Feb 27th 2008, 06:07

Discount On Phone Bills If You're Low-Income

Afford to have phones in your home if you become eligible

Imagine what you can be doing if you don’t have a phone. You’d probably be going to office after office just to ask common inquiries, contact friends and relatives the long way, not to mention the hassle people have to endure informing you of an emergency.

You can be spared from all of that if you take part in the ‘Lifeline’ or ‘Link-Up’ programs. The ‘Lifeline’ will save you at least $10 a month on phone bills, including mobile phones, depending on which State you live in and phone service provider you have available. ‘Link-Up’ pays up to $30 in start-up fees, also including mobile phones, except for the phone itself, and allows borrowing of up to $200 for interest-free setup fees for a maximum of a year.

For tribal lands, there is the enhanced version of both services. Savings of up to $35 from monthly bills, even getting basic service for as low as $1 per month, for ‘Lifeline,’ while discounts of up to 50% of the first $60 of the installation fee, with an additional discount of $70 for above $60 installation fees, for ‘Link-Up.’

In order to become eligible, you must have income at least 135% below the federal Poverty Guidelines, or participate in one of these:

• Medicaid
• Food Stamp Program
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8)
• Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• ‘Free Lunch Program’ of the National School Lunch Program
• Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
• Tribally-Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TTANF)
• Head Start (if income eligibility criteria are attained)
• Tribal National School Lunch Program

Other eligibility criteria depend on the State you live in and the phone service provider in the area. To see what eligibility criteria you have in your State, visit www.lifelinesupport.org/li/low-income/lifelinesuppor/browser.

You can also call 1-888-CALL-FCC, 1-888-TELL-FCC (TTY), or e-mail the Federal Communications Commission through fccinfo@fcc.gov.

 

 

To Do List: - Suggested Links:

1. Increase Your Income:
   Get an online degree with financial aid from the government.
2. Consolidate Your Bills:
   Student Loans - Credit Card Debts - Refinance Home
3. Reward Yourself:
   Get a new computer for free.
4. Get some cash you don’t have to pay back:
   Government has money for almost any worthwhile need.
5. Bargain prices on government auctions
   Discounts on foreclosed property, liquidations, surplus items