Lifeline Income Limits Explained

1. What Counts As Household Income

Lifeline looks at your gross income, which is your income before taxes and deductions are taken out. It includes wages and salaries, self-employment income, Social Security and retirement benefits, unemployment benefits, child support, alimony and other regular income.

The figure that matters is the total for everyone in your household over a year. If your income changes from month to month, providers usually look at your most recent full year, for example your last tax return, or at three consecutive months of recent pay stubs.

Some types of support, such as SNAP benefits themselves, are not counted as income. If you receive SNAP, though, you can simply qualify through the program instead of using the income test.