You can get help with your internet bill by contacting your internet provider, applying for assistance programs, or taking out a loan to pay for your internet bill.
There may be several reasons why you are unable to pay your internet bill, whether you are facing unexpected costs, are recently unemployed and cannot pay bills, or simply have seen a rise in another utility bill for the month, but you should know that you aren’t alone. Americans across the country are having trouble affording their monthly bills.
An internet bill is an essential part of most households, whether you work from home or not. Having a reliable internet connection is essential for many aspects of someone’s everyday life.
Below, we’ll go over the different options available, starting with personal loans.
Key Takeaways
- The fastest way to get help with your internet bill is to contact your internet provider directly. Many providers offer payment plans, hardship assistance programs, lower-cost plans, payment extensions, and temporary service suspensions for customers experiencing financial difficulties.
- Government assistance programs may help reduce your monthly internet costs. The federal Lifeline program provides eligible low-income households with a monthly discount on qualifying internet or phone service, while some state, local, and Tribal programs may offer additional support.
- If assistance programs and provider options aren’t enough, there are still alternatives available. Low-cost internet plans, public Wi-Fi, mobile hotspots, community resources, and personal loans may help you stay connected while you work through a temporary financial hardship.
How CreditNinja Can Help With Loans for Your Internet Bill
CreditNinja offers personal installment loans that you can use to take care of small monthly expenses like your internet bill. While contacting your internet provider and assistance should be your first options, we understand that not everyone has time for that or may get help from those avenues, and may want to turn to an installment loan instead.
Internet bill loans usually are for a few hundred dollars, but if you need more than that, let’s say for overdue amounts, that may be possible too, as CreditNinja’s personal loans go up to $5,000.
To apply for a CreditNinja personal loan, all you need to do is:
- Head online and fill out a quick application.
- Once your information is verified, we’ll let you know about eligibility.
- And once approved, we’ll send the funds straight to your bank account, which you can use right away to pay your internet bill.
Quick Actions: Contact Your Internet Provider for Immediate Help
The first thing you should do is call your internet provider, more specifically, the billing department. Explain your situation, whether it was an emergency that came up, your bill cannot be paid because of a potential price increase, or anything else.
Many providers provide payment plans, hardship assistance programs, payment extensions, and lower cost options, which may mean keeping your internet access while you get your finances back on track.
Negotiate With Your Internet Service Provider When Behind On Payments
There are several ways you may be able to negotiate with your internet provider when you are behind on your payments, including requesting extensions, payment plans, and temporary suspensions. Here is a list of some actions you may be able to request.
- Ask about a lower-cost plan that you can switch to right away.
- Hardship assistance programs that they may offer.
- Request a payment plan rather than the whole cost up front.
- Payment extension or deferment.
- Late fee waivers.
- Temporary service suspension until you get back on your feet.
No matter where you end up with the negotiation, it’s important that you document the entire conversation. This can ensure that if there are any disputes in the future, you have evidence on your end.
Lifeline Program, Lifeline Service, and Lifeline Benefit Explained
The Federal Lifeline program is a federal assistance program provided by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that provides low-income households with assistance to afford their phone or internet service.
With the Lifeline program, there is the Lifeline benefit, which is a monthly discount for eligible households, with one Lifeline benefit per household, rather than each person in a household. Generally, for income-qualified customers, the benefit is $9.25 per month. It’s important to note that this Lifeline discount can be applied to either home internet, a monthly telephone bill for your home, or a mobile phone plan, but not to both phone service and internet plans at the same time.
When looking at the average internet and phone costs today, $9.25 isn’t much, so even if you qualify for this program, you may still find yourself needing assistance elsewhere.
Lifeline Eligibility and Recertification
You may qualify for Lifeline if your household income is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Income limits vary based on household size and are updated annually. You may also qualify for the Lifeline program if you are participating in the following programs:
- Medicaid
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Veteran Benefits and Veterans Pension
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Recertification is needed for this program, which is essentially confirming eligibility each year. If you fail to do so, your benefit may be terminated.
How to Apply for Lifeline and Other Government Assistance Programs
Here’s how you can apply for the Lifeline program:
- Visit the Lifeline’s website, or you can also use the FCC National Verifier portal.
- Create an account or log in if you already have one.
- Verify whether you are eligible and upload all the required documents.
- Wait for a decision.
- If approved, contact a participating provider.
You can also apply by mail:
- Access and print your Lifeline application forms.
- Complete your form and provide copies of the required documents.
- Mail the application to the address that is listed.
- Wait to hear about eligibility.
If you are having difficulty with your application or have questions about eligibility, you can contact Lifeline support at 1-800-234-9473.
Tribal Lifeline and Enhanced Benefits
If you are a resident who lives on federally recognized tribal lands, then some Tribal communities may have extra benefits and related programs that can help lower your internet bill if you are struggling. Eligibility will depend on your household income. Generally, enhanced benefits for these come to around $34.25 of savings per month.
Special Support for Survivors of Domestic Violence or Human Trafficking
For victims of domestic violence or human trafficking, the Safe Connections Act provides emergency Lifeline support. This can include things like separating phone lines without fees, maintaining access to their phone numbers even after phone plans change, establishing independent communications options, and providing emergency assistance.
If you need immediate help, contact:
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233
- National Human Trafficking Hotline: 888-373-7888
Alternative Internet Access Options and Low-Cost Home Internet
Alternative internet access options are available as you know where to look, for example, there are affordable or low-cost providers, mobile hotspot options, prepaid plans, public wifi access, and even temporary device loan programs that can help. Here is more information on each:
- Affordable Internet Providers — There are several internet providers out there, and some may be much more affordable than others. And so, it may be worthwhile to explore your options.
- Mobile Hotspots — Hotspots have come a long way since they first came out and can provide similar quality internet services as regular broadband services, and some phone plans may have that included as a bundled service. Consider this as an alternative until you can get back to regular wifi or if it fits your internet needs, if they are minimal, then you can use it altogether instead.
- Prepaid Plans: Prepaid plans allow you to pay for the wifi that you only need and may reduce costs, especially if you don’t use your internet much.
- Public Wifi — Libraries’ coffee shops, restaurants, and other public places offer free wifi services, which can be helpful if you are temporarily out of internet access. Libraries are especially helpful for these services as they can provide computer access as well.
- Device Loan Programs — Some libraries, schools, and nonprofit organizations offer temporary laptop or hotspot loan programs for individuals and families who qualify.
Local and State Assistance Programs To Check
The Lifeline program is a federal option, but there may be state and more local programs that may be able to help you by providing emergency hardship financial aid. You should consider checking out:
- State telephone assistance programs
- Community action agencies
- Local nonprofit organizations
- 211 referral services
- State public utility commissions
You can search for resources by dialing 211 or visiting your state’s utility commission website.
Documentation Checklist to Apply for Assistance
Generally, it’ll be helpful to have the following documents at hand when you are getting ready to apply for assistance programs:
- A Valid Government Issued Photo ID — A driver’s license, state identification card, or passport
- Proof of address — IDs listed from above, utility bills, lease or mortgage statements, and bank statements.
- Proof of Income — pay stubs, bank statements, tax returns, and benefits statements if you receive them.
- Benefit Program documents (if applicable) — If you are applying through other benefit programs, include the benefit award letters, enrollment certification documents, and current program participation rewards.
Avoid Scams and Report Fraud on Assistance Programs
You can avoid scams by being extra cautious online or over text, knowing what red flags to look for, and never sharing personal information when you receive unsolicited communication.
Unfortunately, scams for assistance programs have increased and become more sophisticated, so it’s extra important to be cautious. You should know that you won’t be contacted by assistance programs unexpectedly and asked for your personal information, like your bank account details, passports, social security number, or payments.
If you receive suspicious communication, do not click links, download attachments, or provide personal information. Instead, contact the assistance program directly using information found on its official website.
To report fraud or suspicious activity with assistance programs, you can reach out to:
- The Lifeline Support Center at 1-800-234-9473
- The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC)
- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Consumer Complaint Center
If you have fallen for any suspicious activity and you think your information has been compromised, consider freezing your credit and placing a fraud alert on your credit reports.
The Bottom Line: You Have Options to Help With Your Internet Bill
The first thing you should do when you are facing trouble with your internet bill is to contact your provider; they may be able to help, whether it is through assistance programs, lower plans, or by offering you more time to pay. If that doesn’t work, consider federal, state, and local benefit programs; Lifeline is a popular federal government assistance program that can help with your internet bill if your household qualifies.
When all of these options aren’t available to you or aren’t enough, you may want to consider a personal installment loan. At CreditNinja, our loans are fast, flexible, and simple to repay. Once approved, you could have the funds you need to pay your internet bill as soon as the same day.* To learn more about our loans, check out our website and blog page. You can also apply right away.
