Free internet with food stamps is possible through the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which is a federal government program that provides a discount on monthly high-speed internet service bills for qualifying low-income households.
What is The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a federal government program that offers discounts on monthly broadband internet service bills for qualifying low-income households. The ACP is open to households with an income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, or households that participate in certain federal assistance programs, such as SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
If you participate in SNAP, you are automatically eligible for the ACP. You can enroll in the ACP by visiting the ACP website or contacting your internet service provider (ISP). Once you are enrolled in the ACP, you will receive a monthly discount on your broadband internet service bill. The amount of the discount will vary depending on your location and the ISP you choose.
In addition to the ACP, some ISPs also offer their own low-income internet programs. These programs may offer even lower discounts on broadband internet service, or even free internet service to eligible households. If you are interested in learning more about your ISP’s low-income internet programs, you can visit their website or contact them directly.
Here are some additional details about the ACP:
- The ACP is a long-term program, so you can continue to receive the discount on your monthly internet bill for as long as you are eligible.
- You can only receive one ACP benefit per household.
- You can use the ACP discount to purchase broadband internet service from any participating ISP.
- You can also use the ACP discount to purchase a bundled service plan that includes internet and other services, such as phone or TV service.
The Qualifications for the ACP Program Recipients
To qualify for the ACP, you must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Your household income is less than or equal to 200% of the federal poverty guidelines.
- You participate in federal assistance programs like SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, WIC, or Lifeline.
If you qualify for the ACP, you can receive a discount of up to $30 per month on your internet service bill. If you live on Tribal lands, you can receive a discount of up to $75 per month.
To get free internet with food stamps, you must first enroll in the ACP. You can do this online at GetACP.gov or by calling 1-800-225-5321. Once you are enrolled in the ACP, you can choose an internet service provider (ISP) that offers ACP-eligible plans.
Free Internet for SNAP Recipients
To get free internet with food stamps, you will need to:
- Participate in SNAP.
- Enroll in the ACP.
- Choose an ISP that offers low-income internet programs.
Here is a step-by-step guide to getting free internet with food stamps:
- Check to see if you qualify for the ACP. You can do this online at GetACP.gov or by calling 1-800-225-5321.
- Enroll in the ACP. You can do this online at GetACP.gov or by calling 1-800-225-5321.
- Choose an ISP that offers ACP-eligible plans. You can find a list of ACP-eligible ISPs on the GetACP.gov website.
- Contact the ISP to sign up for an ACP-eligible plan. Be sure to tell the ISP that you are an ACP subscriber.
Once you have followed these steps, you will be able to get free internet with food stamps.
List of the ISPs That Offer ACP-eligible Plans
Some of the ISPs that offer ACP-eligible plans include:
- AT&T
- Comcast
- Cox
- Spectrum
- Verizon
Here are some examples of how you can get free internet with food stamps:
- Comcast: Comcast offers the Internet Essentials program, which provides free or low-cost broadband internet service to eligible households. To qualify for Internet Essentials, your household must have an income at or below 135% of the federal poverty level. You can also qualify for Internet Essentials if you participate in SNAP, Medicaid, or SSI.
- Cox: Cox offers the Connect2Compete program, which provides free or low-cost broadband internet service to eligible households. To qualify for Connect2Compete, your household must have an income at or below 150% of the federal poverty level. You can also qualify for Connect2Compete if you participate in SNAP, Medicaid, or SSI.
- Spectrum: Spectrum offers the Affordable Internet program, which provides free or low-cost broadband internet service to eligible households. To qualify for Affordable Internet, your household must have an income at or below 150% of the federal poverty level. You can also qualify for Affordable Internet if you participate in SNAP, Medicaid, or SSI.
Once you have chosen an ISP, you will need to contact them to sign up for an ACP-eligible plan. Be sure to tell the ISP that you are an ACP subscriber.
It is important to note that the ACP is a new program, and it is still being implemented by ISPs. As a result, there may be some variation in how the program is offered by different ISPs. For example, some ISPs may offer ACP-eligible plans to all of their customers, while others may only offer them to new customers.
If you have any questions about the ACP, you can visit the GetACP.gov website or call 1-800-225-5321.