{"id":2139,"title":"Affordable Internet for EBT Users: An Information Guide 2026","slug":"affordable-internet-for-ebt-users-an-information-guide-2026","lang":"en","description":"If you receive SNAP/EBT benefits, there may be more ways to reduce your monthly internet costs than you realize — but not every program uses SNAP in the same way. The key is understanding which providers currently list SNAP as part of their eligibility criteria, what requirements apply at your address, and what prices are currently being advertised.","content":"

Affordable Internet Options for SNAP/EBT Recipients

Many SNAP/EBT recipients search for options such as “low-income internet,” “affordable internet,” or other programs that may help reduce the monthly cost of home internet service.

Depending on where you live, available options may include:

Low-cost cable or fiber programs for qualifying households
Federal assistance such as Lifeline
Fixed wireless or 5G home internet
Regional affordability programs offered by individual ISPs

Some internet service providers accept SNAP participation as a way to demonstrate eligibility. Others use household income or participation in different public assistance programs.

Typical low-cost program pricing: Some qualifying plans currently fall around $10–$30 per month, although prices, speeds, and requirements vary by provider.

Availability matters: Even if you meet a program's eligibility requirements, the service may not be available at your address.

Before enrolling, compare:

SNAP eligibility
Current monthly price
Internet speed
Equipment or installation costs
Internet availability at your address

How EBT Relates to Discounted Internet Programs

SNAP is the assistance program, while EBT is the system used to deliver SNAP benefits. Some internet providers accept SNAP participation as an eligibility pathway, but having an EBT card does not automatically qualify a household for every low-cost internet program. Participation in SNAP may be used to demonstrate eligibility for certain low-cost internet programs, but program requirements and service availability still vary by provider and address.

The federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) ended on June 1, 2024 after funding was exhausted. Households now rely more heavily on individual ISP affordability programs and programs such as Lifeline.

Lifeline at a Glance

Lifeline currently provides a benefit of up to:

$9.25 per month toward qualifying phone or internet service
Higher support may be available for certain qualifying households on Tribal lands

SNAP is one of the programs that may help a consumer meet Lifeline eligibility requirements.

It is important to separate three different questions:

Do you receive SNAP/EBT?
Do you meet the specific program's eligibility requirements?
Is the service available at your address?

A household receiving SNAP may qualify for one ISP program but not another.

Low-Income and Affordable Internet Programs to Consider

When searching for “low-income internet” or “affordable internet,” consumers may encounter several programs with different prices and requirements.

Some providers list SNAP directly as an eligibility pathway, while others use income or different assistance programs.

Xfinity Internet Essentials

Xfinity Internet Essentials offers low-cost options for qualifying households.

Internet Essentials: up to 75 Mbps — $14.95/month
Internet Essentials Plus: up to 100 Mbps — $29.95/month
SNAP: listed as a qualifying option

Other eligibility pathways may include:

Medicaid
Housing assistance
National School Lunch Program
Qualifying household income
Other approved assistance programs

Keep in mind: Service availability and account requirements still apply.

Access from AT&T

Access from AT&T is designed for qualifying households seeking lower-cost home internet.

Pricing: starts at approximately $30/month
SNAP: accepted as an eligibility pathway
Speed: depends on service available at the address
Wi-Fi: included under current program terms
Installation: included under current program terms

Other qualifying programs may include Medicaid, SSI, WIC, LIHEAP, and additional assistance programs.

Address-level availability is important: Available technology and speeds can vary from one location to another.

Cox ConnectAssist and Connect2Compete

Cox offers two affordability programs with different eligibility requirements.

Cox ConnectAssist

Price: around $30/month
Speed: up to 100 Mbps
SNAP: may be used as an eligibility pathway
Designed for qualifying households

Cox Connect2Compete

Price: around $9.95/month
Speed: up to 100 Mbps
Requires at least one K–12 student in the household
Household must also participate in a qualifying assistance program such as SNAP or the National School Lunch Program

Key difference: A household receiving SNAP but without a K–12 student may want to check ConnectAssist rather than assume Connect2Compete applies.

Astound Internet First

Astound Internet First may be available in participating Astound service areas.

Current options include:

50 Mbps: approximately $9.95/month
150 Mbps: approximately $19.95/month

Potential eligibility pathways include:

SNAP
Medicaid
SSI
Housing assistance
Other qualifying programs

Applicants must also live within an eligible Astound service area and meet applicable program requirements.

Mediacom Xtream Connect

Mediacom offers Xtream Connect within participating service areas.

Price: approximately $14.99/month
Download speed: up to about 100 Mbps
Upload speed: up to about 20 Mbps
SNAP: listed as a qualifying program
Equipment: modem rental charges may apply depending on the service arrangement

Other qualifying programs may include Medicaid, WIC, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance, and the National School Lunch Program.

Verizon Forward

Verizon Forward works differently from many low-cost ISP plans because it provides a discount on qualifying home internet services.

Eligible customers may receive a discount of up to $30 per month on certain:

Verizon Fios plans
Verizon 5G Home plans
Verizon Home Internet Lite plans
Frontier Fiber plans

Potential eligibility pathways include:

SNAP
Medicaid
Lifeline
WIC
SSI
Federal Public Housing Assistance
Household income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines

Pricing after the discount: Verizon currently indicates that qualifying plans may start at approximately $20 per month, depending on the selected service and other applicable discounts.

Spectrum Internet Assist

Spectrum Internet Assist should be considered separately from programs that directly list SNAP.

Price: approximately $25/month
Speed: around 50 Mbps

Spectrum's nationally published eligibility criteria currently focus on:

National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

SNAP is not currently listed as a general nationwide eligibility criterion.

Having an EBT card therefore should not be interpreted as automatically qualifying a household for Spectrum Internet Assist.

Quick Comparison of Affordable Internet Programs

Program	Approx. Price/Benefit	SNAP Connection?	Important Consideration
Xfinity Internet Essentials	$14.95–$29.95/month	Yes	Availability and account requirements apply
Access from AT&T	Starting around $30/month	Yes	Price and speed depend on address
Cox ConnectAssist	Around $30/month	Yes	Household eligibility required
Cox Connect2Compete	Around $9.95/month	Yes	Requires at least one K–12 student
Astound Internet First	$9.95–$19.95/month	Yes	Limited to Astound service areas
Mediacom Xtream Connect	Around $14.99/month	Yes	Modem fees may apply
Verizon Forward	Up to $30/month discount	Yes	Applies to qualifying plans
Lifeline	Up to $9.25/month benefit	Yes	One benefit per household
Spectrum Internet Assist	Around $25/month	Not a general SNAP criterion	NSLP, CEP, or SSI are primary criteria

These are notable examples, not a complete list of every affordable internet program in the United States.

Regional providers and state-level programs may offer additional options, so checking by ZIP code and service address remains important.

Lifeline May Help With Internet Costs

Lifeline is different from the ISP programs above because it is a federal assistance program, not an internet plan.

A household may qualify through:

Household income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
SNAP
Medicaid
SSI
Federal Public Housing Assistance
Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit
Certain other qualifying programs

Current Lifeline Benefit

Up to $9.25/month
Up to $34.25/month for certain qualifying households on Tribal lands
Generally limited to one Lifeline benefit per household

Important: Not every ISP participates in Lifeline.

Consumers still need to identify participating Lifeline providers in their area and check which services are eligible.

What Should You Prepare When Checking Eligibility?

Before checking a low-cost internet program, prepare a few basic items.

1. Your Full Service Address

Availability is usually determined at the individual address level, not just by ZIP code.

2. Proof of SNAP or Other Assistance

A provider may request documentation showing participation in SNAP or another qualifying program.

Do not assume an EBT card alone will always be sufficient.

Accepted documents vary between providers.

3. Household or Income Information

Some programs may ask for:

Household size
Household income
Participation in another assistance program
Additional eligibility documentation

4. Current Program Requirements

Meeting one qualifying criterion does not guarantee enrollment.

The provider may still need to:

Verify documentation
Confirm account eligibility
Confirm service availability at the address

Wireless Home Internet When Wired Options Are Limited

5G home internet can help fill coverage gaps at addresses where low-cost cable or fiber plans are not available.

T-Mobile Home Internet currently offers standard plans at approximately $50, $60, and $70 per month with AutoPay, with lower pricing potentially available when paired with an eligible voice line. The gateway is included, and availability depends on the service address and local network capacity.

Verizon 5G Home is also a fixed wireless option, but there is an important distinction: households that qualify through SNAP or another qualifying criterion may be able to use Verizon Forward with an eligible 5G Home plan at their address.

With wireless home internet, checking gateway placement, signal quality, and performance during busy periods can be more useful than relying only on a general coverage map.

Compare the Real Monthly Cost

The advertised monthly price does not always represent the complete cost of internet service.

Before choosing a plan, check:

Monthly service price
Modem or gateway cost
Installation fee
Activation fee
Taxes
AutoPay requirements
Bundling requirements
Eligibility requirements
Possible pricing changes

Equipment Is Not Always an Extra Cost

Do not assume every ISP charges a separate equipment fee.

For example:

Cox Connect2Compete: Wi-Fi modem included under current program terms
Access from AT&T: no equipment fee under the Access program
T-Mobile Home Internet: gateway included with current plans

Price Is Only One Part of the Comparison

A household that mainly uses email and basic browsing may have different needs from one where several people:

Stream video
Attend online classes
Work from home
Join video calls simultaneously

A stable 50–100 Mbps connection may sometimes provide better practical value than a cheaper or more congested connection.

How to Check What Internet Is Available at Your Address

Consider a household receiving SNAP that has recently moved to a new ZIP code.

Step 1 — Write down the complete service address and prepare recent SNAP documentation if proof of eligibility is required.

Step 2 — Check internet availability at your address rather than searching only by ISP name. Xfinity, AT&T, Cox, Astound, Mediacom, Spectrum, and Verizon do not serve every address.

Step 3 — Check the affordability program offered by each available ISP. If Xfinity is available, review Internet Essentials. If Cox serves the address, compare ConnectAssist and Connect2Compete. If Verizon Fios or 5G Home is available, check Verizon Forward. If Astound or Mediacom serves the area, review Internet First or Xtream Connect.

Step 4 — Check Lifeline eligibility. SNAP is a qualifying program for Lifeline, but the household must still complete the eligibility verification process. USAC also provides tools for finding participating Lifeline companies by location.

Step 5 — Compare the final price, speed, equipment, and terms rather than choosing only the lowest advertised price. If suitable wired programs are unavailable, check fixed wireless options such as T-Mobile Home Internet or Verizon 5G Home.

Saving the quotes and terms displayed when checking an address may also be useful because pricing, promotions, availability, and eligibility requirements can change.

What to Remember

EBT does not create one nationwide internet discount that works the same way for everyone.

SNAP may help a household meet the eligibility requirements for programs such as:

Xfinity Internet Essentials
Access from AT&T
Cox affordability programs
Astound Internet First
Mediacom Xtream Connect
Verizon Forward
Lifeline

Other programs may use different eligibility criteria.

The practical approach is to compare eligibility, internet availability at your address, speed, and total monthly cost before choosing a service.

Disclaimer: This content is provided for general informational purposes only. It does not guarantee eligibility, approval, availability, or any specific price. Program rules, pricing, and coverage may change over time and by location. Check current information directly with the provider or program administrator before enrolling.

References

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