Verizon Low-Income Internet Guide

The Verizon Forward discount provides eligible new or existing customers up to $30 off each month—although you aren’t guaranteed the full amount, and it’s a little unclear how Verizon decides how much you get.

Unlike competitors’ low-income internet options, Verizon Forward isn’t a specific, one-size-fits-all plan. Instead, you can apply the discount to any Fios, 5G, or LTE plan to get the speed and price that makes the most sense for your household.

The plans eligible for the Verizon Forward discount include the following benefits:

• 50–2,300Mbps speed
• Autopay discount option
• Paperless billing option
• Two-year-minimum price guarantee

In 2024, the U.S. jettisoned its Affordable Connectivity Program, which provided $30 to $75 discounts on broadband internet services for low-income households. Luckily, the Verizon Forward discount can help compensate for the loss of this low-cost internet program for some families.

To qualify for Verizon Forward, a member of your household needs to qualify for one of these programs:

• Lifeline Assistance Programs (within 180 days prior to application)
• Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) (within 180 days prior to application)
• Federal Pell Grant (within one year prior to application)

If you’re a New York State resident, you may also qualify for Verizon Forward if you’re a recipient of any of these programs:

• Affordable utility benefit
• Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE)
• National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
• Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE)

Because Verizon Forward provides discounts on its regular plans, you don’t have to settle for 50Mbps or 100Mbps a month. Depending on what you can afford, you can use Verizon Forward and still get up to 2,300Mbps each month (although I suggest 300Mbps to 500Mbps for typical households).

The cheapest plan and best deal after the Verizon Forward discount is the Fios 300 Mbps plan. With the $30 off, you can pay as little as $19.99 each month for 300Mbps of fiber speed.

If you opt for a Verizon Fios plan with your Verizon Forward credit, you may get extras as a sign-on bonus, like Amazon gift cards, free YouTube Premium, or a piece of smart home technology.

If you aren’t eligible for Verizon Forward, Verizon still offers cost-effective internet options.

Verizon internet services include fiber, 5G, and LTE connection options, with speeds ranging from 50Mbps to 2,300Mbps. The plan I recommend to most potential Verizon customers is the Fios 300 Mbps plan. It costs just $49.99 each month (with autopay and paperless billing discounts) and includes unlimited data and a two-year price lock guarantee. Nice.

The $50-a-month Fios 300 Mbps plan is a steal, considering the average monthly cost of internet in 2024 was $69.43. And if Fios isn’t in your area, you can look into the 5G Home plan (also $50 a month) or the LTE Home plan (also $50 a month, though much slower). No matter which of these plans you go with, they’re all cheaper than the national average.

Click Get Started on the Verizon Forward home page to apply for Verizon Forward. Verizon requires that you first enter your address to check whether you live in its internet service areas. After that, you submit documentation that shows your eligibility.

Even if you can’t get a low-income plan from Verizon, there are ways to get a great deal on high-speed internet for an affordable price.

If you're paying for 940Mbps or more with Verizon, consider one of the slower (and cheaper) plans. Most households only need 300Mbps to 500Mbps, and downgrading your speed can reduce your bill to as little as $50 a month.

When you combine your Verizon internet plan with a qualifying Verizon Wireless plan, you can get $15 to $25 off your monthly bundled bill. That's a decent chunk of change to put towards streaming services or other expenses.

You save $10 each month on Verizon internet when you opt in to autopay and paperless billing options. If you think you already have these discounts, double-check to be safe. $10 can add up over time!

Does Verizon internet sound like a good deal? Check which plans are available in your area. Or, if you want to look at other internet providers, our zip code tool below can find affordable options near you.