What You Should Know

• Lifeline is a federal benefit and willfully making false statements to obtain the benefit can result in fines, imprisonment, de-enrollment or being barred from the program.
• A household is allowed only one Lifeline service (wire line or wireless).
• A "household" is defined as an individual or group of individuals who live together at the same address and share income and expenses.
• A household is NOT allowed to receive Lifeline benefits from multiple providers.
• Exceeding the one-per-household limitation constitutes a violation of the Commission's rules and will result in the subscriber's de-enrollment from the program; and potentially prosecution by the U.S. Government.
• Lifeline is a non-transferable benefit. The subscriber may not transfer his or her benefit to any other person.

Lifeline

Lifeline support is a Federal assistance program that provides a discount in order to make basic telephone service more affordable to low-income families. You apply for Lifeline through your home phone or cellular phone service provider. The provider is reimbursed through the Low Income Program of the Universal Service Fund.

Federal rules allow you to receive a Lifeline discount on either one home telephone OR one cellular phone. You cannot receive the Lifeline benefit on more than one phone in the same household.

Qualification for Lifeline Support

To qualify for support, as of June 1, 2012:

• A Member of your household must receive benefits from one of seven federal assistance programs or, household income must be at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Level
• You must complete and sign a certification of eligility
• You must provide proof of eligibility (must prove that you are enrolled in one of the qualifying programs by submitting a copy of an award letter or statement of benefits, or letter of participation, or any other official document or, must provide proof of income if qualifying based on household income.)
• No member of your household can already be receiving Lifeline benefits