Clipper START and the Muni Lifeline Pass 2026–27: Half-Price Bay Area Transit, the Income Limits and the January 1 Switch
Updated: 1h
If you take BART, Muni, AC Transit, Caltrain or almost any other Bay Area transit system and your income is modest, Clipper START can cut your single-ride fares in half. San Francisco riders who use Muni's $43 Lifeline monthly pass need to act before the end of the year. On January 1, 2027, the Lifeline pass moves into Clipper START, and the old ID card with a monthly sticker stops working.
This guide covers who qualifies for Clipper START, the 2026 income limits, how to apply, and what Lifeline riders need to do by December 1, 2026.
Last checked October 2026. Sources: the official Clipper START website (clipperstartcard.com), run by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC); MTC's Clipper START program page and its news release on CalFresh verification; and the SFMTA's Lifeline Pass and Free Muni pages.
The Short Version
What it is: a 50% discount on single rides on Bay Area public transit systems that accept Clipper.
Who qualifies: Bay Area residents ages 19 to 64 with gross household income up to about 200% of the federal poverty level, which is $31,920 for one person or $66,000 for a family of four. CalFresh participants qualify automatically.
How to apply: online at clipperstartcard.com, or on a paper application from the SFMTA Customer Service Center at 11 S. Van Ness Ave.
Processing: allow up to 30 days. CalFresh recipients may be approved the same day.
Muni Lifeline riders: apply for Clipper START by December 1, 2026. December's sticker is the last one sold, and starting January 1, 2027, the $43 Lifeline pass is loaded on your Clipper START card.
Questions: Clipper START Customer Service, 855-614-9149, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Who Qualifies
According to the Clipper START website, you need to:
live in the Bay Area;
be 19 to 64 years old; and
meet the gross income (before taxes) limit for your household size, or be enrolled in CalFresh, which qualifies you automatically.
2026 income limits
People in household | Income up to |
1 | $31,920 |
2 | $43,280 |
3 | $54,640 |
4 | $66,000 |
5 | $77,360 |
6 | $88,720 |
7 | $100,080 |
8 | $111,440 |
9 | $120,000 |
For households larger than 9, the site says to add $11,360 per person.
MTC describes the program as being for adults whose household income is no more than twice the federal poverty level. These dollar figures will probably be updated when the new poverty guidelines come out, so check the site before you apply if your income is close to the limit.
Too young, too old, or have a disability?
Clipper START is for adults 19 to 64. MTC says separate reduced fares and discounted passes are available for riders ages 5 to 18, riders 65 and older, and people with disabilities under 65. In San Francisco, the SFMTA offers Free Muni for:
all youth 18 and under, regardless of income or residency, with no application or Clipper card needed except on cable cars;
low- and moderate-income seniors 65 and older who live in San Francisco;
low- and moderate-income people with qualifying disabilities who live in San Francisco; and
people experiencing homelessness in San Francisco.
Where You Can Use It
The Clipper START website lists these participating agencies:
AC Transit, BART, Caltrain, Muni, SamTrans, VTA
Golden Gate Transit and Ferry, San Francisco Bay Ferry, SMART
City Coach, County Connection, FAST, Marin Transit, Santa Rosa CityBus, SolTrans, Sonoma County Transit, Tri Delta Transit, Union City Transit, Vine, WestCAT and Wheels
The discount was made permanent effective May 28, 2025, after several years as a pilot. MTC notes the program is still "subject to revision" based on financial sustainability.
The discount applies to single rides. You load cash value onto your card, and 50% comes off automatically when you tap. Muni's monthly Lifeline pass (below) is the one monthly pass option the SFMTA ties to the program.
How to Apply
The Clipper START site describes these steps:
Fill out the online application at clipperstartcard.com.
Upload proof of identity and proof of income.
Wait for approval. Once you're approved, you'll get a personalized Clipper START card with your name on it in the mail.
Load cash value on the card in person, online or in the Clipper app.
Tap to pay. The discount is applied automatically.
Paper option: the SFMTA says you can pick up a paper application at its Customer Service Center, 11 S. Van Ness Ave., and mail it back to the address on the form.
Processing time: the SFMTA says to allow 30 days. The Clipper START site currently warns that re-enrollment submissions may be delayed because of system changes.
CalFresh shortcut
MTC has partnered with the California Department of Technology so that CalFresh recipients can verify eligibility using information they've already given CalFresh. That means many can apply without waiting for a staff review and may get same-day approval. MTC says nearly 40% of Clipper START customers qualify through CalFresh.
Got a fare ticket recently?
The SFMTA says that if you're applying for Clipper START for the first time and you're accepted, your most recent transit citation issued within 30 days of enrolling may be dismissed. Include the citation number when you apply, then protest the citation and submit your Clipper START approval notice.
For Muni Lifeline Pass Holders: What Changes January 1
The SFMTA's Lifeline program is moving into Clipper START. Here's the timeline it has posted:
Late November 2026: the last monthly Lifeline stickers go on sale, valid for December.
By December 1, 2026: apply for Clipper START so your card arrives in time.
January 1, 2027: the Lifeline pass becomes part of Clipper START. Your old physical Lifeline card is valid only through December 2026.
Do I need to requalify?
Current Lifeline customers qualify automatically, according to the SFMTA. When you apply, you'll be asked for your current Lifeline card number, which confirms your eligibility.
Will it cost more?
No. The SFMTA says the Lifeline pass will still cost $43 for the whole calendar month, which is half the price of a regular Muni monthly pass.
Where to buy the pass on Clipper START
Once your card arrives in the mail, you can buy the Lifeline monthly pass:
in person at any Clipper retail vendor or a Muni Metro Clipper vending machine;
online at clippercard.com/reload; or
in the Clipper app on your phone.
Two things that are different
You have to tap. With the old Lifeline card you just showed your pass. With Clipper START you tap your card every time you board.
Transfer discounts. The SFMTA says Clipper START also makes you eligible for discounts of up to $1.40 when transferring to other Bay Area transit agencies.
Stickers can't be refunded, exchanged or replaced, so avoid buying extra stickers you won't use before the switch.
Bonus: Express Lanes START
If you're eligible for Clipper START and you drive, the Clipper START site points to Express Lanes START. It's a trial program that offers qualifying households 50% to 75% off tolls on the I-880 and I-80 Express Lanes, depending on how many people are in the car. You need a FasTrak account and toll tag.
What we couldn't confirm: the Clipper START FAQ page didn't load for us, so we haven't listed which proof-of-income documents are accepted. Check the site when you apply. The regular Muni monthly pass price wasn't shown on the Lifeline page we checked. Whether the 2026 income limits will change for 2027 hasn't been announced.
Help and Contacts
Clipper START Customer Service: 855-614-9149, help@clipperstartcard.com, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mailing address: P.O. Box 316, Concord, CA 94522-0318.
Clipper Customer Service (lost or stolen cards, Free Muni passes that stop working): 877-878-8883. The SFMTA says a replacement can take up to 10 days, with a $3 fee.
SFMTA / 311: dial 311, or 415-701-2311 from outside San Francisco.
A Quick Checklist
Check whether your household is under the income limit, or whether you're on CalFresh.
Have your ID and proof of income ready, and apply at clipperstartcard.com.
Lifeline riders: apply by December 1, 2026, with your current Lifeline card number.
When the card comes, load value or buy the $43 Lifeline pass, and tap every time you board.
Had a fare ticket in the last 30 days? Include it in your application.
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