Your Guide to Affordable Internet Plans for SSI Recipients

If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), managing monthly expenses on a fixed income is a top priority. The good news is that your SSI benefits can qualify you for significant discounts on high-speed home internet, making this essential service much more affordable. This guide will walk you through the primary programs and providers available to you.

The Key to Affordable Internet: The Affordable Connectivity Program

The most important resource for SSI recipients is the federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). This is a U.S. government benefit program run by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to help ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare, and more.

The ACP provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households. For households on qualifying Tribal lands, the discount is up to $75 per month.

Crucially, you are eligible for the ACP if you or someone in your household participates in certain federal assistance programs, including Supplemental Security Income (SSI). This means that if you receive SSI, you automatically meet the eligibility criteria for this valuable monthly discount.

The program also provides a one-time discount of up to \(100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if you contribute more than \)10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.

How to Apply for the ACP with Your SSI Benefits

Getting your ACP benefit is a straightforward, two-step process. You must apply for the program itself and then contact a participating internet service provider to have the discount applied to your monthly bill.

Step 1: Complete the ACP Application

The first thing you need to do is prove your eligibility. The easiest way to do this is online.

  1. Visit the Official Website: Go to the official ACP website at ACPBenefit.org to apply.
  2. Fill Out the Application: You will need to provide some basic information about yourself and your household. The online application will guide you through the process.
  3. Prove Your Eligibility: During the application, you will be asked how you qualify. You should select that you participate in a qualifying federal program and choose “Supplemental Security Income (SSI).” In many cases, the system can verify your participation automatically through government databases. If it cannot, you may be asked to upload a document, such as your SSI benefit verification letter.

Once your application is approved, you will receive a confirmation. You are now ready for the next step.

Step 2: Choose a Provider and Apply Your Discount

With your ACP eligibility confirmed, you can now sign up for service. Hundreds of internet service providers (ISPs) across the country participate in the program. Many of them offer high-speed internet plans for $30 per month or less. When you apply your ACP benefit to one of these plans, you can get internet service for free.

You should contact major providers in your area to see what ACP-specific plans they offer. Here are some of the largest participating providers:

  • AT&T: AT&T offers several plans that are covered by the ACP. Their “Access from AT&T” program provides low-cost internet, and when combined with the ACP benefit, the service can be free.
  • Xfinity (Comcast): Xfinity’s “Internet Essentials” and “Internet Essentials Plus” plans are designed for low-income households. Applying the $30 ACP credit to these plans typically makes the service free.
  • Verizon: Verizon offers its Fios and 5G Home Internet services to ACP-qualified customers. With the ACP discount, many of their plans become very low-cost or free.
  • Spectrum (Charter): Spectrum’s “Internet Assist” program is an option for eligible households. They also allow the ACP credit to be applied to most of their standard internet plans, significantly reducing the cost.
  • Cox: The “ConnectAssist” and “Connect2Compete” plans from Cox are designed for affordability. The ACP benefit can be used with these or other Cox internet plans to lower your monthly bill.

When you call a provider, tell them you are approved for the Affordable Connectivity Program and want to sign up for service using your benefit. They will have a dedicated process to verify your eligibility in the ACP system and apply the discount to your account.

Finding Other Low-Cost Internet Options

While the ACP is the primary source of assistance, it’s good to be aware of other programs.

  • The Lifeline Program: Lifeline is another FCC program that helps make communications services more affordable. It provides up to a $9.25 monthly discount on telephone, internet, or bundled services. You can receive both a Lifeline and an ACP benefit at the same time. You can apply them to the same or separate services.
  • Provider-Specific Programs: As mentioned above, many large ISPs have their own low-income internet programs. These were created before the ACP and still exist. They often have similar eligibility requirements, including participation in SSI. It is always a good idea to ask a provider if they have a special plan like “Internet Essentials” or “Access from AT&T” in addition to the ACP benefit.

By combining these resources, SSI recipients have more options than ever to secure a reliable, high-speed internet connection at little to no cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of internet speed can I get with these programs? Many providers now offer plans with speeds of 100 Mbps or more that are fully covered by the $30 ACP benefit. This is fast enough for multiple people to stream videos, make video calls, and browse the web at the same time.

What documents do I need to prove I receive SSI? If the online system cannot automatically verify your SSI status, you may need to provide a recent benefit verification letter from the Social Security Administration. You can get this letter from your online my Social Security account or by contacting the SSA.

Can I get the ACP discount if I already have an internet plan? Yes. If you are already a customer with a participating provider, you can apply for the ACP and then ask your provider to apply the discount to your current plan. You do not need to be a new customer.

Is the Affordable Connectivity Program permanent? The ACP is a government-funded program. Its continuation depends on funding from Congress. It is important to check the official ACP website for any updates on the program’s status.