(Offline)
Lifeline, Link Up, and Toll Limitation Service (TLS) support provide discounts that make basic, local telephone service more affordable for more than 7 million Americans. Approximately 1,700 telephone companies are eligible to provide these discounts. Consumers apply for the discounts through their local telephone company. These companies are then reimbursed through the Low Income Program of the Universal Service Fund for the revenue they forgo by providing discounted service to eligible consumers.
On the USAC homepage, it says "The fund is maintained through contributions made by telecommunications providers across the country and is disbursed based on four primary support programs."
As far as I can tell from looking at my own area and phone company, you can be eligible if you fit any of these.
Program based eligibility:
- Federal Public Housing Assistance / Section 8
- Food Stamps
- Medicaid
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- National School Lunch (free program only)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Additional eligibility criteria may apply to residents of federally recognized tribal lands
Income based eligibility:
- Total household income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
You can see whether your phone company takes part in this through this map.
http://www.lifelinesupport.org/li/low-income/lifelinesupport/browser/
(Offline)
It's amazing how much help there is out there if you know where to look for it. My local phone provider gives up to $8.25 off the monthly bill according to that. That's $99 a year! Great post, greenmachine.
©2009
Greenmachine, that's excellent. I must admit I wondered whether the program was legitimate because it sounded too good to be true. The FCC has always been involved with this from what I read, so it must be. I don't mean to be a doubting Thomas! I just like to check such things.
http://www.lifelinesupport.org/li/about/default.aspx
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