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Cost & Benefits

Benefits / District of Columbia

Lifeline in District of Columbia

Who qualifies for Lifeline phone or internet help? Figures below use the 2026 poverty guideline of $33,000 for a household of four in District of Columbia, unless the program uses its own dollar table.

Washington is the ranked metro in District of Columbia, with a FY 2027 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $2,438.

District of Columbia taxes wages at rates up to 10.75%. Combined state and local sales tax is 6.0%. The ACS effective property tax rate is 0.63%.

A household of four with $48,000 of income is about 145 percent of the $33,000 poverty guideline and is unlikely for Lifeline phone and internet. Unlikely for Lifeline on the tests used here.

Limits behind the page

2026 poverty guideline in District of Columbia
Household100%138%185%
1$15,960$22,025$29,526
2$21,640$29,863$40,034
3$27,320$37,702$50,542
4$33,000$45,540$61,050

An illustrative household

Two adults, ages 34 and 32, filing jointly, plus children ages 8 and 3. Gross income $48,000 a year, about 145 percent of the poverty guideline in District of Columbia. They rent. Nobody is marked disabled or pregnant.

Lifeline phone and internet

Unlikely

Unlikely for Lifeline on the tests used here

  • Income is over 135 percent of poverty.
  • SNAP and Medicaid did not come back as likely on this screen, so the program-based route is not counted.
  • The Affordable Connectivity Program has ended. No successor income table was verified, so this tool estimates Lifeline only.
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