Internet access is vital for work, school, healthcare, and everyday life. However, for some, internet access in the household is unaffordable. The Federal Communications Commission, in an effort to provide interact access to all, has released a new program to reduce the cost of internet access for those living under the poverty line.
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) provides a discount of up to $30 a month toward internet service for eligible household and $75 per month for households on Tribal lands. Eligible households will also have a one-time discount of up to $100 for the purchase of a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet.
A household is eligible is for ACP if the household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or if a member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below:
- Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;
- Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income internet program;
- Participates in one of these assistance programs:
- The National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision;
- SNAP
- Medicaid
- Federal Public Housing Assistance
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- WIC
- Veterans Pension or Survivor Benefits
- or Lifeline;
- Participates in one of these assistance programs and lives on Qualifying Tribal lands:
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Tribal TANF
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
- Tribal Head Start (income based)
For those receiving SSI, ACP assistance will not be counted as income or a resource for SSI purposes. As of February 2022, more than 10 million households have enrolled in the ACP program. For more information or to apply for the ACP program, go to https://www.fcc.gov/acp
For more information on Social Security Disability Benefits and Supplemental Security Income, contact an experienced Social Security disability attorney at Gardberg & Kemmerly, P.C. Gardberg & Kemmerly, P.C. represents Social Security disability claimants in Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, and Louisiana at all levels of the disability process from initial application to appeals to Federal Court. Gardberg & Kemmerly, P.C. has been helping Social Security claimants with their disability claims for over 30 years.