Programs and Resources That Help With Phone Bills

Where to find help paying your phone bill

Phone bill help comes from three main sources: your phone company itself, government programs tied to income, and nonprofits that pay bills directly. Your phone company may offer a discount program or payment plan if you call and explain your situation — many carriers have hardship programs that reduce your monthly cost or pause late fees. Government programs like the Lifeline information Program and Link Up lower your monthly bill if your household income is at or below 135% of the federal poverty line. Nonprofits and local charities pay phone bills as emergency information, though availability and the amount they cover varies by location.

The fastest route depends on your situation. If you are behind on a bill and need when ready help, a local nonprofit or 211 referral can sometimes pay the bill directly to prevent disconnection. If you want to lower your ongoing monthly cost, Lifeline is the permanent option — you stay enrolled as long as you remain income-may have access to. If your phone company is about to shut off service, calling their customer service line to ask about hardship programs or payment plans often works before you turn to outside sources.

Key Takeaways

• Your phone company's hardship program or payment plan is usually the first place to call, because they can act within hours and do not require income verification.
• Lifeline information Program reduces your monthly bill by $9.25 to $16.50 if your household income is at or below 135% of the federal poverty line, and you stay enrolled as long as you may have access to.
• Local nonprofits and 211 referrals can pay your phone bill as emergency information, but funds are limited and availability changes by location.
• You cannot be enrolled in Lifeline with more than one phone number, and you must recertify your income every year to stay in the program.

How your phone company's hardship program works

Most major carriers — including Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and others — have programs for customers who cannot pay their bill on time. These programs do not require you to prove your income. You call the customer service number on your bill, explain that you are having trouble paying, and ask what options they offer. Common options include a payment plan that spreads your bill over several months, a temporary reduction in your monthly rate, or a pause on late fees and disconnection while you catch up.

The process is straightforward because the phone company wants to keep you as a customer rather than disconnect you and lose the revenue. Tell them your account number, explain your situation briefly, and ask what they can do. Many carriers will set up a payment plan on the spot. Some will reduce your plan to a lower tier temporarily. A few will pause service rather than disconnect it, letting you stay connected while you arrange payment. The key is calling before your service is shut off — once disconnection happens, reconnection fees explore and the process takes longer.

If your carrier does not have a formal hardship program or you do not may have access to for what they offer, ask specifically whether they will accept a partial payment, extend your due date, or waive a late fee. Many customer service representatives have discretion to do one of these things, especially if you have been a customer for a long time or if this is your first late payment.

Lifeline information Program: permanent monthly discounts

The Lifeline information Program is a federal program run by the FCC that reduces your phone bill if your household income is at or below 135% of the federal poverty line. The income threshold changes each year — for 2024, it is roughly $1,735 per month for a single person and $3,575 per month for a family of four, but these numbers vary by state. Lifeline gives you a discount of $9.25 to $16.50 per month on your phone service, depending on your state and carrier.

To enroll in Lifeline, you contact your phone company or go to the National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) website, which lists all participating carriers in your area. You will need to provide proof of income — such as a recent tax return, pay stub, benefit letter from Social Security or SNAP, or a statement from your employer. You can also prove income by showing that you already receive certain benefits like SNAP, Medicaid, or SSI. Once you enroll, the discount appears on your bill each month as long as you remain income-may have access to.

Lifeline requires you to recertify your income once per year. The program will send you a notice telling you when to recertify. If you do not recertify by the important date, you will be removed from the program and will lose the discount. You can re-enroll at any time if your income still qualifies. One important rule: you can only be enrolled in Lifeline with one phone number. If you try to enroll a second line, the program will catch it and remove you from both.

Link Up: one-time help with phone service startup

Link Up is a federal program that helps people who do not currently have phone service pay the startup costs — usually the first month's bill and any set up or equipment fees. Like Lifeline, Link Up is for households at or below 135% of the federal poverty line. Unlike Lifeline, which is ongoing, Link Up is a one-time benefit. You can receive it once every 60 months (five years).

Link Up covers up to $30 of your startup costs with the phone company. If your first bill and set up fees total more than $30, you pay the difference. To use Link Up, you contact a participating carrier directly and tell them you want to enroll. The carrier will verify your income using the same methods as Lifeline — recent tax return, pay stub, benefit letter, or proof that you receive SNAP, Medicaid, or SSI. Once verified, the $30 credit is applied to your account.

Link Up is most useful if you have been without phone service and need to reconnect. If you already have service and just need help with the monthly bill, Lifeline is the better option because it continues month after month.

Nonprofits and local charities that pay phone bills

Local nonprofits, community action agencies, and religious organizations sometimes pay phone bills as emergency information. These programs are not federal, so what they offer and who they serve depends entirely on your location. Some cover the full bill, others pay a portion. Some require you to be behind on your bill already, others will pay before disconnection. Availability changes — many programs run out of money partway through the year and reopen when new funding arrives.

The fastest way to find these programs is to call 211 (dial 2-1-1 from any phone) and tell them you need help paying your phone bill. 211 is a free referral service that connects you to local nonprofits and government programs in your area. They will tell you which organizations in your community offer phone bill help, what they require, and whether they are currently accepting requests. Some 211 services can even transfer you directly to the nonprofit or pay the bill on your behalf.

You can also search online for "[your city or county] emergency information phone bill" or contact your local community action agency directly. Community action agencies exist in most counties and often have small emergency funds for utilities and phone bills. If you belong to a religious congregation, ask whether they have an emergency information fund — many churches, synagogues, mosques, and other faith communities help members with bills.

What to do if your phone service is about to be disconnected

If your phone company has told you that service will be shut off within days, act when ready. Call your phone company's customer service line first and ask about a payment plan or hardship program — this can often stop disconnection within hours. If the company will not work with you, call 211 and explain that you need emergency help today. Some nonprofits can pay a bill the same day if you call early in the morning.

If disconnection happens before you can get help, reconnection usually requires paying the full past-due balance plus a reconnection fee. The fee varies by carrier but is typically $15 to $50. Some phone companies will waive the reconnection fee if you set up a payment plan for the past-due amount. Once reconnected, you are back on the same billing cycle as before.

Prevention is easier than reconnection. If you know you will have trouble paying next month, contact your phone company now rather than waiting until the bill is late. Most carriers will work with you if you reach out first.

Income limits and how they are verified

Both Lifeline and Link Up use the same income threshold: 135% of the federal poverty line. This threshold is set by the federal government and changes each year. For 2024, the limit is approximately $1,735 per month for a single person, $2,328 for a family of two, $2,922 for a family of three, and $3,575 for a family of four. Your state may have a different threshold — some states use 130% or 150% instead of 135%. Check with your phone company or the NLAD website to confirm the limit in your state.

To prove your income, you can provide any of these documents: a recent tax return (from the past two years), a current pay stub, a benefit letter from Social Security, SSI, SNAP, or another government program, or a statement from your employer. If you receive SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, or certain other benefits, you do not need to provide income documentation — the program will verify your benefit status directly with the government agency.

Income verification happens once when you enroll in Lifeline or Link Up. For Lifeline, you must recertify every year. For Link Up, you only verify once because it is a one-time benefit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get help with my phone bill if I am not on a fixed income?

Yes. Lifeline and Link Up do not require you to be retired or on disability — they only look at your total household income. If your household income is at or below 135% of the federal poverty line, you may have access to, regardless of whether the income comes from a job, benefits, or both. Self-employed people can use their tax return to prove income.

What happens if I move to a different state while enrolled in Lifeline?

Your Lifeline enrollment stays with your phone number, not your state. If you move and keep the same phone number and carrier, your discount continues. If you switch carriers or get a new phone number, you will need to re-enroll in Lifeline with your new carrier. The income threshold may be different in your new state, so check whether you still may have access to.

Can I use Lifeline and Link Up at the same time?

No. You can only receive one federal phone information benefit at a time. If you are already enrolled in Lifeline, you cannot also receive Link Up. However, you can use a nonprofit or local program in addition to Lifeline — Lifeline only covers part of your bill, and nonprofits can help with the rest.

What if my phone company says I do not may have access to for their hardship program?

Ask why. Some carriers limit hardship programs to customers who have been with them for a certain length of time, or who have not used the program recently. If you do not may have access to for their program, ask whether they will accept a partial payment, extend your due date, or pause late fees. If the company will not budge, call 211 or contact a local nonprofit — they can sometimes pay the bill directly to prevent disconnection.

Do I have to pay back the money Lifeline gives me?

No. Lifeline is a discount on your monthly bill, not a loan. The money comes from the federal Universal Service Fund, which is funded by phone companies and passed along to customers through a small charge on their bills. You do not repay it.