Who is eligible for this program?

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IMPORTANT: Parental Information Requirement
Fee Assistance Program Poverty Guidelines
Additional Information
If You Participate in Certain Government Assistance Programs Such As SNAP, Medicaid, WIC, or Other Programs
If You Already Receive a Lifeline Benefit
Qualify Through Your Child or Dependent

The Fee Assistance Program is open to everyone with a U.S.-based address.
You will be required to provide proof of a U.S. address. Note the following about the documentation or identification that you submit:

Applicant’s full name must be included.
Applicant’s current permanent U.S. address must be included.
For identification (such as an ID), it must be unexpired.
For documentation, it must be issued within the last 60 days of the date you submit your application.

Learn more about the documentation and forms of ID that will be accepted as proof of a permanent U.S. address.

IMPORTANT: Parental Information Requirement

Unlike some federally funded aid programs, the Fee Assistance Program requires your parents’ financial information, if you are under age 26 at the time of submission. Your parents' financial information and supporting tax documentation are required regardless of your marital status, your tax filing status (independent or dependent), your parents' country of residence, or whether your parents are willing to provide documentation. If your parents are deceased, further information will not be asked. To learn more about the parental information requirement, please visit the 2022 Fee Assistance Program Essentials.

Fee Assistance Program Poverty Guidelines

Fee Assistance Program award approval is tied directly to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' poverty level guidelines. In 2022, you will be granted fee assistance if each household reported on your application has a 2021 total family income that is 400 percent or less than the 2021 national poverty level for that family size.

*For households with more than 8 persons, add $4,540 for each additional person.

Family Size	Fee Assistance Program Poverty Guideline*
1	$64,360
2	$87,080
3	$109,800
4	$132,520
5	$155,240
6	$177,960
7	$200,680
8	$223,400

Source: https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines

*For households with more than 8 persons, add $5,680 for each additional person.

Family Size	Fee Assistance Program Poverty Guideline*
1	$59,280
2	$80,160
3	$101,040
4	$121,920
5	$142,800
6	$163,680
7	$184,560
8	$205,440

Source: https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines

*For households with more than 8 persons, add $5,220 for each additional person

Learn more about the eligibility criteria and application process and deadlines by visiting AFMC's website (English website).

Additional Information

Visit the main Fee Assistance Program webpage to learn more about the program benefits, what you need to apply, and to access the Fee Assistance Program FAQs.

Use this tool to find out if your school and program are designated by Student Aid.

The following specializations are designated for student aid:

Ineligible programs

Students enrolled in the following programs are not eligible to receive student aid:

Adult basic education
Commercial Truck Driving Training or Class 1 Extended Driver Training
High school equivalency
Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC)
Literacy training
Programs that do not lead to a credential such as personal or professional development, hobby, self-interest, or continuing education programs
Programs that are less than 12 weeks in length
Private career college programs with less than 20 instruction/practicum hours in a typical school week
Upgrading or college preparatory courses
Additional training or exams offered by professional bodies, organizations, or associations that are required to practice a profession (medical residency, law articling, accounting designation, etc.)

Funding is also available to help adult Albertans get the basic education, upgrading or English as a Second Language they need for further training or a job. Learn more about funding for academic upgrading and adult learning.

If you don’t find your school or program listed in the search tool, you can submit a request to have them designated.

If your program isn’t designated

If you find your school but not your program, follow these steps:

If you find your program, but it is only listed for part-time, this means you can’t receive full-time student aid. You must apply as a part-time student. 

If your school isn’t designated

If you can’t find your school in the search tool, then you need to find out if it can be designated. How you do this depends on where the school is located. 

Step 1: See if your school is eligible

Step 2: Inform Student Aid

Once you’ve confirmed that your school is eligible for designation, then you must:

You are eligible for the ACP if your income is 200% or less than the Federal Poverty Guidelines (see the table below). The guideline is based on your household size and state.

The table below reflects the income limit by household size, which is 200% of the 2022 Federal Poverty Guidelines.

Household Size	48 Contiguous States, D.C., and Territories	Alaska	Hawaii
1	$27,180	$33,980	$31,260
2	$36,620	$45,780	$42,120
3	$46,060	$57,580	$52,980
4	$55,500	$69,380	$63,840
5	$64,940	$81,180	$74,700
6	$74,380	$92,980	$85,560
7	$83,820	$104,780	$96,420
8	$93,260	$116,580	$107,280
For each additional person, add:	$9,440	$11,800	$10,860

You may have to show proof of income, like a tax return or three consecutive pays stubs, when you apply for the ACP.

If You Participate in Certain Government Assistance Programs Such As SNAP, Medicaid, WIC, or Other Programs

Federal Assistance Programs

You are eligible for the ACP if you (or someone in your household) participate in one of these programs:

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps
Medicaid
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA) (including Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program (Section 8 Vouchers), Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA)/202/811, Public Housing, and Affordable Housing Programs for American Indians, Alaska Natives or Native Hawaiians)
Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit
Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program, including at U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Community Eligibility Provision schools
Received a Federal Pell Grant in the current award year

You may need to show a card, letter, or official document as proof that you participate in one of these programs when you apply for the ACP.

Tribal Assistance Programs

If you live on qualifying Tribal lands, you are eligible for the ACP if your household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or if you (or someone in your household) participate in:

Any of the federal assistance programs listed above
Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
Head Start (only households meeting the income qualifying standard)
Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tribal TANF)
Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations

You may have to show proof of participation, like a benefit letter or official document, when you apply for the ACP. Learn more about the Tribal Benefit.

If You Already Receive a Lifeline Benefit

Lifeline is a Federal Communications Commission program to help make communications services more affordable for low-income consumers. If you currently receive a Lifeline benefit, you automatically qualify for the ACP, and you can receive both benefits at the same time. You can apply your ACP benefit and your Lifeline benefit to the same or separate services. Talk to your internet company to learn how to start receiving ACP discounts.

Qualify Through Your Child or Dependent

Any member of your household can make your household eligible if they participate in one of the programs above. For example, if your child or dependent participates in the Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program or is enrolled in a USDA Community Eligibility Provision school, your household qualifies for the ACP benefit.

Are you ready to get started with the Affordable Connectivity Program?

You can apply online or with the assistance of your internet company.

Apply Now