LIFELINE

Lifeline - service provides qualified consumers with a reduction on monthly charges for their primary home phone line, even if it’s a cell phone. Link-Up - Link-Up lowers the cost eligible consumers pay for setting up new phone service at their home.

HOW MUCH CAN YOU SAVE?

Lifeline - If you qualify for this program, it can save you at least $10 a month on your phone bills, depending on what state you live in and which phone company in your area provides this program. Some states provide more concessions to make local service even more affordable. To determine if your state offers these additional lifeline discounts, contact us at 1-888-777-6561. Link-Up - Link-Up pays up to $30.00 of a qualified consumer’s home phone startup fees, not including the cost of the phone service . Link-Up also lets consumers borrow up to $200 of set-up fees, interest-free, for up to one year. Tribal Lands - Those living on tribal lands may qualify for additional discounts.

ARE YOU ELIGIBLE TO FOR THESE GOVERNMENT ASSISTED DISCOUNTS?

These lifeline discounts are available to qualifying consumers throughout the country, although eligibility requirements vary from state to state. Some states have broader categories for eligibility so that more people will qualify. That is why it is important to know how your state runs these lifeline assisted phone service programs. If your state uses the federal government categories, those standards require either that consumers have a total household revenue that does not exceed 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines OR that they participate in one of the following programs:

For household revenue to be at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, total income for the household must not be more than the following:

These revenue levels are based on Jan. 23, 2009, data from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). For each additional person in the household beyond eight, add the following dollar amounts to the income eligibility requirements: $5,049 for persons living in the Lower 48 and D.C., $6,318 for Alaska, and $5,805 for Hawaii.

DO I HAVE TO PAY A DEPOSIT TO START PHONE SERVICE?

If you have financial or credit problems, you may be required to pay a deposit before setting up phone service. Consumers who are eligible for the Lifeline Government assisted and Link-Up programs do not have to pay a deposit if they agree to limit long distance service on their phone. This is called “toll limitation” or “toll blocking.” Even with this toll-blocking program, you will still be able to place long-distance phone calls using pre-paid calling cards. If your phone company is threatening to disconnect your phone service because of late or nonpayment of bills, you can ask your company to restrict your phone calls to local numbers only.

FACILITATING THE APPLICATION PROCESS

In addition to traditional phone service providers, many new competitive local exchange carriers are now authorized to provide Lifeline and Link-Up discounts to eligible consumers. Encourage eligible consumers to contact their local phone service providers or other carriers authorized to provide Lifeline and Link-Up discount benefits in your area to request an application form and obtain further instructions on how to apply for this Government Assisted, Phone Service - Lifeline (Government assisted phone service) and Link-Up discounts in your state. Contact your state’s public utility commission or utility consumer advocate office for a more complete list of companies authorized to provide Lifeline phone and Link-Up discounts in your area.

                 OTHER QUESTIONS? Further inquiries can be directed to 1-888-777-6561