The Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Lifeline/Link-up Program provides for discounted telephone service for Americans whose income falls below certain guidelines. Following is information about the program and how it works.
Eligibility Guidelines
If your income level falls at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, then you will qualify for discounted telephone service under the terms of the FCC's Lifeline/Link-Up Program. Consumers will also be eligible to receive the discount if they're receiving assistance from at least one of the following programs:
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Tribally-Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TTANF)
- Head Start (those meeting its income qualifying standard)
- The National School Lunch Program's Free Lunch Program
- Medicaid
- Food Stamps
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8)
- Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Temporary Assistance to Needy Families
Following are the income levels as of June 15, 2005.
2005 Income Requirements for a Household at or Below 135% of Federal Poverty Guidelines
| Estimated Income Requirements |
| Family Size
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
| Income |
$12,920 |
$17,321 |
$21,722 |
$26,123 |
$30,524 |
$34,925 |
$39,326 |
$43,727 |
| For each additional person add $4,401 to the income eligibility requirements. |
- Qualifying consumers living on tribal lands will sign a self-certification form and must provide documentation supporting qualification based on the above mentioned criteria.
Some examples of supporting documentation for verification of income are:
- Prior year’s state, federal, or tribal tax return.
- Current income statement from employer or paycheck stub.
- Social Security statement of benefits.
- Veteran’s Administration statement of benefits.
- Retirement/pension statement of benefits.
- Unemployment/Worker’s Compensation statement of benefits.
- Federal or tribal notice letter of participation in Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) General Assistance.
- A divorce decree or child support document.
Lifeline and Link-Up discounts apply to one phone service at the primary place of residence. Lifeline also includes Toll Restriction, enabling the customer to restrict long distance calls.
Download the Hopi Telecommunications Lifeline Application in Adobe PDF format now.
Click here to download Adobe Reader.
Call 1-877-522-8428 for more information.
For more information about the Lifeline and Link-Up Programs, visit the following links:
Universal Service Administrative Company:
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