If you are a subscriber of Comcast’s Internet Essentials program, we’re certain you feel fortunate to have it. It’s not easy to find 5Mbps internet service for $9.95 a month. Obviously, you’ll want to hang on to it as long as possible.
You’ll need to maintain your eligibility, and you’ll also need to make sure you don’t do anything that gives them an excuse to terminate your plan. Let’s review some things you should be aware of.
Maintaining eligibility requirements
To qualify for Internet Essentials, you must have at least one child eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program (including reduced price school lunches). This includes parochial, private, cyber-school, and home-schooled students who would qualify. In addition, there is an instant approval process for families whose students attend schools with 70 percent or more National School Lunch Program participation.
If you no longer have a child who qualifies, you are no longer able to participate in the Internet Essentials program. How do they know if this occurs? Each year each Internet Essentials subscriber is required to reconfirm their household’s current eligibility by providing up-to-date documentation. Failing to provide documentation proving eligibility will make you ineligible to participate from that point on.
So, when you get a notice from Comcast/Internet Essentials to confirm your eligibility, do not delay or neglect doing it. Make sure you fill it out correctly and send exactly the paperwork they request.
Pay your bill on time
It goes without saying that you need to pay your bill. But the problem is, we don’t know how much leeway you get with late payments. Don’t take a risk, and make sure you always pay the bill on time. It would be best if you can set it up as an auto-payment.
To be specific, in their Terms and Conditions, they say they can cancel your participation in the plan if “you fail to maintain your Comcast account in good standing.” That’s fairly ambiguous, so best not to test exactly what it means.
Be Careful of an Change of Address
Of course if you move to an area that is not served by Comcast cable internet, then you won’t be able to continue with the program. But, surprisingly, you can still lose it if you move somewhere that Comcast does serve. We’re not sure how to interpret when they would actually enforce this, but here is the rule: “A change in address may result in your account being closed, even if you continue to receive Comcast services at a different address.”
All we can say is that if you are going to move, call up Internet Essentials and discuss this with them — don’t just move and then ask for them to give you service at the new address. We assume you will be able to take your internet with you if you properly notify them, but given their rule, we can’t say for sure.
Don’t Attempt to Upgrade your Internet Essentials Plan
Don’t ask for any changes to you service. Don’t ask for faster speed, or anything else. We found this nugget in the Terms and Conditions:
“Program participation also may be terminated if the Covered Service is upgraded, altered or changed by you for any reason.”
How long will Internet Essentials be around?
Internet Essentials was created as a condition of approval for Comcast to merge with NBC-Universal in 2011. Initially, they said they would keep the program running three years. Fortunately, in 2014 Comcast announced that they would make the program available to eligible people “indefinitely.”
Keep in mind that the 2014 extension announcement was made a month after Comcast announced its plan to acquire Time Warner Cable. That’s important to note because Comcast undoubtedly wants to make the FCC happy so they can gain approval for their acquisition. Our take is that if the FCC blesses the acquisition, one condition will be to continue providing Internet Essentials. If the FCC denies them, all bets are off.
King says
I am 76 on a fixed income I am so thankful for this service my x live in North Carolina and said he do not have internet because they do not have that there . Thanks so much for this service
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
Happy to help, King.
Janice Sandoval says
I just want to say thank you for your services. My daughter and I greatly appreciate you.
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
You’re welcome, Janice. It’s always nice to be appreciated.
Marilyn Barlow-Oldrid says
I have been approved for internet essentials however I did not receive my confirmation and the details for my account. I just learned on the website my application number which is 40084248****. I would appreciate it if you could send it to me. Marilyn Barlow-Oldrid
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
We can’t send you anything, Marilyn. We are not Internet Essentials. This is an independent informational website, NOT a service provider. You’ll need to contact IE directly. It’s contact info can be found in the above article.
Tony Carroll says
I do not have a debit or credit card. Can i pay my bill with a money order? If so what’s the address and who do i address it too? Thank you and Merry Christmas
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
And a merry Christmas and happy new year to you, too, Tony. But to get your question answered, you should really speak to Internet Essentials customer service. They can better inform you about the payment options available.
AUSTIN RAINES says
I have been at comcast fr years, i tried to apply they said i would have to be new, off of the net for 3 months, kind of stupid to say that. i wrote the po box, no reply, i wrote stockton, no reply i wrote the other address on the card no reply.
I live in a seniour complex, i am legally blind, some sight, i get ssi i called and i was denied. you offer the program to seniours and i was denied.
I plan on fileing a complain against your program with the FCC and each month untill I get it.
I will also contact nbc and warner bros.
I am going to lookup the qualifications and write a letters and tell them that you discriminate.
i SO DO NOT ANSWER MY PHONE IF YOUR NUMBER IS NOT THERE IN Y DATABASE, YOU HAVE TO LEAVE A MESSAGE. OR YOU CAN WRITE ME I AM LISTTED A COMCAST
IF I DO NOT HEAR FROM YOU WITHIN BY OCT. I WILL START MY COMPLAINT LETER.
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
C’mon, Austin, it’s not OUR program. This is still an independent informational website that is NOT affiliated with any of the low-income service providers. The information the company gave you is correct and is relatively consistent among all the low-income service providers. Your complaints have absolutely nothing to do with us.
AS says
Totally agree how unfair it is to offer a service with so many roadblocks to deny access in the end. Xfinity is making enough profit as it is and now with unemployment due to Covid they make it even more impossible and blackmail users to HAVE to get the modem at their high rates.
Stephanie giddens says
Ok so quick question does the bill ever go up after a certain amount of time like it does with the regular intermet after 12 months??
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
You can never say never, but the price has never gone up in the history of this program (as far as we know). That doesn’t mean it might not go up in the future, but our crystal ball is out of order this week.
Nelly K. Harris says
hello comcast essential,
i need internet for my daughter who is in school. i cant afford a bundle cable for her now due to my economic status. our address is (deleted for comment’s safety).
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
This website, for the 37,594 time, has absolutely nothing to do with Comcast nor any other low-income internet plan.
Scootchiegirl says
https://internetessentials.com/apply Go to this website
Daphne says
Ok will I be able to get an extension on my bill
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
Only Internet Essentials customer service can answer that question for you, Daphne.
Kisha H. says
I need 5 Mbps of upload not 2, can I not add additional? I haven’t had internet because I use the hotspot from my phone. Just recently got a work from home job and their are speed requirements. The download speed is fine, it’s the upload speed that doesn’t qualify. What do you recommend?
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
Each service provider sets the upload and download speed based on what’s available and possible in different geographic areas. If you can’t find what you need from Internet Essentials, we recommend that you check out all the other low-income plans to see if you can find one fast enough to fit your needs. Here’s where you can find them all:
https://www.cheapinternet.com/low-income-internet
Tonya Dry says
How can I change my password on wifi
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
That’s a question for Internet Essentials customer service or tech support, Tonya. Give them a call.
Joe says
I think I read in my 2015 programdetsils/terms and conditions that the program back then offered it for least 5 years . They changed it I see for update eligibility yearly ..,
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
Those are two completely unrelated numbers, Joe. Comcast agreed to keep the Internet Essentials program going for five years. They have done that now and the company continues to fully support and expand the program. That is unrelated to the fact that you must prove annually that you actually qualify for the program.
Preva says
How many devices can we connect with internetessentials?
Why can’t we upgrade to where youtube will work, they watch projects making on there.
YouTube says loading after putting it on something and just stays there until we turn it off, nothing ever pops up.
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
You can connect as many devices as you want, but keep in mind that they will each eat up data and slow down your service. There’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to view YouTube videos. We’d suggest that you speak to your service provider’s customer service and/or tech support teams.
A Citizen says
There is currently ZERO leeway after the due date, and although Internet Essentials cost is $9.95/mo, the late fee is $10.!! This is unfair and hidden until it happens.
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
We’re going to take a wild guess that the $10 late fee can be found in the Terms & Conditions, but no one ever reads those things. Including us.
Terri Borel says
Do you have to have desktop or will laptop be ok?
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
Both will work just fine, Terri.
Kathleen J Quen says
How can I get an affordable phone in addition to Internet Essentials for which I have already been approved?
AnfryMom says
I think it’s dumb that I have to cancel my current subscription allow my child to fall behind and wait almost 4 months to get it back unfortunately Comcast is the ONLY provider in my area, and none of my neighbors have internet…i can’t be the only one upset or angry over this!!!
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
Are you sure Comcast is the only service provider in your area? Check out all the low-income internet plans currently available at the following link:
https://www.cheapinternet.com/low-income-internet
Pay particular attention to PCs for People which is now available in all fifty states.
Lynn Camacho says
Hello. I Just signed up to receive Internet Essential Plan. and was approved for installation for next week. 5/23/18 I just noticed after I submitted that it would be a problem to transfer the services if I move, how can I go about with that since ill be moving to a new apartment on July 2018?. but its still in the same complex just different apartment number.
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
That shouldn’t be a problem, Lynn. But you should contact Internet Essentials customer service ASAP to discuss what steps must be taken.
Christopher Robertson says
I need to transfer services to new address. How do I do that?
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
Contact your service provider’s customer service team ASAP, Christopher.
Raven castillo says
I haven’t paid my bill in 3 months and it’s just now disconnecting if I go in and pay it will they re connect my service ?
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
As far as we know, there’s no reason they would not reconnect your service.
Greta says
Do I pay my bill with Comcast ? or should I get a money order and mail my payment in ? I would rather go to Comcast or where I’m able to pay it. Someone please help cuz my bill will be due soon.
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
You can do it either way, Greta. But if the bill is due soon, we think it would make a lot of sense to pay it at your local Comcast office. Always make sure that you get a receipt and keep it so you can prove you made payment.
joann stokes says
I would like this service for my grandchildren
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
Are you sure that Internet Essentials is the best low-income plan available for your grandkids, Joann? Have you checked out all the other plans? Here’s where you can find them:
https://www.cheapinternet.com/low-income-internet
Cheyenne says
How old does the subscriber have to be in order to get the service and can the subscriber be currently in school?
fatimaduran says
How long does the welcome kit takes to get deliver to yourr house
MAry MAhan says
I am trying to find out how do I pay my bill for internet essentials
Shannon says
Hello have several questions and some were from issues before and being handicap to a few were to get old box and wipe past internet and TV bill to a 0 balance as we couldn’t ever get it to work right and always had to call and get credit on bill – however never has been handled and recent someone came to our door claiming to do the same and didn’t get paper work to get box nor pick up and do bill 0 as promised and that’s person number 2 to just show up at our door. With this said and being ill my daughter is homeschooled and needs internet and she doesn’t get any free lunch nor another other help from this county but I would like to see her doing schooling and next year college online — I am on full disability — can someone please help us? Thank you
Shannon Andrews
Send a private email and I will send a phone number as well
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
Homeschooled kids qualify according to the rules. Read more about it here:
https://www.cheapinternet.com/low-income-internet/internet-essentials