You can leave Lifeline whenever you want. You cancel through the phone or internet company that provides your service, not through USAC, and federal rules require the company to remove you within two business days of your request. Before you do, check whether you really want to cancel or just want a different company, because those are two different steps.
This guide covers how to cancel Lifeline, what to say on the call, the contact details for large Lifeline companies, what happens to your phone and number, and when you are required to cancel. For background on the program behind the free government phone, see how to apply for Lifeline.
Cancel or transfer: pick the right one
| You want to | Do this |
|---|---|
| Stop getting Lifeline completely | Cancel with your company |
| Get Lifeline from a different company | Do not cancel. Ask the new company for a benefit transfer; see how to transfer Lifeline |
| Remove a second Lifeline line in your household | Cancel the one you do not want to keep; see the one-per-household rule |
| Keep your phone service but stop the Lifeline discount | Ask your company to move you to a regular paid plan |
Canceling before a transfer can leave you with no service while you wait to re-enroll, so if you want another company, let the transfer handle it.
How to cancel Lifeline, step by step
- Call your Lifeline company, or dial 611 from the Lifeline phone. Say you want to de-enroll from Lifeline.
- Ask what happens to your phone number and whether you can keep it on a paid plan.
- Ask whether you need to return the phone.
- Write down the date, the name of the person you spoke with, and any confirmation number.
- The company must de-enroll you within two business days of your request.
The Lifeline Support Center (800-234-9473) cannot cancel your service for you. Its FAQ tells subscribers to contact their company to stop service. Call the Support Center only if you have a problem the company will not fix.
What to say when you call
A short, clear request avoids mix-ups, such as being moved to a paid plan when you meant to leave. You can say:
- “I want to de-enroll from the Lifeline program on this account.”
- “Please do not transfer my benefit anywhere. I am canceling.”
- “Can I keep this number on a paid plan, or can I get a port-out PIN?”
- “Please give me a confirmation number.”
If you want to keep the number with a different carrier, get the port-out PIN before you cancel. Then start service with the new carrier and let the number move there.
If the company does not cancel you
Two business days is the federal deadline. If your Lifeline service keeps running past that, call again and give the date of your first request and your confirmation number. If that still does not work, call the Lifeline Support Center, which is open 7 days a week, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern, or email [email protected].
Contact details for large Lifeline companies
These numbers come from each company’s own help pages. Hours and numbers can change, so check the company’s site if a number does not work.
| Company | How to cancel | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Assurance Wireless | Call Customer Care at 1-888-321-5880 | Every day, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central |
| Access Wireless | Existing customers: call 1-866-594-3644 or dial 611 | Mon to Sat 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET; Sun 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET |
| Life Wireless | Call 888-543-3620 or dial 611, or use the contact form and choose “Cancel Account” | Mon to Fri 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET |
| Any other Lifeline company | Dial 611 from the Lifeline phone, or use the number on the company’s website | Varies |
Not sure which company you have? Look at the back of the phone, the SIM card packet, or the welcome letter. You can also dial 611 from the phone, which reaches the company that runs the line.
When you are required to cancel
The rules say you must tell your company if you stop qualifying, for example:
- Your household income rises above the limit and you no longer get SNAP, Medicaid or another qualifying program. Check the numbers in our Lifeline eligibility guide.
- Someone else in your economic household already has Lifeline.
- You are getting Lifeline from two companies at once.
You promised to do this when you signed up. The application and the yearly recertification form both include a promise to tell your company within 30 days if you no longer qualify. For one person in the 48 states and DC, the 2026 income limit is $21,546 a year; for four people, $44,550.
If your company or USAC finds you may no longer qualify, you get a notice and 30 days to show that you still do before you are removed.
Signs you might not qualify anymore
| Change | Still qualify? |
|---|---|
| Got a job but still on SNAP or Medicaid | Yes, the program still qualifies you |
| SNAP ended, income still under 135% of poverty guidelines | Yes, through income. Recertify that way |
| SNAP ended and income is over the limit | No. Cancel |
| Got married and your spouse already has Lifeline | Only one of you can keep it |
| Moved in with family and you share money | Only one benefit for the whole household |
Other ways Lifeline ends without you canceling
| Reason | What triggers it | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Not using a free plan | 30 days of no usage, then a 15-day notice with no response | See the Lifeline 30-day usage rule |
| Missing recertification | 60 days pass after your recertification notice | See how to recertify Lifeline |
| No longer eligible | You do not respond to an eligibility notice within 30 days | Reply with current proof |
| Transfer to another company | You consent to a transfer | Only happens if you agreed to it |
| Duplicate benefit found | USAC finds two benefits in one household or for one person | Keep only one. The company must remove the extra within 5 business days |
Letting your service lapse on purpose is not the same as canceling. It takes about 45 days for non-usage to end a free plan. If you know you are done, cancel so the benefit is free for you to use later.
What happens to your phone and number after you cancel
- Your number: most companies let you keep it by moving to a paid plan or porting it to another carrier. Ask before you cancel, because once the line is shut off the number may be released.
- Your phone: policies differ. Some companies let you keep the phone, others ask for it back, and many phones stay locked to that company’s network. Ask directly.
- Your data and contacts: back them up before the line is shut off.
If someone enrolled you without your permission
If you find a Lifeline benefit in your name that you never signed up for, or your benefit was moved to a company you never agreed to, report it. Call the Lifeline Support Center at 800-234-9473 or email [email protected]. You can also report fraud to the FCC’s Lifeline fraud tip line at 855-455-8477 or [email protected]. For warning signs to watch for.
Coming back later
If you cancel and later qualify again, you can reapply at any time through the National Verifier and pick any company from our Lifeline providers list. If you qualify through SNAP, keep your latest SNAP letter; our explainer on what SNAP is covers how to get one.
To enroll in the Lifeline program again, you go through the same steps as a new applicant. Once the National Verifier approves you, you have 90 days to sign up with a company.
Frequently asked questions
How do I cancel my government phone? Call the Lifeline company that provides it, or dial 611 from the phone, and ask to de-enroll from Lifeline. The company has two business days to remove you.
Can I cancel Lifeline online? Some companies offer a contact form or online option. Life Wireless, for example, has a “Cancel Account” choice on its contact form. A phone call is the surest way.
Can USAC cancel my Lifeline? You cancel through your company. USAC’s Lifeline Support Center directs subscribers to their company.
Do I have to return my free government phone? It depends on the company. Ask when you cancel.
Can I keep my number after I cancel Lifeline? Usually, if you move to a paid plan or port it to another carrier before the line is shut off.
Can I re-enroll after I cancel? Yes. Apply again through the National Verifier whenever you qualify.
Sources: 47 CFR 54.405: De-enrollment rules, Assurance Wireless: How to cancel, Access Wireless: Contact us, Life Wireless: Contact, LifelineSupport.org: FAQs, 47 CFR 54.410: Subscriber certifications, FCC: Lifeline for consumers, USAC: Consumer Eligibility