Last updated: July 2026
California LifeLine: how it stacks with federal Lifeline (2026)
California LifeLine can add up to $19.00/month in state support on top of the federal Lifeline benefit of up to $9.25/month. Where the selected plan and provider support the full amount, the combined maximum is up to $28.25/month for eligible California households.
How the two programs stack
Federal Lifeline is a nationwide FCC program giving $9.25/month off phone or internet service. It's administered by USAC.
California LifeLine is a California-only supplement run by CPUC. It stacks on top of the federal benefit — you get both.
California now has both a California LifeLine workflow and a federal National Verifier workflow. Start with the provider or official California LifeLine instructions, and complete every state and federal step they require before assuming the full discount is active.