What is Lifeline?

Lifeline Wireless Assistance helps make it easier for everyone to own a phone and have the ability to make a call in an emergency. Qualified Lifeline customers can choose to purchase an IVC Lifeline rate plan or select any regular IVC rate plan and you could be eligible to receive up to a $9.25 monthly credit off of the published monthly service rate plus receive 50% off the activation fee. Lifeline is a federal benefit. By law, the Lifeline program is only available for one line (wireless or wireline, but not both) per household. A household cannot receive Lifeline benefits from multiple service providers. A household is defined as any individual or group of individuals who live together at the same address and share income and expenses.

Can I qualify for Lifeline?

If you are participating in the following State or Federal Programs you may qualify:

  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
  • Medicaid
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • Federal Public Housing Assistance Program (FPHA) 
  • Veterans Pension or Survivors Benefit Programs

If the total household income of all persons in your household is below 135 percent of the federal poverty guidelines you may qualify.
Only one discount is allowed per household. A household is a group of people who live together and share income and expenses.

How to apply?

Qualifying applicants will need to purchase a cellular phone through IV Cellular that is compliant and approved technology which meets the Federal Communications Commission standards.

To apply for Lifeline assistance, you must visit https://www.usac.org/lifeline/get-started/ to start the application process.  Once approved, you must contact us at 800-438-4824 and provide us your confirmation. 

If you are participating in the monthly discount program, your phone bill could be reduced by up to $9.25 each month automatically after your eligibility is determined.  

All plans include nationwide long distance, call waiting, call forwarding, and caller ID.

Coverage AreaMonthly ServiceLifeline DiscountDiscounted Monthly ServiceAirtime Minutes Included
National$17.00$5.25$11.75250 Min/Unlimited Text
National$45.00$9.25$35.75Unlimited Talk/Text/Data

*Basic monthly access rate calculated before all taxes and fees and applies to select Lifeline plans. IVC offers two basic Lifeline rate plans.  Credit check is required.  Only one Lifeline plan or discount available per household and eligible wireless subscribers must be at least 18 years of age and have a physical address and reside in IVC’s licensed markets. The Lifeline plan is not available to non Lifeline qualified customers.

Terms Applicable to the IVC Lifeline Plan

Home Coverage Area – The Home Coverage Area is only illustrative of the IVC eight county area. Roaming charges and/or airtime will be billed based on the location of the cell site receiving and transmitting the call, not on the location of the subscriber. This will affect the availability of any free or packaged minutes included with the plan.

Illinois Valley Cellular Rate Plans – Rates shown are per minute and certain charges are subject to taxes and other charges. State and local taxes are collected based upon the customers billing address zip code or service zone.

Full minute rounding applies to all minutes and fractions of minutes used. Unused airtime allowances are lost and are not carried forward to the next billing cycle. Calls using an IVC message feature may be charged airtime. IVC reserves the right to change customer’s digital phone software over the air without notice or require a manual update of the customer’s digital software. Failure to comply with a request for an update could lead to disruption or cancellation of service by IVC. IVC reserves the right to withdraw this offer at anytime.

Activation Fee – An activation fee of $15.00 may apply. Originally $30.00.

Service Trial Period – New Customers have a fifteen (15) day trial period for Services that begins when this Agreement becomes effective. New Customers may cancel this Agreement by returning any purchased or free equipment attained within the 15-day trial period, which terminates this Agreement without early termination fees. Charges incurred for services used up to the termination, including one-time charges, will still be due and payable

IVC Lifeline – 06302023