The Affordable Connectivity Program Can Help SSI Recipients Get Internet Access
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: May 25, 2022
Internet access is now necessary for work, school, healthcare, and more. However, for many households, it remains unaffordable. The Federal Communications Commission wants everyone to access reasonably priced internet services. We recently launched a new program to reduce the cost of getting online.
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) provides a discount of up to:
- $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households.
- $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands.
Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 toward purchasing a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers. To qualify for this one-time discount, households must contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.
You can learn more about applying for ACP – and see if you’re eligible for the discounts – on the ACP website.
Any household with an individual who receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is eligible to receive discounted internet service through the ACP. Social Security doesn’t count ACP assistance as income or a resource for SSI purposes. Receipt of this assistance will not affect your SSI payment. You may also be eligible, if your household participates in other assistance programs, such as:
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
- Medicaid.
- Federal Public Housing Assistance.
- Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
- Lifeline.
If you don’t receive SSI or participate in another qualifying assistance program, you may also be eligible if your household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
There are additional ways to qualify. Go to our Affordable Connectivity Program page to learn more and apply. If you have questions, you’ll find a consumer FAQ that can help, along with a list of participating internet service providers sorted by state.
Cost shouldn’t be a barrier to getting online. Being connected can help you find job opportunities and access telehealth services, saving you time and transportation costs. And with affordable internet services, students no longer need to rely on public Wi-Fi hotspots to do their homework or for distance learning.
As of February 2022, more than 10 million households have already enrolled in the ACP program. That’s an exciting threshold, but we know many more eligible households that are not yet enrolled. Please help us spread the word about ACP with your families, friends, neighbors, and co-workers.
For more information about the program, please email ACPinfo@fcc.gov or call 877-384-2575.
The ACP helps close the digital divide.
Tags: People Facing Barriers, Social Security benefits, SSI, supplemental security income
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FRUSTRATED
MOST OF THE GOVERNMENT AGENTCIES WILL SAY A LOT OF THINGS. MOST OF THEM DO NOT WORK. THINK THERE HANGING OUT IN THE DONUT SHOPS WITH THE COPS… TODAY YOU HAVE TO WRITE THE OLD FASHIONED LETTERS WITH A TRACKING NUMBER. I HAVE EVEN USED REGISTERED MAIL WITH A CONFIRMATION SLIP THAT THE PERSON ADDRESSED IS SUPPOSE TO SIGN FOR ONLY TO HAVE SOME OTHER AGENT SIGN FOR THEM. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THE LAST DECADE. I AM SURPRISED HOW ANYTHING WORKS WHEN HALF THE PEOPLE DO NOT WORK. NOT HAPPY WITH ANY OF THEM!!!
Charlene
Yotta bank sent bk 250.00of my check bk to y’all.. how can I gt it bk n put bk in to my account
Ann C.
Hi, Charlene. Thanks for visiting our blog. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Shirleen E.
Hi my name is Shirleen I am always sending my check stubs to my local office,not going over the amount I’m told,but I CONSTANTLY receives letters indicating that my check will be taken,I always call the office as soon as I get the letter,ask for supervisor or case worker,they said supervisor will call in24 to 72 hours.This been since early March we are now in May stlll NO CALL they are taking from my check now that I don’t think is correct but I didn’t have the time to fight it. I been trying to contact local office and couldn’t They really need to handle phone call better.This is very very stressful,not to mention depending that I already suffer with, it really drives me and needs to STOP!!!
Ann C.
Hi, Shirleen. We are sorry to hear about your experience. If you receive Social Security Disability (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you can also report your wages online using your personal my Social Security account. You can submit feedback by visiting our Contact Social Security page. Once there, select the “Email Us” link. This will take you to the “Email A Question to our Support Team” form where you can complete and submit a compliment, complaint, or suggestion. We hope this helps.
Mignon F.
Call your local Area Agency on Aging and see if they can help you.
Sue W.
I have been trying for 3 years to have taxes withheld and have called our local office. I’m told that they are busy and it will be 15 minutes until someone would be available to me. I have waited, several times for the 15 minutes, only to be hung up on!
Ann C.
Hi, Sue. We are sorry to hear about your experience. In order to have taxes withheld from your Social Security benefit, you must start by printing, completing and submitting an IRS Voluntary Withholding Request Form (Form W-4V). On this form, you can choose to have 7, 10, 12, or 22 percent of your monthly benefit withheld. The Form W-4V (to withhold federal taxes from your Social Security benefits) can be returned to your local Social Security office by mail or in person. See our Benefits Planner: Withholding Income Tax From Your Social Security Benefits web page for more information. We hope this helps.
susan c.
Do I qualify for this program?
Ann C.
Hi, Susan. Thanks for visiting our blog. For more information or additional specific questions, please visit Affordable Connectivity Program’s (ACP) Consumer Frequently Asked Questions or call the ACP Support Center at (877) 384-2575. We hope this helps.
Erin
I’m not sure if I signed up yet. How can I check?
Ann C.
Hi, Erin. Thanks for visiting our blog. For more information or additional specific questions, please visit Affordable Connectivity Program’s (ACP) Consumer Frequently Asked Questions or call the ACP Support Center at (877) 384-2575.
Tammy C.
I have filled out the application and tried several times to get this and I get nowhere. They haver not even acknowledged my application! I am far below the poverty line they could at least acknowledge they’ve received my app and are looking into it
Leah N.
Are you sure you’re not going to count these devices as resources or assets later on? They are not on the list of approved things
Leah G.
If a person is at 200% BELOW the poverty line, then our country has drastically failed. The fact that Social Security Administration can even put those qords in a statement as qualifiers for a program; means our country has INTENTIONALLY failed.
Naquetta W.
When I first started getting benefits My ex-husband was abusive and used me I ended up on life support from trying to take my life I had ended up moving out into my own place and because I didn’t send SS my lease and I was one day shy of a year in my own place they denied me my SSI for the whole year keep in mind I’m mentally ill escaped from an abusive spouse and new to receiving SSD how is that fair SS will garnish your income if you’ve over paid. That was almost 3,000 I think about especially when I was just recently experienced homelessness and hunger with my 2yr old.