ORCA LIFT in Seattle 2026–27: $1 Fares, the $36 Monthly Pass, the Income Limits and the Free Annual Pass
Updated: 2 hours ago
If you ride King County Metro, Link light rail or the Water Taxi and money is tight, ORCA LIFT can bring most single rides down to $1.00. A full month of unlimited rides on Metro, Link and most regional buses costs $36 on a LIFT card. Some riders on state cash benefits can go further and get a subsidized annual pass that costs them nothing at all.
Last checked October 2026. Sources: King County Metro's ORCA LIFT page and its Subsidized Annual Pass page, both on kingcounty.gov. The ORCA LIFT page on myORCA.com and Sound Transit's reduced-fares page returned "page not found" when we checked, so the fares below come from Metro's posted price list.
The Short Version
What it is: a reduced-fare ORCA card for adults with lower incomes. Most bus and rail rides cost $1.00, and a monthly PugetPass for those systems costs $36.
Who qualifies: gross household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, which Metro lists as $2,660 a month for one person or $5,500 a month for a family of four. People on Apple Health (Medicaid), Basic Food or WIC are also eligible.
Cost of the card: no fee for qualified riders. You load money or a pass onto it.
How long it lasts: two years from when you get it. The expiration date is printed on the back.
How to apply: online, in person at an enrollment office, or by phone with the Community Health Access Program (CHAP) at 800-756-5437.
Kids: youth 18 and under ride free on most transit in the region, so they don't need a LIFT card.
Who Qualifies for ORCA LIFT
Metro says your gross household income (before taxes) must be no more than 200% of the federal poverty level. Here are the monthly limits Metro posts:
People in household | Monthly income up to |
1 | $2,660 |
2 | $3,607 |
3 | $4,553 |
4 | $5,500 |
5 | $6,447 |
6 | $7,393 |
7 | $8,108 |
8 | $9,025 |
These are monthly figures.
Some benefits count as proof on their own. If you're enrolled in Apple Health (Medicaid), Washington Basic Food or WIC, Metro accepts proof of that enrollment as your income documentation.
If your income goes up later, you keep the card. Metro says you can use your ORCA LIFT card until it expires, even if you start earning more than 200% of the poverty level. When it expires, you can reapply or use the card to pay a regular adult fare.
Not sure? CHAP, run by Public Health – Seattle & King County, will help you figure out whether you qualify. Call 800-756-5437.
What It Costs to Ride
You load money (called E-purse) or a monthly PugetPass onto the card, and the reduced fare comes out when you tap.
Here are some of the LIFT fares on Metro's posted price list:
Service | Single ride | Monthly PugetPass |
Metro buses, RapidRide, Metro Flex, DART, Trailhead Direct | $1.00 | $36.00 |
Link light rail, Sounder trains, ST Express buses | $1.00 | $36.00 |
Seattle Streetcar | $1.00 | $36.00 |
Seattle Center Monorail | $2.00 | $72.00 |
Water Taxi, West Seattle–Downtown | $1.00 | $135.00 |
Water Taxi, Vashon Island–Downtown | $1.00 | $162.00 |
Metro's list also shows $1.00 fixed-route fares for other regional bus systems, and a fast-ferry fare of $1.00 eastbound and $6.50 westbound.
Which systems take ORCA LIFT
Metro lists these agencies as accepting the reduced fare:
King County Metro buses and the King County Water Taxi
Sound Transit Link light rail, ST Express buses and Sounder trains
Community Transit, Everett Transit, Kitsap Transit and Pierce Transit buses
Seattle Center Monorail and Seattle Streetcar
On other systems, the card still works, but you pay the regular adult fare from your E-purse or pass.
How to Apply
You have three ways to apply.
Online. Metro's ORCA LIFT page links to the online application. You'll upload proof of income and proof of identity.
In person. Go to an authorized enrollment office. One listed by Metro is the ORCA LIFT/Public Health office at 201 South Jackson Street in Seattle. Its posted hours are Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed 1 to 2 p.m. for lunch), plus 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the second and third Friday of each month. There's also a Federal Way Public Health storefront at 1640 S. 318th Place, Suite B, open Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
By phone. Call CHAP at 800-756-5437, and your card is mailed to you.
What to Bring
Metro asks for proof of income and proof of identity.
Proof of income (one of these)
Proof that you're enrolled in Apple Health/Medicaid (your ProviderOne card), Basic Food (your EBT card) or WIC
Award letters for Social Security, SSI, unemployment or Labor and Industries (L&I) benefits
No income right now: an Employment Security verification form, or a screenshot from its website, showing no income
Paid by an employer: pay stubs or a screenshot showing your gross income for the last 30 days. If you're paid in cash, a signed and dated statement from your employer, or a bank statement showing the deposits
Self-employed: your most recent tax return, or a self-employment worksheet
Gig workers (Uber, Lyft, DoorDash and similar): proof of income after expenses for the last 30 days
Proof of identity
A current government-issued photo ID from any country works. That includes a driver's license, a state ID, a passport, a consular ID, a tribal ID, a military ID or a college photo ID.
If you don't have a photo ID like that, Metro accepts a combination of two or more documents. That means something with your name and an adult photo of you, plus a document with your name and birthdate, such as a birth certificate, Social Security card, school records, an immigration ID or an employee ID card.
Loading and Using the Card
The card has no starting balance, so load it before your first ride:
online at myORCA.com or in the myORCA app
at the Metro Pass Sales Office
at ORCA vending machines and participating stores
by phone through Metro at 206-553-3000 or the ORCA Regional Call Center at 888-988-6722
One catch: stores such as Safeway and QFC can only load E-purse money, not monthly passes. Metro says you can turn that E-purse money into a pass by calling 206-553-3000 or logging into your ORCA account.
Renewing, and lost cards
Your card is good for two years. When it expires, you apply again the same way. If your card is lost, stolen or damaged, report it right away so it's locked. Metro says a replacement costs $3, and any E-purse money or passes on the old card can be moved to the new one. You can replace it through ORCA Customer Service at 888-988-6722, your myORCA.com account, or the Metro Pass Sales Office.
The Subsidized Annual Pass: Free Rides for a Year
If you receive certain state cash benefits, you may qualify for something better than ORCA LIFT: a subsidized annual pass that costs you nothing. It's loaded on an ORCA LIFT card and covers King County Metro, Community Transit, Everett Transit and Sound Transit, along with free transfers to the Seattle Center Monorail and Seattle Streetcar, according to Metro.
Who qualifies: residents of King, Pierce or Snohomish County who are enrolled in one of these six state programs:
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or State Family Assistance (SFA)
Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA)
Aged, Blind, or Disabled Cash Assistance (ABD)
Pregnant Women Assistance (PWA). This isn't the same as WIC.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI). This isn't the same as Social Security or SSDI.
Housing & Essential Needs (HEN). This isn't the same as HUD housing help.
Low income alone isn't enough. Metro says you must be enrolled in one of these programs, even if your income is below 80% of the poverty line. To check whether you qualify for one of them, call DSHS at 877-501-2233 or visit washingtonconnection.org.
To apply, use Metro's Reduced Fare Portal. You'll need your ProviderOne number or DSHS client ID, a copy of your photo ID, and your most recent DSHS award letter. You can also apply by phone through CHAP at 800-756-5437 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed 1 to 2 p.m.) or Catholic Community Services at 206-960-1582 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.), or in person at the offices listed above.
Good to know:
The pass lasts up to 12 months, even if your benefits change during that time.
You can renew when it's within one month of expiring, as long as you're still enrolled in a qualifying program. Metro says to renew on the 15th of the month before it expires.
If you already have an ORCA LIFT card, you'll get a new one. Your old card is blocked within 7 days, and leftover money moves to the new card.
For rides on Kitsap Transit or Pierce Transit, add E-purse money to the same card and you'll pay the LIFT rate.
A lost card with an annual pass is replaced free. Call Metro reduced fares at 206-477-4200.
A Quick Checklist
Check your household's monthly income against the table, or confirm you're on Apple Health, Basic Food or WIC.
Gather one proof of income and a photo ID.
Apply online, in person, or by calling CHAP.
Load E-purse money or a $36 pass before your first ride, and tap every time.
On TANF, SSI, ABD, RCA, PWA or HEN? Ask about the free subsidized annual pass.
Age 65+, a disability or Medicare? Ask about the Regional Reduced Fare Permit instead.
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