Are you ready to unlock affordable internet access and valuable skill-building opportunities? The Verizon Forward program is designed to help eligible individuals and households stay connected and advance their careers. It offers discounted internet services and, through its partnership with edX, free access to a wealth of online courses. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step of applying for the Verizon Forward program, ensuring you have all the information you need to succeed.
Let's dive in!
Navigating the Path to Verizon Forward: A Step-by-Step Guide
Applying for the Verizon Forward program involves a few key stages, from understanding eligibility to submitting your application and confirming your discount. We'll break down each step in detail.
Step 1: Discover If You're Eligible – Is Verizon Forward For You?
Before you even start gathering documents, the most crucial first step is to determine if you meet the eligibility criteria for the Verizon Forward program. Verizon Forward offers two main avenues for qualification: discounted home internet and the Verizon Skill Forward program for career development. While related, their eligibility requirements differ slightly.
Sub-heading: Eligibility for Discounted Home Internet (Verizon Forward)
The Verizon Forward discount for home internet services is primarily tied to participation in certain federal assistance programs or income levels. You may be eligible if you meet at least one of the following criteria:
Participation in Federal Assistance Programs: You or someone in your household qualified for one of these programs within 180 days prior to your application:
Lifeline: This includes qualifying through income (135% or less than the Federal Poverty Guidelines) or participation in programs like SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit.
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
Income-Based Eligibility: Your household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
Federal Pell Grant Recipient: You received a Federal Pell Grant within one year prior to your application.
New York State Residents: If you reside in New York, you might also qualify through additional programs, including:
Free or reduced-priced lunch through the National School Lunch Program.
"Senior Citizen" or "Disability" rent increase exemption.
Affordability benefits from a utility.
Sub-heading: Eligibility for Verizon Skill Forward (edX Partnership)
The Verizon Skill Forward program, which offers free access to edX courses, has a simpler set of requirements:
You must be at least 17 years old.
You must be based in the United States.
A Verizon account is not required to be eligible for Verizon Skill Forward.
Important Note: While the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) has ended, Verizon remains committed to providing affordable internet through Verizon Forward. If you previously received an ACP discount, you might still qualify for Verizon Forward if you meet the criteria above.
Step 2: Gather Your Proof – What Documents Do You Need?
Once you've identified which eligibility criteria you meet, the next critical step is to collect the necessary documentation to prove your qualification. Having these ready will significantly streamline your application process.
Sub-heading: Documents for Federal Assistance Programs
If you're qualifying through participation in a federal assistance program (like Lifeline, SNAP, Medicaid, WIC, etc.), you'll generally need:
Official benefit letter: This document should clearly state your name (or the name of the qualifying person in your household), the name of the program, and an issue date within the last 12 months or a future expiration date that aligns with the benefit period. It should also indicate the government or Tribal program administrator or the managed care organization (MCO) that issued the document.
Examples include: Award letters for SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, FPHA, or Veterans benefits.
Sub-heading: Documents for Income-Based Eligibility
If you're qualifying based on your household income being at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, you'll need proof of income. This could include:
Prior year's state, federal, or Tribal tax return.
Current income statement from an employer.
Paycheck stubs: If providing paycheck stubs, you must show documentation for three consecutive months within the previous 12 months.
Social Security statement of benefits.
Veterans Administration statement of benefits.
Retirement or pension statement of benefits.
Unemployment statement of benefits.
Workers' compensation statement of benefits.
Federal or Tribal notice letter of participation in General Assistance.
Divorce decree
or child support award. Other official document containing income information.
Sub-heading: Documents for Federal Pell Grant Recipients
If you received a Federal Pell Grant within the last year, you'll need:
Official documentation of your Pell Grant award, typically an award letter or statement from your educational institution.
Sub-heading: Documents for New York State Residents (Additional Programs)
If you're qualifying under one of the specific New York State programs, you'll need relevant official documentation for that program (e.g., proof of free or reduced-price lunch enrollment, rent increase exemption letters, utility benefit statements).
Tip for Document Submission: When submitting documents, ensure that your name, the relevant program name, and dates are clearly legible. It's also recommended to black out any sensitive personal information not required for verification, such as your full Social Security Number (the last 4 digits are often sufficient), salary details, or banking information.
Step 3: Initiate Your Application – Where to Begin Your Journey
With your eligibility confirmed and documents in hand, you're ready to start the application process. The primary avenue for applying for the Verizon Forward discount for internet services is through the Verizon website, often in conjunction with the Lifeline National Verifier. For Verizon Skill Forward, there's a dedicated edX portal.
Sub-heading: Applying for Verizon Forward Home Internet Discount
Visit the Verizon Forward Program Page: Go to the official Verizon Forward page on the Verizon website. This is typically found under their "Discounts" or "Affordable Internet" sections. Look for a "Get Started" or "Check Eligibility" button.
Start the Eligibility Verification Process: You will typically be guided through a process that might involve:
Checking your address for internet service availability.
Selecting your eligibility criteria (e.g., "I qualify through Lifeline," "My income is below 200% of FPG").
Online Verification (ID.me or Lifeline National Verifier): Verizon often partners with services like ID.me or directs you to the Lifeline National Verifier to quickly confirm your eligibility. This is often the fastest way to get an eligibility decision.
If directed to the Lifeline National Verifier (getinternet.gov/apply), follow their steps to apply for Lifeline. If approved, this will simplify your Verizon Forward application.
Document Upload (if needed): If online verification isn't possible or additional proof is required, you'll be prompted to upload copies of the documents you gathered in Step 2. Ensure your document image files are in an accepted format (GIF, JPEG, JPG, PDF, PNG, TIF) and less than 5 MB.
Receive Confirmation: After submitting your information, you should receive a confirmation of your qualification status, often via email. This email will typically guide you on the next steps to apply the discount to a new or existing Verizon Home Internet service.
Apply Discount to Service: Once eligible, you can:
For New Customers: Proceed to select a qualifying Verizon Home Internet plan (Fios, 5G Home, or LTE Home) and the discount will be applied during the checkout process.
For Existing Customers: Follow the instructions to apply the discount to your current eligible Verizon Home Internet plan.
Sub-heading: Applying for Verizon Skill Forward (edX)
Access the Verizon Skill Forward Registration Portal: This is typically found on the edX website, specifically for the Verizon Skill Forward program.
Complete the Brief Application Form: The form will ask for basic personal information, including:
First Name
Last Name
Email
Zipcode
Gender (optional)
Ethnicity (optional)
Highest level of education completed
Current employment status
Consent & Disclosures: You'll need to agree to terms, including that edX may collect and report de-identified information to Verizon regarding your application and program performance.
Instant Acceptance (usually): The Verizon Skill Forward application is often brief, and you'll typically find out instantly if you've been accepted and are eligible for one year of free access to the curated edX catalog.
Step 4: Confirm and Monitor Your Discount – Ensuring Savings Are Applied
Once you've completed the application and, for internet services, either signed up for a new plan or applied the discount to an existing one, it's essential to confirm that your discount is being applied correctly.
Sub-heading: Checking Your Verizon Forward Home Internet Discount Status
Check Submission Status: After registering, you can often check the status of your discount registration on the Verizon website by entering your mobile number and billing ZIP Code, or a tracking number if provided.
Billing Cycles for Discount Appearance: Be aware that it can take up to 10 days for your discount registration to be reviewed and processed. Once confirmed, it may take up to 2 billing cycles for the discount to appear on your monthly bill as a credit (typically up to $30/month).
View Your Discount in My Verizon:
On the My Verizon app: Scroll to "My savings & benefits" and choose "Review your savings."
On the My Verizon website: Under "Billing & Savings," tap "Review savings," then tap "Savings details."
Your discount will appear on your monthly bill statement once applied for more than one bill cycle.
Sub-heading: Accessing Verizon Skill Forward Benefits
Upon acceptance into the Verizon Skill Forward program, you will typically receive instructions on how to access your free year of edX courses. This usually involves creating or linking an edX account and navigating to the Verizon Skill Forward-specific catalog.
Step 5: Renewal and Ongoing Eligibility – Staying Connected
The Verizon Forward discount for internet services does not expire after a short period. However, eligibility for programs like Lifeline often requires periodic re-verification.
Annual Re-verification for Lifeline: If your Verizon Forward discount is tied to Lifeline eligibility, you will likely need to re-verify your qualification annually with the Lifeline program administrator to continue receiving the benefit.
Verizon Skill Forward Duration: The free access to edX courses through Verizon Skill Forward is typically for a period of 12 months.
Remember: Always keep copies of your application submissions and supporting documents for your records.
Related FAQ Questions
Here are 10 frequently asked questions about the Verizon Forward program, designed to provide quick answers to common concerns:
How to check if Verizon Forward is available in my area?
You can check Verizon Home Internet availability by entering your address on the official Verizon website's home internet or Verizon Forward pages.
How to combine Verizon Forward with other discounts?
Yes, the Verizon Forward discount can often be combined with other Verizon discounts, such as Auto Pay, Mobile + Home Discount, Lifeline, Military & Veterans Discount, and Teacher/Nurse/Student discounts.
How to apply for Verizon Forward if I was previously on ACP?
If you were previously on the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), you may still qualify for Verizon Forward if you meet the current eligibility criteria based on federal assistance programs, income, or Pell Grant receipt. You'll need to go through the Verizon Forward application process as outlined above.
How to contact Verizon customer service about the Forward program?
You can contact Verizon customer service by calling 1-800-VERIZON (1-800-837-4966) or by visiting their support page on the Verizon website for various contact options (phone, chat).
How to upload documents for Verizon Forward eligibility verification?
During the online application process for Verizon Forward, you will be prompted to upload documents if online verification is not sufficient. Ensure your documents are clear, legible, and in an accepted file format (GIF, JPEG, JPG, PDF, PNG, TIF) under 5 MB.
How to see the Verizon Forward discount on my bill?
After your eligibility is confirmed and the discount is applied to your service, it may take up to 2 billing cycles for the Verizon Forward discount to appear on your monthly bill as a credit. You can check your "Savings details" in your My Verizon account.
How to renew my Verizon Forward discount eligibility?
If your Verizon Forward discount is tied to a program like Lifeline, you will typically need to re-verify your eligibility annually with the Lifeline program administrator. Verizon will likely provide instructions on this process when it's time for renewal.
How to qualify for Verizon Forward through income?
To qualify through income, your household income must be at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. You will need to provide proof of income, such as prior year's tax returns, recent pay stubs (three consecutive months), or benefit statements.
How to access the Verizon Skill Forward edX courses?
Once accepted into the Verizon Skill Forward program via the edX registration portal, you will receive instructions on how to access your free 12 months of edX courses, usually by linking or creating an edX account and navigating to the specific program catalog.
How to get help if my Verizon Forward application is denied?
If your Verizon Forward application is denied, review the reason for denial provided. You can contact Verizon customer service for clarification or assistance, and ensure all your submitted documents are correct and meet the requirements. You may also be able to reapply if you can address the reason for denial.