One of the ways to qualify for a Lifeline government cell phone is low-income eligibility. Your Total Household Income must be at or below 135-150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. But how is “income” defined?
Of course, any money you earn from working adds to your income. But so do benefits you receive from the government, such as Social Security, Unemployment, Worker’s Comp, etc.
Household income includes all income received by everyone in your household, whether taxable or nontaxable, including, but not limited to: wages, salaries, interest, dividends, spousal support and child support, grants, gifts, allowances, stipends, public-assistance payments, social security and pensions, unemployment insurance payments, Worker’s Comp, rental income, income from self-employment and cash payments from other sources, and all employment-related, non-cash income.
Furthermore, you may not be claimed as a dependent on another person’s income tax return.
Learn more about how to qualify for a government cell phone.