low-income plan from a regional ISP.
- Applies $34.25 Tribal Lifeline → bill hits $0 with room to spare.
- Outcome: Fully covered (and then some).
Example 4: Senior on SSI, prefers mobile-only
- Picks a $9.95 talk/text/data plan from a Lifeline carrier.
- Applies $9.25 → $0–$0.70 final bill.
- Outcome: Always-on phone for emergencies and appointments.
Numbers vary by location and provider, but the pattern holds: pick the right plan, then let Lifeline erase it.
Where to find that extra $20–$30 (the hidden boosters)
Even without ACP, a lot of the remaining relief is hiding in plain sight:
Carrier affordability plans (typical ranges):
- Verizon Forward: $20–$25 for qualifying households
- Comcast Internet Essentials: $9.95–$19.95 for SNAP/Medicaid/Pell households
- Spectrum Internet Assist: $19.99 for families with free-lunch eligibility or SSI
- Regional ISPs and MVNOs: Frequently offer $10–$25 tiers designed to pair with Lifeline
State/Local programs:
- Some states (e.g., New York via state affordability requirements) and cities cap eligible plans near $15/month — and Lifeline can zero them out.
- Libraries in dozens of systems lend hotspots to Lifeline-eligible residents. Ask your local branch.
Bottom line: Stack Lifeline with carrier affordability plans and, where possible, state caps — that’s your playbook for $0–$10 connectivity in 2025.
Common roadblocks (and how to beat them)
- “I don’t think I qualify.” If anyone in your household is on SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Section 8, Veterans benefits, or Pell, you likely do.
- “I don’t want a contract.” Many Lifeline-compatible plans are month-to-month. Ask before you enroll.
- “I’m unbanked.” Many providers accept prepaid or cash options, and some offer no-credit-check sign-ups.
- “I tried before and got stuck.” Call the provider’s Lifeline team or visit a carrier store that handles government-benefit enrollments — they do this daily and can fast-track issues.
- “My plan is still too expensive.” Downshift to the lowest qualifying tier; it often pairs best with Lifeline.
The emotional side: connection = control
When you’re deciding between groceries and a phone bill, a $9.25 credit sounds small — until it keeps your number active for job callbacks or lets your kid join class from home.
For a Pell student, that credit can be the difference between sitting in a parking lot for Wi-Fi and finishing assignments at home. For a veteran or senior, it’s the calm of knowing the line will work when you need help. Connectivity isn’t a luxury; it’s stability.
What to watch for in 2026
There’s real momentum in Washington to bring back a permanent affordability benefit. Options being discussed include:
- Restoring ACP-level support under the Universal Service Fund
- Merging ACP concepts into Lifeline and lifting the monthly discount to something closer to $20–$25
- Broadening eligibility to better catch gig workers, rural residents, and households on the edge
None of that helps you today. But it’s a signal that affordability policy is not dead — and that the $39 path you can build right now may become even easier next year.
What to do next (today, not “someday”)
- Confirm your eligibility through the National Verifier using SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Section 8, Veterans benefits, Pell, or income.
- Pick a Lifeline provider with a plan in the $9.95–$25 range.
- Apply your Lifeline credit (or Tribal credit) and check the final price.
- Ask for add-ons: state price caps, local discounts, or student offers.
- Tell a friend. Most eligible people never apply because they don’t know this exists.
Bottom line
Free internet and phone aren’t gone — they’re just harder to find. In 2025, the smart move is to stack benefits: use Lifeline’s $9.25 as your base, then layer in carrier affordability plans and state/local caps where available. For students, the Pell Grant is your golden ticket; for low-income workers and seniors, SNAP/Medicaid/SSI unlock the same path.
The headline isn’t hype: $39 of relief is still on the table — and for many households, that still adds up to $0 out of pocket. Connection is power. Claim yours.