LA Metro LIFE Program 2026–27: 20 Free Rides a Month, 90 Free Days to Start, Income Limits and How to Apply
A regular one-way ride on LA Metro costs $1.75. That doesn't sound like much until you add it up over a month of commuting, school drop-offs and grocery runs. For a lot of households in Los Angeles County, those fares are a real line in the budget.
Metro's LIFE program (Low-Income Fare is Easy) is built for exactly that problem. If you qualify, you get 90 days of unlimited free rides when you first sign up, and after that 20 free rides every month on Metro, or a discounted pass on one of the other transit agencies in the county. Metro says the application takes less than 10 minutes, and once you're in, you don't have to reapply every year.
This guide covers who qualifies, what you actually get, how to apply online or in person, how LIFE stacks with the senior and disability discounts, and the small details (like rollover rides and lost cards) that trip people up.
Last checked October 2026. Sources: LA Metro's LIFE Program page, the LIFE Benefits Guide, Metro's Fares page, the Senior Discount and Persons with Disabilities Discount pages, and the How to Pay page. Fares, income limits and partner agencies can change, so confirm with Metro before you count on a number.
The Short Version
What you get: 90 days of unlimited free rides at sign-up, then 20 free rides per month (or a discount on a monthly or weekly pass from another LA County agency).
Who qualifies: LA County residents who get CalFresh (EBT), Medi-Cal, SSI, General Relief or other public assistance, or whose household income is under Metro's limit. For one person, that limit is $58,300 a year.
How to apply: online in under 10 minutes, at a Metro Customer Center, at a community sign-up event, with help from the International Institute of Los Angeles, or on a paper application you request by phone.
Renewal: none needed each year, as long as you stay eligible.
Effect on other benefits: Metro says signing up does not affect CalFresh, Medi-Cal, General Relief or housing assistance.
Do You Qualify?
Metro's own line is "Most Metro riders do." You only need to meet one of these:
You have an EBT card (CalFresh, SNAP or food stamps)
You receive Medi-Cal
You receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), General Relief or other public assistance
Your household income is below the limit for your family size
Here are the income limits Metro lists on its LIFE page:
| Household size | Annual household income | |---|---| | 1 person | up to $58,300 | | 2 people | up to $66,650 | | 3 people | up to $74,950 | | 4 people | up to $83,300 | | Each additional person | add $6,650 |
Those limits are higher than many people expect. A single adult earning around $28 an hour full time can fall under the one-person line, so it's worth checking even if you've never received public benefits.
Students and kids
K-12 students can get LIFE if they're listed as a dependent on an eligible adult's application. Before you add them, check whether their school takes part in Metro's GoPass program, which gives students at participating schools free Metro rides on its own.
Who can't enroll
You can't sign up for LIFE if you already get transit subsidies through another Metro fare program, such as GoPass (K-12 and community college), the College U-Pass, or an Employer Pass. In those cases you already have a subsidized way to ride, and Metro doesn't let you double up.
What You Get
Your first 90 days: ride as much as you want
When you first enroll, you can ride Metro and 16 participating transit agencies as often as you like for 90 days, free. There's no ride count during this period.
After 90 days: pick one of two options
Many members miss this part. The benefit doesn't end at 90 days. It changes to whichever of these two fits you better.
Option 1: 20 free rides every month. The rides go onto your TAP card each month, and you can use them on participating agencies across LA County.
Option 2: A discounted pass on another agency. If you mostly ride a local system rather than Metro, you can take a discount on that agency's pass instead. Metro lists Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA), Big Blue Bus, BurbankBus, Culver City Bus, Foothill Transit, Glendale Beeline, Glendora Transit, GTrans, LADOT, Lawndale Beat, Long Beach Transit, Montebello Bus Lines, Norwalk Transit, Pasadena Transit, Santa Clarita Transit and Torrance Transit.
How much the pass discount saves depends on the pass type:
| Pass type | LIFE savings | |---|---| | Regular 30-day/monthly pass or EZ Pass | $24 | | Regular 7-day/weekly pass | $6 | | Senior/Disabled 30-day/monthly pass or EZ Pass | $8 | | College/Vocational student 30-day pass | $13 | | K-12 student 30-day pass (excludes GoPass students) | $10 |
Extra free months in South LA and Pomona
Through the South LA Eco-Lab and Pomona ACTS projects, residents of certain ZIP codes can get an extra 6 months of free rides when they enroll:
South LA: 90001, 90003, 90011, 90037, 90044, 90047, 90062
Pomona: 91766, 91767, 91768
If you're already enrolled and live in one of those ZIP codes, Metro says you may still qualify. Call LIFE at 213.922.2378 or email LIFEinfo@metro.net to check.
How the 20 Free Rides Actually Work
The fine print on the 20 rides is generous, but it isn't obvious. Here's what Metro says:
20 rides means 20 boardings, not 20 days. Each time you board counts as one ride.
Free transfers don't count against you. Metro gives two hours of free transfers when you pay with TAP. A connecting bus or train inside that window doesn't use up another ride.
Transfers to other agencies cost extra. If you switch from Metro to a different agency, you pay the difference.
Unused rides roll over. You don't lose them at the end of the month. A TAP card can hold up to eight 20-ride passes.
They work on more than buses and trains. You can use LIFE rides on Metro buses, Metro trains, Metro Micro and many other LA County agencies.
They don't cover Commuter Express. LIFE discounts cover only the base fare on participating agencies.
Setting up auto-load
You can opt in to have your 20 rides loaded automatically on the 1st of each month. That's the easiest way to avoid forgetting. You can turn on auto-renewal, add rides, or check how many you have left:
Online at taptogo.net
In the TAP app
By calling TAP Customer Service at 1.866.TAPTOGO (1.866.827.8646), Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm (se habla español)
In person at a Metro Customer Center or TAP vendor
How to Apply
Online
The fastest route is the online application linked from Metro's LIFE page. Metro says it takes less than 10 minutes. Have your proof of benefits (like your EBT or Medi-Cal card) or your household income information ready before you start.
In person
You can sign up at any Metro Customer Center or at a community sign-up event.
With help from IILA
Metro works with the International Institute of Los Angeles (IILA) to help people sign up in person:
Southwest Office: 3870 Crenshaw Bl, Suite 229, Los Angeles, CA 90008. Phone 323.870.8567. Monday to Friday, 9am to 4:30pm, closed for lunch 12 to 1pm.
Northwest Office: 14546 Hamlin St, Suite 105, Van Nuys, CA 91411. Phone 818.527.4464. Monday to Friday, 9am to 4:30pm. Call ahead for building access.
Southeast Office: 9060 Telstar Av, Suite 223, El Monte, CA 91731. Phone 818.244.2550. Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm.
On paper
To get a paper application, call the LIFE program at 213.922.2378 or email lifeinfo@metro.net. Applications are available in Spanish and other languages.
After you apply
You should get a confirmation email or phone call. If you haven't heard anything within 10 business days, contact LIFE at 213.922.2378 or lifeinfo@metro.net. If your LIFE TAP card still hasn't arrived 14 days after sign-up, call 213.922.3091 or email lifeinfo@metro.net.
Stacking LIFE With Senior and Disability Discounts
Metro says the Reduced Fare TAP card discounts for seniors, people with disabilities, college and vocational students, and K-12 students can be combined with LIFE. For older riders and riders with disabilities, the two programs work well together.
Senior and disabled fares on their own
With a Reduced Fare TAP card, a one-way Metro ride costs:
| When you ride | Fare | |---|---| | Monday–Friday, 5–9am and 3–7pm | 75 cents | | Monday–Friday, 9am–3pm and 7pm–5am | 35 cents | | Saturday and Sunday, all day | 35 cents | | Federal holidays | 35 cents |
Reduced-fare riders also have lower fare caps. You never pay more than $2.50 a day or $5 over seven days, and every ride after that is free.
Seniors qualify at age 62. You can apply for a Senior Reduced Fare TAP card, or buy a one-way senior fare on a regular TAP card at a vending machine and be ready to show proof of age, such as a photo ID.
Riders with disabilities need proof of disability. Metro accepts any of these as a quick check: Medicare, SSI or SSDI benefits, a valid California DMV placard receipt, a Disabled Veterans ID, or enrollment as a special education student in an LA County program.
At a Metro Customer Center, you can apply for either card in person, and same-day processing is available.
If regular buses and trains don't work for you, Metro points riders to Access, the shared-ride paratransit service for people with disabilities.
Fare Capping Helps Everyone Else
If you don't qualify for LIFE, or you're in the gap after using up your rides, fare capping still limits what you pay. When you pay with a TAP card or a credit or debit card, Metro caps regular fares at $5 a day (you pay for three rides, then ride free) and $18 over seven days.
There's one exception. If you pay with cash on a bus, you need exact fare and the caps don't apply. Metro Rail doesn't take cash at all. A physical TAP card costs $2 at TAP vendors and at vending machines at rail, J Line and G Line stations, or you can get a free digital card in the TAP app or Apple Wallet.
Common Problems and Fixes
Lost, stolen or damaged LIFE card. Your benefits are tied to your account, not to the plastic. Buy a new TAP card at a vending machine or Customer Center (with at least $1 loaded on it). Then call TAP Customer Service at 866.827.8646 or email customerservice@taptogo.net. Have your name, date of birth, address, phone or email, and the new card number ready.
Card not showing in your online account. Under "My TAP Cards," click "Register card" and enter the 16- or 20-digit number on the back.
Moved or changed your phone number. Tell LIFE at 213.922.2378 or lifeinfo@metro.net so you don't miss notices.
Worried about other benefits. Metro says LIFE is a transit benefit and does not affect CalFresh, Medi-Cal, General Relief or housing assistance.
Quick Checklist
Check whether you get CalFresh, Medi-Cal, SSI or General Relief, or whether your income is under the limit
Apply online, at a Customer Center, through IILA, or on a paper form
Follow up if you haven't heard back in 10 business days
Use your 90 free days, then choose 20 rides a month or a pass discount
Turn on auto-load for the 1st of the month
If you're 62+ or have a disability, also get a Reduced Fare TAP card
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