Connect to Lifeline and Save

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Connect to Lifelineand Save

• Discounted Lifeline Telephone Service Helps
  Low-Income Californians

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Participants will Learn

• Available benefits through Lifeline
• Who is eligible how to apply
• How to continue to participate
• Where to find more information

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Whats in your Folder?

• Connect to Lifeline Save brochure
• Sample forms
• PowerPoint presentation handout

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California Lifeline Telephone Service

• Lets get started

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California Lifeline Telephone Service

• What are some of the reasons you may need phone
  service at home?

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Features Benefits

• As a Lifeline participant you can save on local
  phone service.

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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

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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

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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)

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Features Benefits

• Federal Subscriber Line Charge is waived for
  Lifeline customers
• Lifeline customers are exempt from paying certain
  taxes and surcharges

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Lifeline Eligibility

• Household
• One family
• Extended family living as group
• If one or more families share home, each family
  is eligible for its own Lifeline service

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Lifeline Eligibility

• Lifeline Eligibility Criteria
• Public assistance program
• Household income limits
• Lifeline connection in primary home
• Not a dependent on anothers tax income return

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Am I Eligible for Lifeline?

• Review Lifeline Questionnaire
• See handout
• Will connection be at primary residence?
• Are you someones dependent?
• Are you enrolled in an eligible assistance
  program?
• Does your income exceed limits?

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Lifeline Enrollment

• If you dont 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

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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

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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

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Annual Verification

• If you dont 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

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CA Lifeline Administrator Call Center
New Service Calls
Call Center Hours Monday-Friday from 8am to 7pm
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CA Lifeline Administrator Hotline
Status of Application and Renewal Forms
Hotline Hours Monday-Friday from 7am to 7pm
Web site www.californialifeline.com Find
information, sample forms, and FAQs
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Questions?

• Can we answer any questions about this portion
  of the training?

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Connect to Lifeline Save

• Depending on the discount, what could a family do
  with the money saved by being a Lifeline
  participant?

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Thank you!

• Consumer Action - 800.999.7981
• www.consumer-action.org