National Verifier Year in Review

In 2020, the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) reached exciting milestones with the Lifeline National Eligibility Verifier (National Verifier). With the full launch of California on December 18, 2020, all 56 states and territories have fully launched in the National Verifier. California is a part of the National Verifier December 20, 2019 launch group, which soft launched on December 20, 2019, along with the other two NLAD opt-out states (Oregon and Texas). Oregon and Texas fully launched on Wednesday, November 18, 2020. USAC looks forward to continued partnerships with all states and territories in 2021 and beyond. USAC also expanded National Verifier database connections, adding state connections in Florida, Nevada, Puerto Rico, Washington, and Wisconsin. This brings the National Verifier database connection count to 24 (20 state connections, two federal connections, and state databases in OR and TX that allow consumers in these states to be checked automatically). Finally, USAC released system enhancements to improve the end-to-end user experience and increase transparency. These enhancements included adding a progress bar at the top of the service provider portal, consumer portal, and National Verifier Eligibility Check API to help the user track where they are in the application process. Additionally, consumers are now able to access their Lifeline benefit enrollment details on the National Verifier consumer portal homepage. Service providers and consumers can confirm a consumer’s Tribal status on the service provider portal, consumer portal, and National Verifier API. Looking ahead, in 2021, USAC will continue to seek feedback regarding system releases, to enhance the user experience to ensure the system’s ease of use, and to pursue state and federal partnerships to increase Lifeline awareness, automated eligibility verification, and program integrity.