How Can Seniors Help Their Families Afford Internet
Nearly three in four parents with adult children helped them financially during the pandemic, most often with basic living expenses.3 Internet service can be one of the larger monthly bills in a household, so getting those costs down can make a big impact on budgets. Many younger people experiencing financial distress can benefit from government internet assistance programs. Those in school can also benefit from internet discounts for students.
Does At& t Offer Low
If you are wondering whether AT& T offers Low-Income Internet for Americans with low income, the answer is a big yes! AT& T has introduced high-speed Internet at just $5.00 per month for low-income Americans.
All you need to do is check if you meet the eligibility criteria, and if you fall under the AT& T operated area, you can enjoy the benefit of having high Internet at just $5.00 per month. At $5.00 per month, you will get access to 3 Mbps downloading speed. 5 and 10 Mbps is available but costs $10.00 per month. AT& T is also relieving all activation fees and is also offering computers to qualifying families for just $149.99.
Thats is not all! AT& T has stated that there will be data limits for those who exceed 600GB per month, and overall, there would be charges for anyone who uses more data. It may be sound negative, but if you look closely, it is nearly impossible for any household to consume 600GB a month, so paying extra is out of the question!
Who can qualify?
To have access to this amazing offer:
- At least one person from your house must receive food stamps
- You should be living in an area where AT& T 21-state service area,
- You should not have any outstanding recurring debts with AT& T in the last six months.
Why Should You Ask For At& t Senior Discount
Seniors usually think twice before spending due to limited income. This is why many telecom companies offer senior discounts to help seniors stay connected with their loved ones.
AT& T happens to be a major US carrier that provides discounted plans in case the age of the subscriber is more than 65 years. Most of the network providers offer a discounted version of the standard unlimited plan of their company, and AT& T is no exception to that.
With senior discount plans, AT& T helps seniors to save some cash on their monthly phone bills. Senior citizens who have subscribed to this company will also be able to receive a lucrative discount of 10% on any of the plans of the carrier using their AARP membership.
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More Than 13 Million Enrolled In Acp
About 14.5 million Americans and 22 percent of those 65 and older dont have access to high-speed internet, at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload speed, the FCC estimates. Other estimates say that as many as 42 million people in the U.S. are on the wrong side of the digital divide.
Earlier this week the FCC said it hopes to release the first draft of a new national broadband map to the public in November and will allow local governments, tribes, and internet service providers to offer feedback to its preliminary findings starting Sept. 12. The map’s goal is to offer an accurate picture of the availability of fixed broadband internet access across the country.
The ACP doesn’t count the total number of people served through its program. Instead, it looks at households since utility bills serve addresses, not individuals. More than 13.5 million households were enrolled as of Sept. 5, according to the ACP website.
Puerto Rico has the highest rate of ACP enrollment per 1,000 households as of Sept. 5, according to the website. It has second-highest poverty rate, behind American Samoa, among states and territories that are part of the U.S. Census Bureaus American Community Survey.
Louisiana, New Mexico, Kentucky and Ohio round out the top five for ACP enrollment rate. Those jurisdictions have the fourth-, fifth-, sixth- and 18th-highest percentages of residents living in poverty.
Look For Quality Customer Service
Customer service is often overlooked when comparing internet providers, but it can dramatically affect your overall internet experience. A fast connection doesnt do you much good if it doesnt work half the time and you cant get anyone to fix it.
The best internet providers not only have convenient agents you can contact over the phone, but they also have online chat options, helpful articles, and responsive technicians to help you fix whatever issues you encounter. You can see how different providers ranked for customer service in our customer satisfaction survey.
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How Do At& t Senior Deals Work
Once you reach the age of 55, AT& T recognizes you as a senior citizen. And at that point, you may be able to take up the AT& T Unlimited 55+ plan, part of its Wireless cell phone network.
However, thats only available to those in the state of Florida . Were not 100% sure why that is the case, but there is no way around it. Youll need to provide your state ID in order to take up the deal.
In terms of home broadband deals, theres nothing out there specifically for seniors. It is a bit of a shame, but its not the end of the world because AT& T has some great deals for everyone right now. And there are further deals for those on low incomes.
The best deals for the internet are for its Fiber plans. That means lightning fast internet, and it comes at a great price with some cool perks. Well go into more detail of that in the next section.
You can find all the latest internet deals from AT& T here.
Free Internet For College Students
If youre a college student, look into free public Wi-Fi hotspots and internet services with free intro periods. Read our article Cheap and Free Internet for Students for an in-depth look at these options.
And if youre a community college student in Colorado and Illinois, you may be able to get Internet Essentials from Comcast with documentation from your financial aid office.
One last thought: sometimes internet providers offer deals for students. Check out this months deals to see whats available right now.
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How Can Seniors Bundle Tv Service With Internet
TV and internet bundling can save you money every month on services you would be paying for anyway. We provide a listing of the best TV and internet bundles from Optimum, Spectrum, Suddenlink, and many more so you can find the best deal.
Another way to watch TV shows is to sign up for a streaming service. You can subscribe to streaming services like Hulu and Disney+ to access movies and TV shows over the internet, without paying for a separate TV plan. These services also stream on demand, so youre free to binge-watch your favorite shows whenever you want.
Does Xfinity Offer Discounts For Seniors
Xfinity does not offer a discount that’s explicitly for seniors. Still, Comcast’s Internet Essentials program for low-income households — featuring a 50Mbps plan for $10 a month and free access to Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspots — does include eligibility that applies to seniors. Among the qualifications is participation in Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, public housing assistance and VA pension.
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At& t Internet Plans For Seniors
One can pick from three great AT& T wireless unlimited plans to enjoy unlimited talk, 5G access, along with ActiveArmorSM security from the company. There are various types of AT& T wireless senior discount plans that start at $35/mo., $40/mo., and $50/mo., per line. Each plan varies slightly and offers S.D. streaming or UHD streaming, and you may get 15 G.B. ta or 40 G.B. of hotspot data per line. Irrespective of where you live, AARP members get $10 off their monthly bills once they sign up for AT& Ts Unlimited Elite plan.
AT& T senior plans 2022 are still suitable for both basic and smartphone users, while the AT& T Senior Nation 200 plan is meant for customers aged 65 or above. The plan offers 200 anytime minutes plus 500 minutes on weekends and nights.
One must stay updated with the current AT& T senior internet discount to take full benefits of those offers. However, you need a compatible 5G device to activate those plans and must check whether 5G is available in your area or not. As a customer, one should know that AT& T Internet is available in only 21 states in the U.S., though the company is expanding its Internet service availability. Hence, always check the covered area of AT& T Internet.
At& t Fiber Internet 500
The next level up from the basic 300 Mbps plan is the AT& T 500 Mbps option. While the features are nearly the same, this plan has faster speeds making it ideal for a household with lots of people and lots of devices.
The plan offers speeds of 500 Mbps and is ideal for large households and devices. You can stream movies, Facetime, watch videos online, and play video games on multiple devices, all at the same time. Since this plan is Fiber-based, its fast, reliable, and a great way to upgrade a home to a place grandkids always want to be. The plan starts at $65/mo with no equipment fee.
Honorable mention: 1 Gig plan
As a quick honorable mention, the 1 Gig plan offers 1000 Mbps up and down and is ideal for very large households or those with home theatres, internet-based security systems, and lots of smart devices like Alexa or Google Home. Kids can stream and professionally game, Facetime, and more with these speeds.
I dont recommend this plan for everyone but for the rare power user .
This plan starts at $80/mo, and includes free HBO MAX.
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How To Enroll In This Plan
Once you check your eligibility, there are two ways in which you can enroll for this plan:
- Enroll Online: AT& T allows you to enroll online to avail discounts and benefits of its plans. You need to log in with your AARP account information, and if you happen to be a new customer, you will be redirected to the official website. You will be enrolled in this plan after the successful purchase of the same. On the contrary, if you are an existing customer, then you will be able to enroll and get going.
- Enroll Offline: AT& T allows you to enroll offline as well. You need to visit your nearest AT& T local store or any authorized AT& T Retailer will do. Show your AARP Membership card and information to an in-store expert along with mentioning this code 6039461. You will be enrolled and will be provided with answers to all your doubts/queries.
Free Internet For Low
Many low-income internet programs focus on connecting students to valuable online resources, so they require that you have a school-age child at home.
If you dont have any school-age children, there are other ways to qualify for low-income internet service. Anyone with Supplemental Security Income can qualify for Spectrum Internet Assist and Internet Essentials from Comcast.
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Final Thoughts On At& t Senior Deals
Initially, it feels like a bit of a shame that there arent more deals for seniors at AT& T. Sure, the Wireless Unlimited 55+ plan is pretty great, but theres nothing for those who want internet at home.
But, when you consider how good the AT& T Fiber internet plans are in terms of value for money, it begins to feel better. Its deals for everyone!
Those who cant get Fiber in their location might feel out of luck right now, but it may well be with you soon. In the meantime, shop around to find out what else is available.
Remember, AT& T isnt the only provider out there. Why not check out some of the Comcast Xfinity deals to see if theres anything there you can get as a senior?
How To Purchase At& t Internet
In the past, it was common to go directly into brick and mortar stores to secure communication services such as cellular, home phone, television, and Internet. Now, you can accomplish this without even stepping outside.
If you are interested in AT& T services, you can easily speak to a live agent via the AT& T customer service hotline. Your agent will be able to answer any questions you may have and suggest packages suited to your needs. You can also purchase your Internet, TV, and phone services online using AT& Ts customer service chat to answer any lingering questions. Personally, Id prefer the online optionespecially since there are often bonus discounts or perks included with online purchases.
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Where To Start With Low
There are multiple options for affordable internet services. Use the links below to check out the programs youre interested in, or keep scrolling to read the full article.
The best low-income internet option is the new Affordable Connectivity Program with offers qualifying households up to $30 per month off internet service . Depending on where you live in the US, internet plans can start as low as $19.99 per month, so those savings may get you connected for free.
For more savings, we also recommend looking into two internet solutions that have been around a bit longer. You may be able to double up these programs with your ACP benefits.
Telecalm Offers Home Phone Service
teleCalm® has stepped into this fray offering home service to seniors for $34.95 a month. This is actually an improvement over a standard landline or home phone service, since the Essentials base package also stops Robocalls and telemarketers. Using sophisticated algorithms, teleCalm verifies the calls coming in and only lets legitimate calls reach the senior. Though nothing can block 100% of all Robocalls and telemarketers, teleCalm estimates Essentials blocks over 90% of these unwanted calls.
For seniors who are about to lose their AT& T discount on home phones, teleCalm® provides an excellent alternative that lets them stay connected without having their phone service cost double. .
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Internet Essentials From Comcast
If you live in an Xfinity area, you have access to the low-income program Internet Essentials from Comcast. Eligible households get 50 Mbps download speeds with free in-home Wi-Fi for $9.95 per month . Youll also have access to Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspots and get the option to purchase a low-cost computer.
To qualify for Internet Essentials, someone in your household must participate in one of the following programs: NSLP, HUD, veteran government assistance, senior government assistance, or Pell Grant. Head over to InternetEssentials.com to apply.
Seniors Scramble For Replacement Solutions As Lifeline Discount Goes Away
Lately seniors have been discussing AT& T discontinuing their senior discount. Historically AT& T has giving a home phone or landline to seniors for a price of around $20 a month. AT& T had been taking advantage of a federally subsidized program called Lifeline. Lifeline discounts were launched in 1985 as part of a federal subsidy program. The federal lifeline subsidy program gives eligible customers a subsidy on phone and internet service. AT& T has decided to discontinue the AT& T Lifeline discount as a precursor to withdrawing from landline service all together. As a result, the cost of an AT& T landline is expected to increase to around $50 a month. To many seniors, this increase is more than their limited budget will allow.
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How Much Speed Do I Need As A Senior
Weve established that AT& T Fiber is the best way to go for senior citizens even though there is no specific discount for those over 55. But there are 5 plans to choose from: 300, 500, 1 Gig, 2 Gig, and 5 Gig. So which of these should you go for?
These numbers refer to the speed of your connection in terms of the data transfer per second. And the bottom line is that for almost all seniors, we recommend the 300 speed.
300 Mbps is still a lightning fast connection. When we tested it, we found that it would be more than enough for a large family. After it, it can handle as many as 12 4K Netflix streams!
The only reason you might want to go faster than that is if youre supplying the internet to a whole lot of people. That is if you live with 10 or more people or youre setting up a local hotspot.
The AT& T Fiber 300 plan will cost you $55 per month. Thats not bad at all. And when you consider the fact that the regular Internet plans are the same price as previously mentioned, then a separate deal doesnt matter so much. Its already great value!
What Brands Offer Internet Discounts For Seniors
Altice Suddenlink, Altice Optimum, Spectrum, and Comcast Xfinity all offer internet discounts for seniors who are eligible for SSI. Altice Suddenlink and Altice Optimum also offer discounts to veterans receiving public assistance.
*Data as of 4/28/2022. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change
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At& t Unlimited 55+ Plan For Florida Residents
With rates per line ranging from $40 to $60 per month, AT& T offers this unlimited plan for the 55-and-over crowd that comes with unlimited talk, text, and data. So you can check in on Facebook, search for local businesses, and receive pictures of the grandkids while you’re out and about. The AT& T Unlimited 55+ plan is an excellent choice for older adults who use their phones frequently throughout the day. The Unlimited 55+ plan also features unlimited talk, text, and data in Canada and Mexico. Plus, you’ll get free texting in over 120 countries, perfect for frequent travelers.
Buyer’s Tip: AT& T offers perks like $100 in credits per line when you switch to AT& T, up to $45 in savings on activation and upgrade fees, and 15 percent off accessories for AARP members. You can also get benefits like same-day delivery and giveaways when you become an AT& T customer.
While currently only available to Florida residents, we hope this plan will be expanded to other areas soon. Like other AT& T unlimited plans, consumers are rewarded for having multiple lines, so the more lines you have, the lower rates per line you’ll pay.