Lifeline is the Federal Communication Commission's program to help make communications services more affordable for eligible consumers. Lifeline is a federal program that lowers the monthly cost of phone and internet.
You can only use Lifeline for either phone or internet, but not both.
Customers
Lifeline is not an IDHS Family and Community Services program. All customer inquiries about the Lifeline program must be directed to your cell phone provider or to www.lifelinesupport.org
Follow this link to the Lifeline program to find out if you qualify and how to participate in the Lifeline program (www.lifelinesupport.org).
Service Providers
Lifeline is a federal program administered for service providers by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). All provider inquiries about the Lifeline program must be directed to USAC.
Eligibility Verification
In Illinois, Lifeline service providers are responsible for verifying the eligibility of program applicants. To support providers, the IDHS has established a Lifeline Eligibility Verification System (LEVS) that providers may use to confirm applicants participation in an eligible federal assistance program (e.g., Medicaid, SNAP).
Service providers seeking access to LEVS must complete an IDHS LEVS Data Sharing Agreement Template (pdf) and submit it to DHS.LevAdmin@illinois.gov.
After the IDHS-DSA is executed, IDHS will send a copy of the agreement along with login information and instructions for using LEVS.
Data sharing agreements must be renewed annually.
Links:
Lifeline Program Resources
