Does Verizon offer Affordable Connectivity Program Benefits?

Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) has been making some huge waves for a year now because it provides much-needed discounts on the internet or wireless phone services. As per FCC guidelines, all the eligible ACP customers get a discount of up to $30 per month while those living in the qualifying tribal lands can claim up to $75/per month benefits.

Verizon Wireless is America's largest network in terms of subscribers. As of 2021 statistics, the company had a retail customer base of approximately 143 million subscribers. With a presence in all states of America, ACP-eligible customers are actually looking out to choose Verizon Wireless as their preferred ACP network provider. So does Verizon offer discounted Affordable Connectivity program plan on its network? Let's check it out here.

We all know that Verizon provides wireless phone services, FiOS internet services, Internet TV, and mobile hotspot plans too. VZW already had a Lifeline program, an FCC long-run program that made communication services more affordable to low-income customers. For a long time, they are offering two plans -

• $19.99 Home Phone Connect plan - Requires a home phone connect device
• $25 Lifeline plan - Requires a compatible wireless handset

On December 31, 2021, FCC renamed the Lifeline program as Affordable Connectivity Program by pumping up $14 billion and further adding some important benefits. According to this, you can claim benefits of up to $75/month (qualifying tribal land customers) and a minimum of $30/month for eligible customers. That's not all, you can also get a free smartphone if you don't have one and a one-time discount of $100 on the purchase of either laptop or tablet PC for entertainment or education purposes(You will have to pay one time deposit of $10.99).

All those customers who were receiving the Lifeline benefits have been automatically upgraded(qualified) to the ACP program and they should be receiving the benefits. So by now your question of Does Verizon offer Affordable Connectivity Program benefits is answered here. Let's discuss the Verizon ACP plan.

Verizon & Lifeline Support:

As soon as the renamed ACP program was announced, Verizon Wireless made it clear that they are with this revolution. They clearly said -

Our goal is to move the world forward for everyone — and that includes providing access to quality, affordable phone and internet service for households with limited incomes.

Verizon offers Lifeline plans for Fios Home Internet, wireless phone service, and home phone service. Anyone looking to get an ACP discount on Wireless phone service, then they can go with TracFone, a subsidiary of Verizon.

Discounted Verizon Fios Services through ACP

With an aim to provide basic internet services to everyone, Verizon offers discounted Fios services. You might know that Fios is fiber to home service that provides bundled internet access, telephone & television services.

Home Internet:

• Fios Mix + Match Internet, any speed
• Traditional Fios bundles
• Verizon 5G Home Internet
• Verizon LTE Home Internet
• Verizon HSI

Mobile Benefits:

• Wireless phone plan (unlimited or bundled)
• Mobile hotspot plans (Pro, Premium, Plus, and Essential)

An important thing here is that whatever benefits you qualify for, suppose you qualify for a $30/month discount, these will be applied ACP credit to your bill/account at the end of the month. Suppose, your monthly charge for using a home internet plan and a mobile hotspot or wireless phone plan is $80(for example), $30 credit will be applied to your billing automatically (until the program is canceled) and you will have to pay the remainder $50 balance. So basically it's not free as you are getting a prescribed discount hence it's called the ACP discount service plan.

Here is the table explaining to you how much you will have to pay after applying for the ACP credits -

Verizon Monthly Plan (includes FiOS + Hotspot + Wireless phone)	Price to Pay after ACP Discount
$60	$30
$70	$40
$80	$50
$90	$60
$100	$70

Qualification:

In the previous article we talked about the Easy Wireless ACP plan, there we have mentioned steps on how you qualify, but still, let me go through it here again.

You can qualify based on your participation in the federal low-income program like -

• SSI
• SNAP
• Medicaid
• WIC
• Survivor Benefits or Veterans Pension
• Received a Federal Pell grant
• School Lunch of Breakfast program
• Part of Federal housing schemes like FPHA or PBRA or HCV

or

Your family income should be less than or equal to 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

or

Earlier participant in Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) or Lifeline program

Tribal Land Qualification:

Those who live in the tribal lands can qualify for the above-mentioned discount of $75/month if they are participants of -

• Above mentioned any of the qualifying documents like WIC, SNAP, or more
• Tribal TANF
• Tribal Head Start (Income based)
• Food distribution programs or Indian Reservations
• Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance

How to Claim These Benefits at Verizon Wireless:

Since Verizon has the best coverage in America, everyone is looking to choose Verizon as their preferred ACP network provider. But before you choose Verizon, you should apply for ACP at https://acpbenefit.org. If you are already receiving the Lifeline benefits, you just need to inform Verizon customer care and let them know, they will help you to upgrade to the ACP discount plan.

After USAC validates eligibility, try this -

• Click here or call 1.922.0204 to enroll in ACP for 5G Home, LTE Home, or Mobile plans
• Click here or call 1.922.0204 to enroll in ACP Verizon Prepaid plans
• Click here or call 1.800.Verizon to enroll in ACP with Fios Internet plans
• Call 1.800.Verizon to enroll in ACP with HSI or Fios Prepaid plans

Apart from this, Verizon customers living in Maryland are eligible to get additional MEBB benefits. So what it is let's learn here.

Maryland Emergency Broadband Benefit (MEBB)

Through this program, all the customers using the Verizon Fios or any internet plan get a subsidy of up to $15/month. This is in addition to the ACP benefits mentioned above. You can find these benefits in Verizon retailers like Victra, & more.

AT&T Stores Near me Open Right now

Final Words:

So that's all about the Verizon Affordable connectivity program benefits. When looking out for an ACP provider nearby, certainly Verizon Wireless is the top network to consider because it has the highest presence almost anywhere in America. If you have any questions, I would be glad to help you if you type them in the comment field below and I will make to reply to each one of them. General questions will be added to the FAQs section shortly in this article. Further, as a VZW customer, you can also contact Verizon for better help directly.