MARYLAND · NATIONAL LIFELINE PROGRAM

How to Get Lifeline in Maryland [2026 Guide]: Discount, Eligibility, Documents & Application

Source review completed 2026-10-01.

1. Lifeline in Maryland: the quick answer

Marylanders can receive up to $9.25 a month toward qualifying broadband through federal Lifeline, or up to $34.25 at an eligible Tribal address. Maryland guidance also calls Lifeline Tel-Life; the participating service determines the actual credit and remaining bill.

Discount	Who qualifies	How to apply
Up to $9.25 for broadband; up to $34.25 at an eligible Tribal address	One person: annual household income of $21,546 or less in 2026; or an eligible benefit such as Medicaid, SNAP or SSI	Check eligibility, apply at National Verifier, then enroll with a participating provider

Start with ConnectPoint: Explore internet options. Where live ordering is available and the selected plan permits it, get connected through ConnectPoint first, then apply online for assistance through the official program. Confirm plan compatibility and your full bill before ordering. If approval must come first, apply before placing the program order. Ordinary charges apply while approval is pending; eligibility and credits are not guaranteed. Buying through ConnectPoint is not a government requirement.

Sources checked: October 1, 2026. See the official sources below; confirm current eligibility and provider terms before applying.

Start with your service address

Explore ConnectPoint internet options first. Where live ordering is available and the plan permits it, order service and then apply for assistance. Follow approval-first requirements when the program or provider requires them. Ordering does not guarantee a discount.

2. Eligibility: Maryland income and qualifying benefits

For ordinary federal Lifeline eligibility, annual household income can be at or below 135% of the federal poverty guideline. These are the 2026 annual limits used in Maryland; the same table applies throughout the contiguous states and D.C.

People in your household	Maximum annual household income
1	$21,546
2	$29,214
3	$36,882
4	$44,550
5	$52,218
6	$59,886
7	$67,554
8	$75,222

Add $7,668 for each additional person. A Lifeline household is people who live together and share income and expenses. Housemates who keep their finances separate may be separate households; complete any requested household worksheet. Only one Lifeline benefit is allowed per household, across phone and internet providers.

Qualifying benefits: Maryland Medicaid (Medical Assistance) and SNAP, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Federal Public Housing Assistance and Veterans Pension or Survivors Benefit. An eligible child or dependent’s benefit can qualify the household. Participation can establish eligibility, but the application still needs verification. SSI is different from Social Security retirement; Medicare alone is not Medicaid.

Maryland Benefits manages several kinds of assistance, so an account or pending application alone does not establish Lifeline eligibility. Use an approved SNAP or Medicaid notice. Maryland’s Office of People’s Counsel calls the program Tel-Life. The state commission page includes LIHEAP in its list, but current USAC ordinary federal eligibility guidance does not. If your only benefit is energy assistance, ask the provider about any applicable state telephone route; do not assume that notice qualifies for federal broadband Lifeline.

Tribal eligibility: Enhanced federal support requires a qualifying Tribal residential address and household eligibility. Tribal membership or residence near a Tribal organization alone does not establish an eligible address. A complete Maryland qualifying-land inventory remains to be checked; use the federal address guidance and participating provider. Certain additional programs can qualify eligible Tribal households: Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal TANF, income-based Head Start and the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations. Use the USAC Tribal lands guidance and map; a map view is not an approval decision.

Survivor assistance: The Safe Connections Act survivor benefit has separate eligibility and documentation rules. Follow its official instructions; the ordinary income and program rules above do not describe every survivor pathway.

3. Documents: prepare proof before applying

For a qualifying program, use an approval, eligibility or benefit statement showing the recipient’s name, the qualifying program, the issuing agency and an issue date within the last 12 months or an expiration date in the future. Check the verifier’s requested fields before uploading. A benefit card alone may not show every required field.

For income, accepted examples include a prior-year tax return or a qualifying annual income statement. If using pay stubs or similar short-period records, USAC asks for three consecutive months within the previous twelve months. Include the household income the application requires.

Retrieve benefit records through Maryland Benefits. A portal screenshot or downloaded notice is useful only when it contains the required information; a dashboard showing only a case number is not enough. Save the whole notice clearly, without cropping away the name, program, issuer or date. Supply identity or physical-address proof if the verifier requests it. Follow USAC’s document instructions.

4. Apply online: the correct sequence

Step 1: Check the address and plan. Explore ConnectPoint options, then verify your exact address, eligible plan and full price with the provider. Confirm whether the plan accepts assistance and whether approval must precede ordering.

Step 2: Prepare eligibility records. Use a qualifying benefit or the household income limit. Gather the required identity, address and benefit or income records.

Step 3: Apply through the correct channel. For federal Lifeline in Maryland, use getinternet.gov and select your actual state and residential address. Apply directly to the provider for a separate affordable-internet offer.

Step 4: Complete provider enrollment. After approval, contact the participating provider with the confirmation information. Confirm the benefit appears on the account and review the remaining monthly charges.

Check available internet with ConnectPoint, or compare affordable internet options. For Verizon Fios Lifeline, complete National Verifier approval before contacting Verizon to select the supported service and attach the discount. Check with ConnectPoint first for address availability and program compatibility; follow the provider’s approval-before-order instructions.

If the application is rejected: match the spelling, birth date and address to your documents; replace an expired or incomplete notice; resolve an existing household benefit; or provide the requested household/address proof. Avoid repeated applications with different details. For verifier assistance, call 800-234-9473. There is no documented state-wide approval-time guarantee in this guide.

5. Provider options in Maryland

This maintained table distinguishes federal Lifeline participation from other affordable offers. Every row needs an address check. The USAC directory includes mobile and home-service records; its category alone is not proof of fixed broadband. These examples are not an exhaustive statewide coverage list.

Provider / offer	Program type	Discount or posted offer	Contact	Enrollment detail	Device offer	Address check
Verizon Fios Lifeline	Federal Lifeline on qualifying Fios internet	Maryland service-details notice lists a $9.25 monthly broadband discount	800-837-4966	Apply through National Verifier, then call Verizon after approval to enroll. Confirm exact-address Fios availability.	No free device verified	Check address
Verizon Forward	Separate provider discount; compatible Fios Lifeline customers may also qualify	Variable discount up to $30/month on listed plans; confirm the final price	800-837-4966	Broader criteria include WIC, qualifying income and Pell Grant. Lifeline on qualifying Fios automatically qualifies customers for Forward; confirm application to the account.	No free device verified	Check address
Xfinity Internet Essentials	Separate affordable internet plan	Posted entry offer: $14.95/month for up to 75 Mbps; address and eligibility apply	844-389-4681	Use the provider application. Recent Xfinity service and certain outstanding debt can affect qualification.	Eligible enrolled customers may buy a $149.99 computer plus tax; not free	Check address

[Explore internet options](/map). Confirm exact-address availability and program compatibility with the provider. A listed company is not necessarily available for ordering through ConnectPoint. Ask separately about equipment, installation, taxes and optional services; a free device is not promised.

6. Local help: Baltimore

[Pratt Central Library](https://www.prattlibrary.org/locations/central) — 400 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. Contact: 410-396-5430. Public computers, Wi-Fi and printing. Ask about help with the specific application; dedicated Lifeline enrollment assistance is not confirmed.

[Pratt Cherry Hill Branch](https://www.prattlibrary.org/locations/cherry-hill) — 606 Cherry Hill Road, Baltimore, MD 21225. Contact: 410-396-1168. Public computers, Wi-Fi and printing; confirm hours, document-upload access and staff availability before visiting.

[Pratt Edmondson Avenue Branch](https://www.prattlibrary.org/locations/edmondson-avenue) — 4330 Edmondson Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21229. Contact: 410-396-0946. Public computers, printing and indoor/outdoor Wi-Fi. Ask about application assistance; staff cannot guarantee approval.

Call before traveling. Public computer access, benefits assistance and digital coaching are useful, but they are not all Lifeline enrollment centers. Bring your ID and the current benefit or income documents requested by the application. Avoid leaving sensitive documents saved on a public computer.

Baltimore help update: Pratt says its Digital Navigator program ended July 1, 2026. Use its current computer training resources and call 443-984-4944 about classes or currently available assistance. The three branches above provide technology access; they are not confirmed Lifeline enrollment centers. Call before visiting and check temporary closures.

Maryland portal tip: DHS says to sign in to Maryland Benefits, select View Your Program Details and choose the relevant assistance program to check status. A status dashboard may omit fields needed for Lifeline proof; obtain a complete current eligibility notice when necessary. For account or benefit-record help, call DHS at 800-332-6347. State benefit renewal and Lifeline recertification are separate processes.

7. Keep, renew, move or transfer your benefit

USAC may verify eligibility automatically at annual recertification. If you receive a recertification notice, follow its instructions and respond within the stated 60-day window. A request for documents does not automatically mean the benefit has ended.

When moving within Maryland, update your residential address with the provider and follow any verifier request. Coverage and Tribal eligibility can change at the new address. If you lose the benefit used to qualify, check whether another eligible program or income qualification applies; report loss of eligibility as required. Ask the receiving provider to handle a Lifeline transfer rather than enrolling a second household benefit. Keep the approval and transfer records and check your bills.

For federal Lifeline, tell your provider within 30 days if your address changes, you no longer qualify, or your household has more than one benefit. See USAC benefit maintenance.

8. Frequently asked questions

How much is Lifeline in Maryland?

Qualifying broadband can receive up to $9.25 a month, or up to $34.25 at an eligible Tribal address. Phone-only support is generally up to $5.25. Confirm the participating plan and remaining charges.

Can I get Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity in Maryland?

The Affordable Connectivity Program ended June 1, 2024 and is not accepting new enrollments. Lifeline remains a separate program. Do not expect an ACP credit on a new order.

What if I live on Tribal land in Maryland?

Apply using your actual residential address. Enhanced support requires a qualifying Tribal address and household eligibility; the verifier and provider must confirm both.

Can I get Lifeline for internet only in Maryland?

Yes, a participating provider can offer an eligible broadband-only service. A mobile or home-service directory listing alone does not prove that the provider offers eligible fixed home broadband at your address.

How long does Lifeline take in Maryland?

Automated checks may resolve eligibility during the online application. If documents or address review are needed, approval can take longer. There is no verified statewide approval deadline; ask the verifier about your case and the provider about activation.

Is Tel-Life a second benefit I can get alongside Lifeline in Maryland?

Maryland’s Office of People’s Counsel uses Tel-Life as a name for Lifeline. It is not a second federal household benefit. Verizon Forward is a separate provider discount that approved customers applying Lifeline to a qualifying Fios plan can also qualify for; confirm the actual account charges with Verizon.

9. Sources and updates

Last updated: October 1, 2026. Changelog: revalidated federal eligibility, Maryland Tel-Life naming, current provider terms, the LIHEAP discrepancy and Baltimore technology resources.

ConnectPoint is not USAC or the FCC. The official administrator determines eligibility; the provider confirms service availability, enrollment and remaining charges.

10. Related resources

Explore internet options with ConnectPoint. Confirm the exact address, assistance-compatible plan and application sequence before ordering.