Safe Connections Act (SCA) Emergency Communications Benefit

Survivors experiencing financial hardship will be able to apply for emergency support.

LifeLine

Making phone service more affordable.

AT&T Lifeline

If you are in a qualifying household, you may be able to reduce your bill by getting a Lifeline benefit on your wireless phone or home phone service with AT&T.

What is Lifeline?

Lifeline is a federal program that lowers the monthly cost of wireless phone or home phone for qualifying customers. Eligible customers will get at least a $5.25 discount on their bill. Qualifying customers who live on federally recognized tribal lands may get up to an additional $25 discount.

You can get one Lifeline discount (wireless phone or home phone, but only one service) per household, not per person, and a household can get a Lifeline discount from only one provider. Lifeline service is non-transferrable. Only eligible consumers may enroll in Lifeline.

AT&T provides a Lifeline discount on home phone in certain areas of California, Kansas and Nevada. Call for availability at your specific location.

Learn more about where Lifeline discounts are available on your AT&T wireless service.

Qualifying customers will need to follow all applicable Lifeline requirements to maintain their Lifeline benefit including recertifying eligibility when requested.

Do I qualify?

You may qualify for a Lifeline benefit based on: 

-OR-

  • Participation by you or someone else in your household in one of the following federal assistance programs: 

  1. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps

  1. Medicaid

  1. Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

  1. Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA) 

  1. Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit

  1. Tribal Programs (and live on federally-recognized Tribal lands)

How do I apply for Lifeline?

If you live in Kansas or Nevada: Please apply online via the National Verifier. You can also download and print a copy of the application. Once you have applied and been approved by the National Verifier, call us at 888.319.0519 (Weekdays, 8am to 8pm, Eastern Time) to see if AT&T offers Lifeline at your location.

Safe Connections Act (SCA) Emergency Communications Benefit

 

AT&T is committed to helping keep domestic abuse survivors safe and connected.

The FCC implemented the Safe Connections Act (SCA) to help people who have survived domestic violence or other related crimes and abuse.

The SCA lets survivors separate their phone line(s) from their alleged abuser.

Survivors experiencing financial hardship can also qualify for an emergency communications benefit of $9.25 for six months through the Lifeline program.

Survivors of domestic violence can request line separation by calling 800.983.4428 or go to www.att.com/survivorhelp.

Do I qualify for the Emergency Communications Benefit?

You may qualify for the Lifeline Emergency Communications Benefit based on:

Household income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines

Participation in one of the following programs

  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
  • Medicaid
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
  • Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit
  • Free and reduced price school lunch or breakfast program or attendance at Community Eligibility Provision school
  • Federal Pell Grant
  • Women Infants and Children program assistance (WIC)
 

Those that live on Federally recognized tribal lands may also qualify based on participation in:

  • Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
  • Tribally-Administered Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
  • Tribal Head Start
  • Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)

Survivors will also need to provide valid documentation from their phone company proving they made a completed line separation request to receive emergency support from Lifeline.

Application Process/How do I Apply?

Apply online via the National Verifier. Once you have applied and been approved by the National Verifier, call us at 888.319.0519 (Weekdays, 8am to 8pm, Eastern Time) to see if AT&T offers the Lifeline Emergency Communications Benefit at your location.

What will happen at the end of 6 months?    

USAC will attempt to verify the survivor’s eligibility for the standard Lifeline benefit through its automated database check process.