Lifeline Income Limits Explained

2. Who Is In Your Household

For Lifeline, a household is a group of people who live together and share income and expenses, such as rent, groceries and utility bills. It is not the same as everyone who lives at an address.

Roommates who split rent but otherwise keep their money separate are usually different households. So are adult relatives who live with you but pay their own way. In that case each household can have its own Lifeline benefit, even at the same address.

Getting this right matters for two reasons. The number of people in your household sets your income limit, and Lifeline allows only one benefit per household. When an address already has a Lifeline account, you may be asked to fill out a short worksheet explaining who lives there.