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CONSUMER DISCOUNTS ON TELEPHONE SERVICE UNDER
FEDERAL UNIVERSAL SERVICE PROGRAMS
Lifeline - Lifeline provides qualified consumers with
a discount 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, including cell phone
service.
HOW MUCH CAN YOU SAVE?
Lifeline - If you qualify for this program, Lifeline
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 discounts to make local telephone service even more
affordable. To determine if your state offers these additional discounts,
contact your state’s public utility commission,
www.naruc.org/commissions.cfm.
Link-Up - Link-Up pays up to $30.00 of a qualified
consumer’s home phone startup fees (even if it’s a cell phone), not including
the cost of the phone. 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.
Fact sheet.
ARE YOU ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THESE DISCOUNTS?
These 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 programs. To find out the criteria for your state, go to
www.lifelinesupport.org/li/low-income/lifelinesupport/browser/.
If your state uses the federal categories, those standards require
either that consumers have a total household income that does not exceed
135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines OR that they participate in one
of the following programs:
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Medicaid
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Food Stamps
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Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
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Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8)
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Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
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Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) or
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The National School Lunch Programs Free Lunch Program
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For household income to
be at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines,
total income for the household must not be more than the
following:
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Number of People
In Your Family |
Lower 48 /
DC |
Hawaii |
Alaska |
| 1 |
$14,040 |
$17,550 |
$16,146 |
| 2 |
$18,900 |
$23,625 |
$21,735 |
| 3 |
$23,760 |
$29,700 |
$27,324 |
| 4 |
$28,620 |
$35,775 |
$32,913 |
| 5 |
$33,480 |
$41,850 |
$38,502 |
| 6 |
$38,340 |
$47,925 |
$44,091 |
| 7 |
$43,200 |
$54,000 |
$49,680 |
| 8 |
$48,060 |
$60,075 |
$55,269 |
These income levels are based on Jan. 23, 2008, 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: $4,860 for persons living in the Lower 48 and D.C.,
$6,075 for Alaska, and $5,589 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 telephone service. Consumers who are eligible for the
Lifeline 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 calls using pre-paid
calling cards.
If your phone company is threatening to disconnect your service
because of late or non-payment of bills, you can ask your company to
restrict your phone calls to local numbers only.
HOW TO APPLY FOR LIFELINE & LINK-UP?
Contact your local telephone company to make sure that you qualify
for these benefits in your state and to request an application form.
If your local telephone company is not authorized to provide Lifeline
or Link-Up discounts in your area, contact your state public utility
commission or consumer advocate office to locate an authorized service
provider.
CONTACT INFORMATION & WEB LINKS
OTHER QUESTIONS?
Further questions can be directed to
the Federal Communications Commission, at 1-888-CALLFCC.
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Federal Communications Commission
