Phone & Internet Discounts

Many landline and wireless providers offer discounts from the federal Lifeline program and Minnesota's Telephone Assistance Plan. The credits apply to one main home telephone number listed in the applicant's name.

• Lifeline 
  Lifeline provides qualified users a discount of $9.25 on monthly charges for either internet-only service or a bundle that includes Internet service.  Lifeline provides qualified users a discount of $5.25 on monthly charges for landline-only service or voice-only wireless service.”
• Telephone Assistance Program (TAP) 
  TAP provides a monthly discount of $10.00 on landline voice service (excluding cell phones). The discount was increased to $10.00 on April 1, 2021. If a customer receives Lifeline from a landline phone/internet provider and purchases voice service, the customer will be automatically enrolled in TAP without the need for the customer to complete a separate TAP application. You may apply for TAP separately for your landline service if your landline provider does not offer Lifeline, or if you obtain Lifeline from a wireless provider.
• Link-Up 
  Link-Up offers a 100 percent reduction, up to $100, off installation charges to qualifying residents of Tribal lands. Link-Up will NOT cover the cost of a telephone or wiring your home.

Am I eligible?

Telephone service must be in your name and you must show proof you, or someone in your household, either participates in one or more of the qualifying programs, or you meet the qualifying income guidelines. If you choose to qualify based on your income, you must attach one of the income qualifying documents to your application.

When you no longer participate in any of the qualifying public assistance programs or you no longer meet the income guidelines, you must notify the Lifeline and/or TAP provider that you are no longer eligible to participate in the programs.

Annual Recertification

Lifeline customers must re-certify their Lifeline eligibility each year. Lifeline customers will receive information from their local service provider or the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) when it is time for eligibility to be recertified. If you are recertified as eligible for Lifeline, you will also stay enrolled in TAP, if applicable.

Not all telephone and internet companies offer discounts

Contact your phone or internet company and ask for a Lifeline/Link-Up/TAP application, or download an application under the “Apply” tab. If your local telephone company is not authorized to provide discounts, contact the Department of Commerce at 651-539-1876, or telecom.commerce@state.mn.us, to find an authorized provider.

You may contact your landline or wireless company to request an application or download the application using the application link, as cited below. You can participate in all the programs at the same time. 

Attach proof of participation in one of the qualifying programs or proof of income to your application.

Lifeline: If applying for the Lifeline discount, either complete the application online through the consumer portal at www.lifelinesupport.org or print the Lifeline application and Lifeline Household Worksheet, and mail it, along with the required supporting documents, to the National Verifier at the address shown on the application. You will be automatically enrolled in TAP if subscribing to voice service from a landline service provider. 

Apply for Lifeline

Lifeline Enhanced Tribal Benefit: Complete the Lifeline application process, as described above, and check the “Tribal Lands” Box.  Provide a Tribal ID Number if a Social Security Number is unavailable. Your local service provider may assist by helping to determine whether your address is located within Tribal lands. If you are eligible for the Lifeline Enhanced Tribal Benefit and signing up to receive service, ask your local service provider about the Tribal Link-Up benefit to get up to $100 toward your service connection charges.

Telephone Assistance Plan (TAP): If a customer receives Lifeline from a landline phone/Internet provider and purchases voice service, the customer will automatically be enrolled in TAP without the need for the customer to complete a separate TAP application. You may apply for TAP separately for your landline service if your landline provider does not offer Lifeline, or if you obtain Lifeline from a wireless provider. If applying for only the TAP discount from your service provider, mail the TAP application and documents to your landline service provider.

The following programs to verify your eligibility applies to Lifeline, Lifeline Enhanced Tribal Benefit, and TAP. For the ACP See the following link: Do I Qualify? - ACP - Universal Service Administrative Company (acpbenefit.org)

Programs accepted for customer eligibility of Lifeline and TAP  for internet and telephone discount participation:

• Medicaid/Medical Assistance
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)/ Food Stamps)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Federal Housing Assistance
• Veterans Pension or Survivors Pension Benefit
• Additional qualifying programs for persons living on a reservation:
• Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
• Tribally administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Tribally administered Head Start (only those meeting its income qualifying standard)
• Food Distribution program on Indian Reservation (FDPIR)

If you do not participate in any qualifying programs, you may qualify by demonstrating that your income is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines by attaching one of the following documents to your application:

• Last year's State, Federal or Tribal Tax Return
• Social Security Benefits Statement
• Current pay stubs or other official documentation of income for the last three months annual income statement from employer
• Retirement/Pension Benefits Statement
• Three consecutive months of most recent paycheck stubs or other official documentation
• Divorce Decree
• Veterans Administration Benefits Statement
• Child Support Document
• Unemployment/Worker's 

Federal Poverty Guidelines

The following wireless providers are authorized to provide the Lifeline discount to Minnesota customers:. Note: Providers with an asterisk (*) offer a free cell phone if you are eligible for Lifeline service.

If you meet certain eligibility requirements, you may qualify to receive telecommunications equipment at no cost through Minnesota’s Telephone Equipment Distribution (TED) Program. The TED Program loans telecommunications equipment to people who are hard of hearing, deaf, deafblind, speech disabled, or physically disabled. If you do not qualify, TED Program staff can provide you with a directory of vendors where equipment can be purchased. Contact the TED Program at dhs.dhhsd@state.mn.us, 1-800-657-3663 (voice), or 651-964-1514 (VP).