Best Internet Deals for Seniors for 2022 – CNET [CNET]

According to surveys taken by the Pew Research Center, 75% of adults ages 65 and over use the internet, and 64% use their home broadband connection to do so. These numbers have been rising steadily over the past decade, and they’ve become even more pronounced over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic as in-person gathering has been downplayed in favor of FaceTime, Zoom and other video-chat tools.

The need to be online is acute, but too often, the price for being connected can be steep — and a problem if you’re a retiree on a fixed income. How can you find cheap internet for seniors? We’re glad you asked. Here are a few ideas.

Start with some helpful government programs

Unlike your local diner, internet service providers don’t really offer senior discounts. There are certainly some ISP-specific deals worth exploring (and we’ll talk about those in just a bit), but your best bet is to begin by taking advantage of federal programs. Two jump to mind — one has been around since 1985 and the other is a new policy that just went into place in 2022.

You should begin your research with Lifeline, a program that’s been around for several decades and can help eligible customers with either their phone or internet bill. While it’s not specifically geared to the elderly, several of its qualifiers — including participation in Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income and Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit — apply to seniors. Lifeline is also geared toward helping low-income households, so retirees on an especially tight, fixed income, including those in Federal Public Housing Assistance or those using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, might also be able to participate. 

What do you get if you do qualify? Seniors can get up to $9.25 a month off their internet bill for a total of $111 a year off the cost of being connected at home.

Even better, once you qualify for Lifeline, you’re also eligible for the government’s Affordable Connectivity Program, a subsidy from the Federal Communications Commission. Again, this is not specifically geared to seniors, but those eligible for Lifeline assistance can also qualify for this benefit, which provides a monthly discount on the cost of broadband service.

What’s exciting is you can use the funds from the ACP toward the ISP-specific programs we list below and you might find it fully covers the cost of your monthly internet bill! One other option is to use the ACP to help pay for a faster plan to help you better stream your favorite TV shows or get a better connection on those video chats with family. 

Finally, a note of caution: Beware the “senior deals” pages on some ISP sites. Many are just glorified ads masquerading as helpful tips. Instead of showing you legitimate discounts or unveiling special deals, they’re trying to sell you on higher-speed plans. Definitely use some discernment as you shop. 

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