Telephone Service
Discount Programs
Telephone
Service Discounts
Minnesota local service providers are authorized
to provide two federally-funded and one state-funded telephone
service discount programs that were designed to promote universal
service by providing low-income individuals with new telephone
service installations and monthly telephone service discounts.
The federally-funded Link-Up program provides a discount
on new service connection charges when installing new telephone
service. The federal Lifeline and state Telephone Assistance
Plan programs provide a monthly discount on your local telephone
service.
Who is eligible?
Telephone service must be in your name and you must participate
in at least one of the following public assistance programs
or have income at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines
to be eligible:
- Medicaid/Medical Assistance
- Food Support (food stamps)
- Minnesota
Family Investment Program (MFIP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Federal Housing Assistance or Section 8 Assistance
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP)
- National
School Lunch Program's free lunch program
Additional
qualifying programs for persons living on a reservation:
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Tribally administered Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families
- Head Start (only those meeting its income qualifying
standard)
- National School Lunch Program's free lunch program
If
you do not participate in any of the above programs, you
may still qualify if you prove your income is at or below
135% of the federal poverty income guidelines.
| Attach
any one of the following documents to your application
to prove your income is at or below 135% of the federal
povery income guidelines. |
| Last
year's State, Federal or Tribal Tax Return |
Social
Security Benefits Statement |
| Current
annual income statement from employer |
Retirement/Pension
Benefits Statement |
| Three
consecutive months of most recent paycheck stubs |
Divorce
Decree |
| Veterans
Administration Benefits Statement |
Child
Support Document |
| Unemployment/Workmen's
Compensation Statement |
Other |
What do the programs provide?
Link-Up
provides eligible subscribers with reduced connection charges
for the main home telephone line. This reduction is 50 percent
of applicable charges or $30.00, whichever is less. Link-Up
also provides for deferred payment of connection charges without
interest. It does not cover the cost of wiring inside the
home and is available to eligible subscribers only once per
home address.
LifeLine
provides eligible subscribers with
a monthly credit on the basic local service portion of their
telephone bill. The credit applies on the main home telephone
number listed in the name of the eligible telephone company
subscriber. LifeLine subscribers also may receive free blocking
of long distance calling on their telephone line. Additional
benefits are available to persons living on Tribal Lands/reservations.
Telephone
Assistance Plan (TAP) program provides an additional
monthly credit for LifeLine subscribers.
How do I apply?
Complete and sign the application
form, attach proof of income and mail it to your local
phone company.
Could I become ineligible?
When you
no longer participate in any of the qualifying programs listed
above, you are no longer eligible for LifeLine, LinkUp or
TAP. You are obligated by law to notify the telephone company
and advise the company that you are no longer eligible for
LifeLine, LinkUp or TAP.
For more information
If you have questions about these discount programs or
the application process, contact your local telephone company
or link
to your local service provider for your city.
Complete the application, attach proof of income and mail
to your local telephone company.
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