Spectrum Offers Amazon Prime to Low-Income Subscribers

Internet companies usually reserve their best perks and promotions for customers who choose premium plans, but Spectrum is instead offering one of the best add-ons we’ve ever seen to low-income customers only.

The plan customers need to get the Amazon Prime deal isn’t super fast, and it doesn’t come with free Wi-Fi equipment, but this exceptional perk makes up for the downsides. If your income and address qualify, go sign up!

The first step is visiting Spectrum’s site.

What benefits are available?

If you qualify for Spectrum’s low-income Internet Assist plan, you can get all the benefits of Amazon Prime for free. Here is just some of what that includes, according to a press release from Spectrum:

• Unlimited streaming of Prime Video shows, movies, and live sports, including NBA, WNBA, NASCAR, and Thursday Night Football
• Free delivery of groceries, prescription medications, and more than 300 million items on Amazon.com
• Ad-free listening of 100 million songs and millions of podcast episodes with Amazon Music
• Cloud gaming with Amazon Luna
• Unlimited photo storage with Amazon Photos
• Alexa+, Amazon’s AI assistant

If you don’t qualify for the Spectrum Assist program, these benefits cost $14.99 per month or $139 per year. However, there are tons of other perks and promotions that can help you save money on home internet.

Check out my monthly list of the best deals on home internet nationwide.

What if you already have Amazon Prime?

Both new and existing customers who qualify for the low-income plans can get Amazon Prime benefits, and you can use an existing Prime login if you have one. Here’s how to sign up:

1. Go to Spectrum.net/Prime, login, and select Get Started.
2. Create or sign in to your Prime account and select Continue.

Do other Spectrum customers get Amazon Prime?

No, other Spectrum customers won’t qualify for free access to Amazon Prime, but you can sign up for Spectrum TV and get free access to 10 streaming services, including HBO Max, ESPN Unlimited, Disney+, Hulu, and more. Bundling internet and TV also extends your price lock from one year to two.

Who qualifies for Spectrum Internet Assist?

To qualify for Spectrum’s low-income plan, you or someone in your household must be receiving assistance from one of the following:

1. National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
2. Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the NSLP
3. Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Other federal assistance and state-level programs may also help you qualify, and the price could be even lower in some places. Cox low-income customers may also soon qualify for the deal.

How much does Spectrum Internet Assist cost?

Spectrum Internet Assist costs $25 per month for qualifying customers. It comes with speeds up to 50Mbps, but you’ll need to either use your own router or pay $5 per month for in-home WiFi service. A Spectrum modem is included at no extra cost.

In comparison, Spectrum offers a 100Mbps plan for $30 per month without extra income qualification standards, but you have to pay $10 per month for a router, and the price is locked for only 12 months if you don’t bundle.

If you can pay an additional $10 per month, you can enjoy 500Mbps speeds at the $40 monthly rate, but the monthly price could go way up after a year, and Wi-Fi access costs more.

See all Spectrum plans and prices.

My take: Spectrum deserves a round of applause

I love to see big companies like Spectrum giving back to their communities, and families can genuinely save money with Amazon’s deals. Free delivery can also help them save time on errands like grocery shopping and pharmacy visits.

Of course, having Amazon Prime makes it easy to spend your whole paycheck on “deals” you wouldn’t have even thought about buying in person, so don’t go crazy.

Back to Spectrum’s offer—I really think you should take it if you qualify. I would be even happier with Spectrum if it made its low-income plan faster, since 50Mbps isn’t fast enough to stream or study on multiple devices. The lack of a free router is also kind of a bummer, but the $5 Wi-Fi fee is reasonable. These days, you can’t even get an Egg McMuffin meal for those prices. Let alone, say, a three-pack of cotton undershirts from Amazon.

Plans disclaimers