How To Keep Your Lifeline Benefit Every Year
By FreePhone Atlas editors · October 12, 2026 · Page 3 of 6
2. Use Your Service Regularly
If your Lifeline service is free, with no monthly payment from you, you must use it at least once every 30 days. Making a call, sending a text, using data, or adding minutes all count as usage.
When a free line has not been used for 30 days, the provider will send you a notice. You then have 15 days to use the service. If you do not, the provider must end your Lifeline benefit.
An easy habit is to send a text or make a short call at least once a week. If you keep the phone as a backup, set a monthly reminder so it does not sit unused.
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