MONTANA · NATIONAL LIFELINE PROGRAM

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

Source review completed 2026-10-01.

1. Lifeline in Montana: the quick answer

Montana households can receive up to $9.25 a month toward eligible broadband through federal Lifeline, or up to $34.25 at a qualifying Tribal residential address. Phone-only support is generally up to $5.25. A separate state home-phone program may apply; confirm the eligible 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: 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: Montana 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 Montana; 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: Montana 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.

Montana’s Department of Public Health and Human Services administers Medicaid and SNAP. Apply.mt.gov supports food, health, cash and heating assistance; a pending application or account is not approval of a qualifying benefit. Healthy Montana Kids Plus is Medicaid, while Healthy Montana Kids includes a separate CHIP coverage category; check the actual award rather than treating every HMK notice as Medicaid. Ordinary TANF, WIC and energy assistance alone do not qualify for standard federal Lifeline. CenturyLink lists a Montana state home-landline discount of up to $3.50 and a separate application; it is not a verified internet-only supplement. DPHHS publishes changing Medicaid enrollment and renewal requirements. Follow current DPHHS notices for your coverage category and application route; Medicaid case requirements do not replace Lifeline verification.

Tribal eligibility: Montana’s Office of Indian Affairs directory identifies Blackfeet, Crow, Flathead (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes), Fort Belknap, Fort Peck, Northern Cheyenne and Rocky Boy reservations, plus the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians headquartered in Great Falls. Crow and Northern Cheyenne communities are relevant to the wider Billings region. Use the official directory for community contacts and USAC land definitions for the benefit. Little Shell membership or residence in Great Falls does not by itself establish a qualifying Tribal land address. The directory does not resolve every residential parcel; National Verifier and the provider must confirm actual address eligibility. 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 Montana Apply.mt.gov. 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 Montana, 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. Complete federal qualification through National Verifier, then follow the participating provider’s enrollment process. CenturyLink asks for the USAC confirmation number. Its Montana home-landline assistance requires separate state-program instructions; confirm the current eligibility and form.

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 Montana

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
CenturyLink	Federal Lifeline on eligible service	Up to $9.25 qualifying broadband or $5.25 voice-only; provider lists up to $3.50 additional MT home-landline assistance	Official support or number on bill	Complete USAC qualification, then provide the confirmation number. Ask about separate Montana home-landline eligibility and application; do not add its supplement to an internet-only estimate.	No free device verified; ask about equipment charges	Check address
Ziply Fiber	Federal Lifeline on eligible service	Eligible Lifeline discount; confirm qualifying service, credit and address	866-699-4759	Provider identifies Montana among its Lifeline states. Complete eligibility verification and confirm enrollment with Ziply. Older Montana discount links redirect to tariff pages; obtain current state telephone instructions directly.	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: Billings and Laurel

[Billings Public Library](https://billingslibrary.org/324/Computer-Use) — 510 North Broadway, Billings, MT 59101. Contact: 406-657-8258. Public internet computers, guest passes, scanning and printing. Ask about staff help; dedicated Lifeline enrollment assistance is not confirmed.

[Laurel Public Library](https://www.laurelpubliclibrary.org/) — 720 W. 3rd Street, Laurel, MT 59044. Contact: 406-628-4961. City guidance lists free internet/Wi-Fi, and the library links tech support. Confirm computer/document services and available staff help before visiting.

[Billings Office of Public Assistance](https://dphhs.mt.gov/hcsd/OfficeofPublicAssistance) — 111 North 31st Street, Billings, MT 59101. Contact: 888-706-1535 (state Public Assistance Helpline). State-benefit case assistance for Medicaid/SNAP and related programs. This is not a verified Lifeline enrollment center; ask how to retrieve qualifying benefit records.

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.

Montana case records: Apply.mt.gov supports state benefits; uploading there does not submit Lifeline proof. Retrieve a complete current approved Medicaid or SNAP notice, with name, program, issuer and date. For case questions, call the Public Assistance Helpline at 888-706-1535 or contact your local OPA. Medicaid/SNAP renewals and Lifeline recertification remain separate. Check current DPHHS Medicaid change notices for the applicable coverage and enrollment route.

Billings and Laurel access: Billings lists library-card or guest-pass computer access; visitors ask Reference staff for a guest pass. Its posted policy allows up to four hours daily, with internet sessions described in 30-minute slots. Scanning to USB/email is free; black-and-white printing is $0.20 per page, color $0.50 and fax $0.50 per page. Confirm current equipment and charges. Laurel’s current homepage lists Friday and Sunday closures; check its schedule before traveling. Ask about staff help and document equipment at each library. The OPA handles state-benefits cases, not confirmed Lifeline enrollment. Sign out and remove downloaded records after using shared computers.

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 Montana, 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 Montana?

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 Montana?

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 Montana?

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 Montana?

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 Montana?

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 Healthy Montana Kids qualify me for Lifeline?

Approved Medicaid is a qualifying Lifeline benefit. Healthy Montana Kids Plus is Medicaid, but Healthy Montana Kids also includes CHIP coverage. Check the actual benefit category on the award notice instead of assuming every HMK card qualifies. If the coverage is not Medicaid, check another eligible benefit or the household income limit.

9. Sources and updates

Last updated: October 1, 2026. Changelog: added 2026 federal income limits, state benefit names, provider application distinctions and Billings and Laurel 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 Montana official sources

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