MISSISSIPPI · NATIONAL LIFELINE PROGRAM

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

Source review completed 2026-10-01.

Affordable internet / Mississippi Lifeline

1. Lifeline in Mississippi: the quick answer

Mississippians can receive up to $9.25 a month toward eligible broadband through federal Lifeline, or up to $34.25 at a qualifying Tribal address. Phone-only support is generally up to $5.25; confirm the participating service 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: September 30, 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: Mississippi 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 Mississippi; 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: Mississippi Medicaid 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.

MDHS administers SNAP and links Access MS for online applications and a separate SNAP/TANF document-upload service. Mississippi Division of Medicaid also links Access MS for applications and eligibility status; MESA Member Portal is used for member services such as ID cards, benefits and claims. Use an approved SNAP or Medicaid notice, not a pending application or portal account. TANF, WIC and energy assistance alone do not establish ordinary federal Lifeline eligibility. The Mississippi Public Utilities Staff page retains historical ACP offers; ACP ended June 1, 2024, so those credits are not current. Brightspeed lists no additional Mississippi state telephone assistance.

Tribal eligibility: Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians reservation communities include Bogue Chitto, Bogue Homa, Conehatta, Crystal Ridge, Pearl River, Red Water, Standing Pine and Tucker, as identified by Choctaw Health Center. These community names provide orientation, not blanket approval of every address. Qualifying reservation or trust-land residences may receive enhanced support after verifier/provider confirmation. Membership or a nearby county address alone is insufficient; a complete current parcel-level eligibility inventory remains pending. 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 Access MS and Mississippi Medicaid member guidance. 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 Mississippi, 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. Brightspeed requires approval confirmation to attach the credit. C Spire requires a separate request matching the approved National Verifier information and the C Spire phone number, and says the credit can take one to two billing cycles. AT&T Access requires new-customer approval before the program order.

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 Mississippi

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
Brightspeed	Federal Lifeline on qualifying broadband	Up to $9.25 for eligible broadband; no additional Mississippi state supplement listed by Brightspeed	833-692-7773	After USAC qualification, notify Brightspeed with the confirmation number to attach the benefit to eligible service.	No free device verified; ask about equipment charges	Check address
AT&T Access	Separate affordable internet plan	Address-dependent price and technology; confirm current offer	855-220-5211	New customers obtain program approval before returning to complete the Access order. Eligibility differs from Lifeline.	No free device verified; ask about equipment charges	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	Check recent-service and debt restrictions; apply through Internet Essentials. No Xfinity Internet within the last 90 days and no Comcast debt less than one year old.	Eligible customers may buy a computer for $149.99 plus tax; not free	Check address
C Spire Wireless / Telepak	Federal Lifeline: wireless broadband or Mississippi home phone	Wireless plan lists $55/month for 12 GB before Lifeline; $9.25 broadband credit or $5.25 voice-only credit	Official online request; Telepak home phone: 877-835-3725	Qualify through National Verifier then submit the separate matching provider request. This page does not establish Lifeline eligibility for C Spire home fiber.	No free device verified; ask about equipment charges	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: Jackson and Hinds County

[Medgar Evers Library](https://www.jhlibrary.org/visit-us/medgar-evers-library) — 4215 Medgar Evers Boulevard, Jackson, MS 39213. Contact: 601-982-2867. Public computer access; the branch lists beginner computer sessions. Confirm the current schedule and application-task assistance. Dedicated Lifeline enrollment service is not confirmed.

[Margaret Walker Alexander Library](https://www.jhlibrary.org/visit-us/margaret-walker-alexander-library) — 2525 Robinson Street, Jackson, MS 39209. Contact: 601-354-8911. Public library computer/Wi-Fi resources under JHLS policies. Ask about printing and staff assistance before traveling.

[Willie Morris Library](https://www.jhlibrary.org/visit-us/willie-morris-library) — 4912 Old Canton Road, Jackson, MS 39211. Contact: 601-987-8181. Public computer and Wi-Fi access under JHLS policies; confirm help and any scanning options. Staff do not determine Lifeline eligibility.

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.

Mississippi benefit records: MDHS online document uploads support your SNAP/TANF case; they do not submit Lifeline proof. Retrieve the actual approval notice and submit it through the Lifeline channel when requested. SNAP case questions: 800-948-3050. Medicaid eligibility/status: 800-421-2408. Medicaid member services: 800-884-3222. State-benefit decision times are separate from Lifeline verification and provider activation.

Jackson computer access: JHLS lists 90-minute computer sessions with a library-card login. Hinds County residents can apply at the desk; visitors from outside the county can receive a 30-minute guest pass. Posted printing charges are $0.20 per black-and-white page and $0.50 per color page. Wi-Fi is free at library branches. Confirm current charges and staff availability. Medgar Evers lists computer-learning sessions; confirm future dates rather than relying on an expired event.

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 Mississippi, 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 Mississippi?

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 Mississippi?

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 Mississippi?

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 Mississippi?

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 Mississippi?

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.

Does a Mississippi SNAP application qualify me for Lifeline before approval?

A pending SNAP application alone does not establish Lifeline eligibility. Use an approved qualifying benefit or apply through the income route if your household meets the limit. Submit complete proof when requested and finish provider enrollment after verification.

9. Sources and updates

Last updated: September 30, 2026. Changelog: added 2026 federal income limits, state benefit names, provider application distinctions and Jackson and Hinds County help 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

Additional sources reviewed September 30, 2026:

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