Renew Your Lifeline Service Online

FCC rules state that all participating mobile carriers must check the eligibility of their Lifeline subscribers annually. Failure to do so means we must discontinue your Lifeline cell service. If you are de-enrolled from the process, you may be unable to keep your existing number if you attempt to enroll in the Lifeline program later. That’s why it’s essential to prepare proof documentation and sign up for the phone or internet service with your provider before the de-enrollment deadline.

No. The FCC offers no exceptions to the Lifeline recertification rule. To keep receiving benefits from the Lifeline program, annual recertification is required. All subscribers will receive a letter to recertify annually. Some states have state-wide databases of Lifeline subscribers accessible to Eligible Telecommunications Carriers (ETCs). A consumer may not be required to recertify manually if he or she resides in one of these states. Lifeline administrators can recertify you via one of these universal databases.

Every Lifeline beneficiary must recertify their benefit within a 60-day window before their anniversary date every year. This window is from 80-88 days before the anniversary date until 20-28 days before the anniversary date. This will ensure you successfully recertify and can avoid being automatically de-enrolled, allowing you to keep your internet company or phone service provider the same and not lose or transfer your number.

The fastest and easiest way to recertify for Lifeline is by phone. Simply call 855-359-4299 and follow the prompts. This takes about 10 minutes, and you will immediately be notified of your success/denial. You can also log in or create an account on the National Verifier web portal and begin your recertification. You may also mail your paper recertification form to the USAC Lifeline Support Center: PO Box 1000, Horseheads, NY 14845. Please note that individuals who complete a paper application do not receive a confirmation of recertification status.

You will receive multiple notifications about your recertification, including: (1) a mailed letter from USAC, the Lifeline administrator, with your application ID and a Lifeline certification form. This letter will include ways to complete your recertification. (2) Text & Phone reminders. Assist Wireless will text you 7-10 days before your recertification period begins, with periodic reminders throughout your 60-day recertification window. These messages will include variations of the following information: (1) your unique application ID needed for recertification, (2) the recertification phone number, (3) a link to the Assist Wireless Recertification web page (this is also where you can find a copy of the Recertification Form), (4) the mailing address for paper recertification forms, (5) Exclusive recertification promotional offerings such as a free account credit or free talk + text, and (6) a Lifeline support line phone number to use in the event you have any issues completing your recertification.

If you completed your Lifeline program recertification by phone or online, it may take 5-7 business days for Assist Wireless to get confirmation from the Lifeline Administrator about a completed recertification status. Mailed recertification submissions will take much longer to confirm. Still, you can call the Lifeline Support line at (800) 234-9473 if you have inquiries about your recertification application status, and you should disregard further text reminders unless you are notified that your application was denied or not received. If you recertified by phone or online and are still receiving text reminders about recertification, your recertification may not have been successful.

To recertify your Lifeline eligibility, you will only need your unique application ID (mailed to you by USAC, and communicated through texts from Assist Wireless) and to confirm personal information such as the last four numbers of your social security number, your name, address, etc.

Call the Lifeline Support Center at (800) 234-9473 Monday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.

Each subscriber will have 60 days to complete the recertification of their Lifeline eligibility.

The quickest way to recertify is by phone, which takes less than 10 minutes. Simply call 855-359-4299 and follow the prompts.

If you do not complete recertification by the deadline, your Lifeline service will be transferred to prepaid, and you will no longer receive free talk, text, and/or data each month. If you are still eligible to apply for Lifeline service, you can re-enroll with Assist Wireless.

The Lifeline Administrator requires recertification annually, based on the anniversary of your initial Lifeline application. Unfortunately, they do not allow us to count your activation with a Lifeline provider as a renewal with Lifeline.

Don’t worry, though. Resolving the issue only takes about 10 minutes by phone, and all you need is your Application ID and the last four digits of your social security number.

Don’t have your application ID? A customer service representative would be happy to help you! Give us a call at (800) 234-9473.

Please return completed Recertification Forms to:
USAC 
Lifeline Support Center
PO Box 1000
Horseheads, NY 14845

Need another copy of the form? Download the Lifeline Recertification Form Here.

We recommend recertifying by phone. Simply call (855) 359-4299 and follow the prompts. It is the easiest and quickest and will provide you with immediate confirmation of successful/unsuccessful recertification.

Customers who recertify using the automated phone option will receive immediate confirmation of recertification status. You may continue to receive reminder texts from Assist Wireless for 3-5 business days following this confirmation until your recertification status is up-to-date in our system. We also send a confirmation text message when your recertification credit is applied to your account. For mailed/paper Lifeline certification form submissions, you will only receive notifications from the Lifeline Administrator if you are NOT successfully recertified. This will happen at the end of your recertification window. Contact the Lifeline Support line at (800) 234-9473 to see if your application was accepted/denied. It may take 2-3 weeks to receive an updated response when you mailed your form. Hours of operation are Monday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.