How to qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program/ACP?
The times when internet access was considered a luxury are long over! Whether you need to work from home, study online, keep up with the latest news or are simply looking to stay virtually connected to the outside: the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) allows you to do this even on a limited income.
However, you must fulfill a few requirements to qualify for this government assistance. Keep reading to find out how to qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program.
ACP Overview
The Affordable Connectivity Program provides low-cost or even free internet and digital services to qualifying households in the US. The program is run by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and helps to make sure that you can afford not only internet access as such but can also provide you with a discount for a digital device like a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer.
Who is eligible for the program?
There are two main factors to determine whether you qualify:
1.
You/your household must reside/be located in an eligible state. The program does not apply to vehicle dwellings.
2.
a) Your limited household income (max. 200% of your state’s poverty line) or
b) a member of your household has either received a Federal Pell Grant during the respective year of participation in the ACP or is participating in at least one of the following assistance programs:
- Free/Reduced-Price School Lunch Program/School Breakfast Program
- Federal Housing Assistance – SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
- Lifeline
- Medicaid
- SSI (Supplemental Security Income)
- Veterans Pension or Survivor Benefits – WIC (The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance (while living on Qualifying Tribal Lands)
- Tribal TANF (while living on Qualifying Tribal Lands)
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (while living on Qualifying Tribal Lands)
- Tribal Head Start (income based/while living on Qualifying Tribal Lands)
c) or meets specific criteria for a participating provider’s individually existing low-income internet program
Proof of household income
As mentioned above, an important criterium of potentially qualifying for the Affordable Connectivity Program is the household income, i.e., all members of the household. This can be easiest done by providing your income tax return, including those of any qualifying family members that live with you.
How to determine household size
Determining the members of your household is an important part of qualifying for the Affordable Connectivity Program since one household can only be eligible for one ACP benefit.
The ACP offers various examples of what constitutes one vs. various households:
One household:
- a married couple living together
- a parent or guardian and child living together
- an adult who is financially supported by family members and friends and also lives in their household
Several households:
- several roommates sharing a residence but not their money
- a group of seniors in a senior residence who do not share their money
How to apply for the program
Now that you know more about how to qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program, there is still the question of how to successfully and easily apply for it. We can provide a simple answer for that as well: Simply contact us! We cut through the proverbial red tape for you and match you with the internet provider that works best for you!
