Mammoth AwardsGovernment assistance can help low-income families with essentials like housing, food, medical care, and more. But receiving government assistance can also lead to opportunities to save even more money on necessities, such as Internet service.
Thanks to the newly-launched Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), you can receive a $30 discount on your monthly Internet bill ($75 if you reside on Tribal lands). Even better, you can qualify for this discount by simply receiving government benefits.
Affordable Connectivity Program Eligibility
Last April, the federal government announced it would help households negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic by offering a $50 discount on their monthly Internet service. This was accomplished through the temporary Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) that ended on March 1, 2022.
Since the Internet is so essential for working from home and helping kids with school assignments or virtual learning, the government saw the need to continue such a benefit. To do so, they decided to replace the Emergency Broadband Benefit with the Affordable Connectivity Program. Unlike the EBB, the ACP is permanent and here to stay. With $14 billion invested into the program, families in need can look forward to cheaper Internet well into the future.
How can you qualify for this affordable Internet program? There are multiple avenues to qualify, with the first being your household income. If you can prove that your household income sits below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, you can receive the ACP Internet discount. You will have to present three consecutive pay stubs or a current tax return to show proof.
What’s an easier way to show you qualify for the ACP? Prove that you currently receive benefits from another government assistance program. Doing so can lead to automatic eligibility, so you can start enjoying that $30 discount sooner.
If you or someone in your household receives the following benefits, that could qualify you for the ACP:
- SSI
- Medicaid
- Food stamps (SNAP)
- Federal public housing
- Lifeline
- School Breakfast Program
- National School Lunch Program
- WIC
- Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit
- Federal Pell Grant
As long as you can show proof of enrollment for one of those programs, you should be good to go.
How To Apply For ACP Benefits
It’s worth mentioning that qualifying for the ACP can get you more than just a $30 discount off your monthly Internet bill. It can also give you a one-time discount of $100 that you can use to purchase a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer from a participating provider.
How can you start receiving these money-saving benefits? Go here to apply online or print out your application and mail it. You can also contact your current Internet provider and see if they participate in the ACP. Many national companies do, so yours should be able to tell you what is needed to start receiving the ACP discount.
