A Consumer Action Training Connect to Lifeline and Save Discounted Lifeline Telephone Service Helps Low-Income Californians

A Consumer Action Training Participants will Learn: Available benefits through Lifeline Who is eligible & how to apply How to continue to participate Where to find more information

A Consumer Action Training What’s in your Folder? Connect to Lifeline & Save brochure Sample forms PowerPoint presentation handout

A Consumer Action Training California Lifeline Telephone Service Lets get started…

A Consumer Action Training California Lifeline Telephone Service What are some of the reasons you may need phone service at home?

A Consumer Action Training Features & Benefits As a Lifeline participant you can save on local phone service.

A Consumer Action Training Features & Benefits Service Connection Discount –Approved customers receive a credit for all but $10 or half the regular connection charge (whichever is lower) –Does not cover outlet / jack –Landlord responsibility

A Consumer Action Training Features & Benefits Installment Plans for Service Connection & Deposits –Request an interest-free payment plan to help pay for service connection charges and/or deposits for basic service –Check with carrier Deposits for Basic Service will be Waived –If a deposit is paid when establishing service and applying for Lifeline, the deposit will be credited back after approval

A Consumer Action Training Features & Benefits Service Conversion Discount –Existing customers who have regular service who request and are approved for Lifeline will be charged a conversion charge to change to Lifeline –A conversion charge also applies to customers who change their service from flat rate to measured rate or measured rate to flat rate –A conversion charge for Lifeline customers is $10 or half the regular connection charge or full priced regular conversion charge (whichever is lower)

A Consumer Action Training Features & Benefits Federal Subscriber Line Charge is waived for Lifeline customers Lifeline customers are exempt from paying certain taxes and surcharges

A Consumer Action Training Features & Benefits Flat Rate Local Telephone Service Discount –Unlimited local calls as low as $5.47 per month, unless half the regular flat rate is lower than $5.47, then the lower rate applies –Optional services - no discount

A Consumer Action Training Features & Benefits Measured Rate Local Service Discount –Up to 60 local calls per month for $2.91 per month, unless half the regular measured rate is lower than $2.91, then the lower rate applies –Additional local calls (more than 60 per month) cost 8 cents each –Optional services - no discount

Features & Benefits Tribal Lands (Enhanced Lifeline) –Individuals living on federally recognized Tribal Lands who qualify for Lifeline may be enrolled in Tribal Lands Lifeline –Monthly rate for Tribal Lands Lifeline - $1 –Applicants must be approved for California Lifeline before they can apply for Tribal Lands Lifeline A Consumer Action Training

Features & Benefits Hearing Impaired - 2nd Connection –Household eligible for Lifeline –Disabled person in home uses a TTY –If TTY not issued by Deaf & Disabled Telecommunications Program (DDTP) Need medical certificate

A Consumer Action Training Features & Benefits Free Toll Blocking –Prevents making long distance or local toll calls –Able to receive long distance calls & make calls to toll free numbers –Protection –Prepaid telephone cards

A Consumer Action Training Lifeline Eligibility Household –One family –Extended family living as group –If one or more families share home, each family is eligible for it’s own Lifeline service

A Consumer Action Training Lifeline Eligibility Lifeline Eligibility Criteria: –Public assistance program –Household income limits –Lifeline connection in primary home –Not a dependent on another’s tax income return

A Consumer Action Training Am I Eligible for Lifeline? Review Lifeline Questionnaire See handout –Will connection be at primary residence? –Are you someone’s dependent? –Are you enrolled in an eligible assistance program? –Does your income exceed limits?

A Consumer Action Training Lifeline Enrollment If you don’t have local service, contact telephone company to set up –Certification (application) form arrives in the mail in a PINK envelope –Complete Lifeline certification (application) form by mail or online by the due date –Pay regular rates, connection charges, and deposits until approved. (Ask about interest-free payment plans) –After approval receive credit for deposits and all but $10 or half the regular service connection charge, whichever is lower –After approval the Lifeline discount will be credited back to when service began

A Consumer Action Training Lifeline Enrollment If you already have local service, contact telephone company to apply for Lifeline –Certification (application) form arrives in the mail in a PINK envelope –Complete certification (application) form by mail or online by the due date –Pay regular rates until approved –Pay small one-time conversion charge –After approval the Lifeline discount will be applied retroactively from the date enrollment was requested

A Consumer Action Training Annual Verification Must renew Lifeline eligibility each year –CA Lifeline Annual Verification (Renewal) form arrives in the mail in a PINK envelope –Must complete program or income based section –Complete by mail or online by due date –Forms arriving late will not be processed

A Consumer Action Training Annual Verification If you don’t verify continued eligibility by the due date: –Will be removed from program –Service will convert to full-priced service –Deposit will be required, if applicable Notify telephone company if you no longer qualify Eligibility may be audited at any time –Provide proof of household income or participation in eligible assistance program

CA Lifeline Administrator Call Center English Spanish Laotian / Hmong Cambodian Tagalog Korean Vietnamese Mandarin / Cantonese Japanese TTY Call Center Hours: Monday-Friday from 8am to 7pm New Service Calls:

CA Lifeline Administrator Hotline English / Spanish Mandarin / Cantonese Korean Japanese Vietnamese Tagalog TTY Hotline Hours: Monday-Friday from 7am to 7pm Status of Application and Renewal Forms: Web site: Find information, sample forms, and FAQs

A Consumer Action Training Questions? Can we answer any questions about this portion of the training?

A Consumer Action Training Connect to Lifeline & Save Depending on the discount, what could a family do with the money saved by being a Lifeline participant?

A Consumer Action Training Thank you! Consumer Action