What is the Affordable Connectivity Program? The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a federal program that helps lower the monthly cost of broadband service for eligible households. Eligible households may get up to a $30 benefit on their eligible mobile broadband service. Eligible households who live on federally recognized Tribal Lands may get up to a $75 benefit on their eligible mobile broadband service. Only one benefit per household, not per person, is allowed, and the benefit may only be applied to one broadband service, regardless of service provider.
You may qualify if you meet one of the three (3) eligibility criteria:
- You or someone else in your household participate in one of the following federal assistance programs:
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
- National School Lunch Program
- Federal Pell Grant
- Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit
- The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
- If a household member lives on federally recognized Tribal Lands: Bureau of Indian Affairs general assistance; Tribally administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; Head Start (for those households meeting its income qualifying standard); or the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
- If your household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
- You qualify for the Lifeline program
To apply for the Affordable Connectivity Program and, upon approval, enroll in the ACP with Cricket, complete our ACP application form. If eligible, the benefit will be applied to your next month's service after enrollment is complete. If you need assistance, contact our Customer Support representatives at 844-246-8364.
The federal government's National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier (National Verifier), managed by Universal Service Administration Company (USAC), the ACP Administrator, is a centralized system that determines Lifeline and ACP program eligibility. Cricket Wireless does not determine eligibility for ACP. When you apply through Cricket, you are giving us consent to send your application to the National Verifier to see if you are approved for ACP. Once approved, Cricket can enroll you in the ACP and apply your benefit to an ACP eligible service.
After submitting your Cricket ACP application, most responses from the National Verifier will be returned in a matter of minutes. It is possible it may take several days before you receive a response. You can check status of a submitted application (with your application) ID here.
If you’re already approved for ACP, you should have an ACP application ID. You can go to the Cricket ACP Enrollment Form and select “I have been approved for ACP.” You can also visit a Cricket store near you. If you have been approved and do not have your ACP application ID, check the box “I don’t know my Application ID” and fill in all required fields to match your previously approved application. NOTE: Lifeline participants automatically qualify for ACP and can receive both benefits at the same time. Select "I am a Lifeline customer" and fill out the required fields to enroll.
Cricket does not determine eligibility and will not know why your application was denied. Please call the ACP Support Center at 833-511-0311 or visit affordableconnectivity.gov or for support or questions about eligibility.
Qualifying customers who live on federally recognized Tribal lands may be eligible for a tribal benefit of up to $75/mo. To find out if you qualify for the Tribal benefit, you'll need to select the tribal benefits box on the application form. For more info on qualifying for the government's Affordable Connectivity Program, visit affordableconnectivity.gov.
No. The federal government only allows one monthly benefit per household, regardless of provider. Cricket allows only one ACP benefit per account and the member of the household that was approved for the ACP benefit must be the Cricket account holder. To learn more about the federal government’s definition of a household, click here: https://www.affordableconnectivity.gov/do-i-qualify/what-is-a-household/
The ACP benefit can be applied to all Cricket plans that include data.
No. Cricket allows one ACP benefit per account. In this scenario, if the customers on a multi-line account are each part of separate eligible households, the customer(s) would need to separate each line onto its own account and each user would need to apply and enroll in ACP separately.
Yes. You can be a new or existing Cricket customer and apply an Affordable Connectivity Program benefit on an eligible Cricket service.
A household may lose the ACP benefit from Cricket in multiple ways:
- If the household becomes ineligible for the benefit or does not re-certify eligibility for the program
- If the household pays $0 for the Cricket service after the ACP benefit is applied and does not use their service for 30 consecutive days
- If the household does not use their service for 45 consecutive days
- If the household transfers their ACP benefit from Cricket to another participating provider
- If the name used to enroll in the ACP no longer matches name on the Cricket account
- If the ACP Administrator and/or Cricket believes you may not be eligible for the ACP benefit
- If the Affordability Connectivity Program ends
Once your Cricket enrollment in ACP is complete, you will receive a text message confirmation. Your ACP benefit will be applied by your next month’s service. If you log in to My Account or the myCricket app, your benefit may not be reflected on your account details immediately. Should you have any questions as to your ACP status or monthly payment, our Customer Support agents and in-store associates will be happy to help. To contact Cricket Customer Support, please call 844-246-8364 from your phone. Click here to find a Cricket store near you.
We're sorry to hear you're experiencing issues with our enrollment form. Our Customer Support agents and in-store associates will be happy to help. To contact Cricket Customer Support, please call (844) 246-8364 from your phone. Click here to find a Cricket store near you.
Call Cricket Customer Support at (844) 246-8364 to de-enroll from the program. Your request will take effect within two business days after the request.
If you wish to transfer your benefit to Cricket Wireless, select the “transfer” option on the ACP Cricket Enrollment form. Once you submit it, we will initiate the transfer of your benefit for you. If successful, you will no longer receive the benefit with your current participating provider. The ACP rules allow one ACP benefit transfer per month, subject to certain exceptions. If you need assistance, please contact Customer Support at (844) 246-8364. If you believe that your ACP benefit has been transferred in error; please file a dispute with the Federal Communications Commission Consumer Complaint Center or 888-CALL-FCC (888-2255-322).
If you change your name on your Cricket account or with the federal government, you will need to update your information with the ACP Administrator. You may temporarily lose your benefit while your information is being updated. If you already changed your name on your Cricket account or with the ACP Administrator and your name no longer matches, you may be de-enrolled from the ACP. To re-enroll, go to the Cricket ACP Enrollment Form and select “Apply for ACP.” Make sure to use your new legal name.
If you change your name on your Cricket account or with the federal government, you will need to update your information with the ACP Administrator. You may temporarily lose your benefit while your information is being updated. If you already changed your name on your Cricket account or with the ACP Administrator and your name no longer matches, you may be de-enrolled from the ACP. To re-enroll, go to the Cricket ACP Enrollment Form and select “Apply for ACP.” Make sure to use your new legal name.
