Survivor Benefit

About the Safe Connections Act

The Safe Connections Act (SCA) helps survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and related crimes get discounted phone, internet, or bundled services through the Lifeline program. Under the SCA, at the request of a survivor, mobile phone companies must separate phone lines linked to family plans where the abuser is on the account.

What are the program benefits?

Survivors who qualify for the survivor benefit can receive:

Emergency Lifeline support for up to 6 months
Up to a $9.25 per month discount for phone, internet, or bundled services (or up to a $34.25 per month discount if residing on qualifying Tribal lands)

How can I qualify?

To get the survivor benefit, you must provide documentation from your mobile phone company of your line separation request and qualify through existing Lifeline program requirements or one of the methods below:

1. Enrollment in certain government assistance programs

You can get the survivor benefit if you (or someone in your household) participate in one of these programs:

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps
Medicaid
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
Veterans and Survivors Benefit
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch or Breakfast program, including enrollment at a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school or school district
Received a Federal Pell Grant in the current award year

If you live on Tribal lands, you (or someone in your household) can also qualify if you participate in one of these programs:

Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
Head Start (only households that meet the income qualifying standard)
Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tribal TANF)
Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations

2. Based on household income

You can get the survivor benefit if your income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

How do I apply?

You can apply for the survivor benefit in two ways:

1. Online

Go to LifelineSupport.org to complete the electronic application and upload any required documentation. Online application instructions are available in 10 languages.

2. Mail

Complete a paper application (English and Spanish) and mail the application and supporting documentation to this address. Paper application instructions are available in 10 languages.

Lifeline Support Center
PO Box 1000
Horseheads, NY 14845

Once your application is approved, you can sign up with a participating Lifeline phone or internet company to receive the survivor benefit.

What documents do I need?

You will need to provide documentation that shows you made a line separation request to qualify for the survivor benefit. Once you ask your mobile phone company to separate your line, they have 2 business days to respond. The email, text message, or letter they send you will be your proof that you requested a line separation. Make sure your line separation request has the following information:

Your name
A date within the last 12 months
The name of your phone company

If you don’t have proof of your line separation request, you can continue to apply for Lifeline and re-apply as a survivor once you receive the email, text message, or letter from your phone company.

To complete your application, you may have to provide documentation that proves you participate in a qualifying program, or to verify your income. For more information on acceptable documents visit our Supporting Documents page.

FAQs

How can I learn more about the Safe Connections Act?

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and service providers understand that staying connected with family and friends is important for victims of domestic violence and related crimes. The Safe Connections Act ensures safe and affordable access to phone or internet service. The law requires that phone companies separate phone lines linked to family plans where the abuser is on the account. Learn more about other ways the SCA helps victims of domestic abuse.

What is a line separation request?

A line separation request is a request to your mobile phone company to separate your mobile phone line from your abuser’s mobile phone line when you are on a shared mobile service contract with your abuser. When you make this request, your mobile phone company must separate your line within two business days after you make the request. The mobile phone company will send you an email, text, or letter acknowledging your request. This notice serves as your proof of an attempted line separation and is what you need to successfully complete your application for the Lifeline survivor benefit.

If you don’t have or can’t get proof of an attempted line separation request, you can still apply for the standard Lifeline benefit.

What resources are available to me as a survivor?

If you need help with your application, call the Lifeline Support Center at (800) 234-9473 seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET or email us at LifelineSupport@usac.org.

If you or anyone you know may be a victim of abuse, help is available 24/7 from the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-7233 or Strong Hearts Native Helpline at (844) 762-8483.

If you or anyone you know may be a victim or witness of human trafficking, help is available 24/7 from the National Human Trafficking Hotline at (888) 373-7888, or email help@humantraffickinghotline.org, or text HELP to 233733 (BEFREE).

What happens at the end of the survivor benefit period or if I need to transfer phone or internet companies?

You can receive a discount of up to $9.25 on phone, internet, or bundled services for up to six months. If you transfer phone on internet companies, you may continue to receive the survivor benefit for up to the original six-month period. After six months, you may apply for the standard Lifeline benefit of up to $9.25 off per month for qualifying internet or bundled services or up to $5.25 off per month for phone (voice-only) service.

How can I get help with my application?

We’re here to help. Call the Lifeline Support Center at (800) 234-9473, 7 days a week, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET or email us at LifelineSupport@usac.org.

Resources

The FCC and USAC have developed resources to help you learn about how you can receive emergency Lifeline support for up to 6 months through the Safe Connections Act.

Forms

Paper Application Instructions