Supporting Documents

We will contact you to let you know if we need more documents and how to submit them. We may need more information to see if you qualify for the Lifeline benefit. Use the Acceptable Documentation Guide (English and Spanish) to learn which documents you may need to share.

Proof of Income

To show your household income is at or less than the amount listed for your state and household size:

Household Size	48 Contiguous States, D.C., and Territories	Alaska	Hawaii
1 person	$21,546	$26,933	$24,786
2 people	$29,214	$36,518	$33,602
3 people	$36,882	$46,103	$42,417
4 people	$44,550	$55,688	$51,233
For each additional person, add:	$7,668	$9,585	$8,816

135% of the 2026 Federal Poverty Guidelines

Provide a document that includes:

Your name, or your dependent’s name
Your annual income
An issue date within the last 12 months

Here are common examples:

Your prior year’s state, federal, or Tribal tax return.
Current annual income statement from your job.
A Social Security statement of benefits.
An unemployment or worker’s compensation statement of benefits.
A Federal or Tribal notice letter of participation in General Assistance.
A Divorce Decree or child support award.
An official document with a date in the last 12 months that shows your
annual income, or official documents showing your income for three months
in a row. This could be pay stubs that have dates within the last 12 months.

Proof of Program Participation (SNAP, Medicaid, etc.)

To show you or your dependent participate in a program below:

Medicaid
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
Veterans Pension or Survivors Benefit

Provide a document that includes:

Your name, or your dependent’s name
The name of the program, such as SNAP
The name of the government, Tribal entity, or program administrator that issued the document
An issue date within the last 12 months or expiration date in the future

Here are common examples:

A benefit award letter
A statement of benefits
A benefit verification letter
A screenshot of online benefits portal

Proof of Tribal Program Participation

If you live on qualifying Tribal lands and need to show you or your dependent participate in a program below:

Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
Head Start (only those households meeting its income qualifying standard)

Provide a document that includes:

Your name, or your child or dependent’s name
The name of the program, such as FDPIR
The name of the government, Tribal entity, or program administrator that issued the document
An issue date within the last 12 months or expiration date in the future

Here are common examples:

A benefit award letter
A statement of benefits
A benefit verification letter
A screenshot of online benefits portal

Proof of Identity (Date of Birth, SSN, Tribal ID, etc.)

If you need to show your date of birth:

Provide a document that includes:

Your first and last name
Your date of birth

Here are common examples:

A Driver’s license that is not expired
A U.S. birth certificate
A U.S. passport that is not expired
A U.S. government, military, state, or Tribal issued ID that is not expired
A Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of U.S. Citizenship

If you need to show your Social Security Number (SSN):

Provide a document that includes:

Your first and last name
The last four digits of your SSN

Here are common examples:

A Social Security Card
A Social Security Benefit Statement (SSA-1099)
A W-2 from the last 2 years
A prior year’s state, federal, or Tribal tax return

If you need to show your Tribal Identification Number (Tribal ID):

Provide a document that includes:

Your first and last name
Your Tribal ID number

Here are common examples:

A Tribal ID card
An official certificate or letter from your tribe’s enrollment office
A Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB)

If you need to show that you are alive:

Provide a document that includes:

Your first and last name
An issue date within the last three months

Here are common examples:

A current utility bill
A paystub
A mortgage or lease statement
A retirement/pension statement of benefits
A notarized letter that confirms your identity and that you are alive

If you need to show that you are an emancipated minor:

Provide a document that includes:

Your first and last name
An issue date within the last three months

Here are common examples:

Court document
Certificate of emancipation

Proof of Address

If you need to show your address:

Use the mapping tool in the online application OR

Provide a document that includes:

Your first and last name
Your address

Here are common examples:

A map that shows your physical address or location, including latitude and longitude coordinates (coordinates are required if you live on Tribal lands)
A utility bill (excluding your internet company)
A mortgage or lease statement
Most recent W-2 or tax return

If you need to show your household:

If you live with another adult who participates in the Lifeline program, you will need to answer a few questions to find out if your household qualifies for more than one benefit.

If completing by online application: Complete the blank, fillable worksheet that will guide you through the steps.
If completing by mail: Complete the Lifeline Household Worksheet and mail it to the Lifeline Support Center.

Supporting Documents

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