What You Need to Know About the Lifeline Phone Service Program
Need Access to a Phone Line for Alert1?
With Alert1's medical alert systems, you don't need to have a phone line to get extra peace of mind. Our mobile medical alerts keep you safe without a required landline. However, having access to a phone line can be essential to your wellbeing.
A phone line allows you to:
- Keep in touch with your children.
- Stay social with your friends.
- Set up doctors’ appointments.
Along with your medical alert system, a lifeline phone service program can also benefit your safety. But these services can be expensive. If you cannot afford to pay for a phone service plan at the original price, a Lifeline Phone Service Program is the perfect opportunity for you to get the phone service you need.
What Is the Lifeline Phone Service Program?
Lifeline Phone Service is a government-backed program that allows eligible low-income individuals and households to apply and receive discounts on a home phone service. The program has a variety of benefits.
What Are Some Benefits of This Program?
- Monthly discount of $9.25 for a telephone service.
- Choosing to receive a Lifeline discount on either a wireline (your home phone) or a wireless phone service.
How Can You Qualify? Low Income or Federal Assistance
There are two ways you can qualify to the Lifeline Phone Service program:
1. Based on your income.
In order to have the opportunity to qualify for this program, your household’s income needs to be at 135% or below of the federal poverty guidelines.
2. Based on a state or federal assistance program.
If you or a member of your household is assisted by any of the following state and federal assistance programs, you may be eligible to apply:
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Medicaid
- National School Lunch Program's (NSLP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- A qualifying program established by your state
- General Assistance
- Head Start (only households meeting the income qualifying standard)
- Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tribal TANF)
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations.
Can I Qualify for More Than One Phone Service?
No, you cannot receive more than one phone service through the Lifeline phone service program. Federal law prohibits qualified low-income members from collecting more than one discount per household. Still, users will have the option to choose either the wireless or wireline service.
What Documents Do I Need to Apply?
To apply for this important program, you will first need to gather some important documents. You will need the following:
Program Eligibility Verification, which can include either:
- Current or prior year’s statement of benefits from one of the qualifying programs listed above
- Letter of participation in qualifying program
- Copy of program participation document
Income Eligibility Verification, which can include either:
- Prior year’s federal, state, or Tribal tax return
- Current income statement (could be paycheck stub)
- Social Security statement of benefits
- Veterans Administration statement of benefits
- Retirement or pension statement of benefits
- Unemployment or Workers’ Comp
- Federal or Tribal notice letter of participation in General Assistance
- Divorce Decree or child support award
If the documentation does not cover a full year of income, you will have to show proof of the same documentation that covers 3 consecutive months within the last 12 months.
How Do You Apply?
You can apply for a Lifeline discounted landline phone service through a Lifeline Program provider near you. Visit the Lifeline Support website to locate a provider near you. For more information, visit the FCC website.