A Consumer Action Training
Connect to
Lifeline
and Save!
Discounted Lifeline Telephone
Service Helps Low-Income
Californians
A Consumer Action Training
Participants will learn:
• What benefits are available
through California (CA) LifeLine
and federal Lifeline
• Who is eligible and how to apply
• How to continue participation
• Where to find more information
A Consumer Action Training
What Is in Your Folder?
• Connect to California LifeLine and
Save! brochure
• Sample forms
• PowerPoint presentation handout
A Consumer Action Training
Types of Lifeline
Discounts
• California LifeLine
– Currently applies to traditional wired residential
telephone service
– Future expansion to include alternative
technologies, such as wireless phones
• Federal Lifeline
– Some wireless service providers approved to
offer federal Lifeline in California
A Consumer Action Training
California LifeLine vs
Federal Lifeline
• Similarities
– Eligibility criteria
– Application and renewal process
• Differences
– Discounts on services
– Federal Lifeline only offered by some wireless
service providers
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
might need phone service at home?
A Consumer Action Training
Features & Benefits
• As a CA 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 of the regular connection charge,
whichever results in the higher credit and lower
cost to the customer
– Does not cover outlet / jack installation
– CA landlords must provide one working jack in
each rental unit
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 deposit for basic
service
– Contact your service provider for details
• Deposit for Basic Service Waived
– If a deposit is paid when establishing service and
applying for CA LifeLine, the deposit will be credited
back to you after approval
A Consumer Action Training
Features & Benefits
• Service Conversion Discount
– Existing customers with regular service who
convert to CA LifeLine will be charged a
conversion charge
– A conversion charge also applies to customers
who change their service to/from flat rate to/from
measured rate
– The conversion charge for CA LifeLine customers
is $10 or half the regular connection charge or the
full-priced regular conversion charge (whichever is
lowest)
A Consumer Action Training
Features & Benefits
• Monthly Federal Subscriber Line
Charge is waived for CA LifeLine
customers
• CA LifeLine service not subject to
certain fees, taxes and surcharges
A Consumer Action Training
Features & Benefits
• Flat-rate Local Service Discount
– Unlimited local calls
– Not more than the current $6.84 / month rate
for most customers (through December 2012)
– Never lower than $5, and can not exceed 50%
of service provider’s regular flat-rate service
– No discount on optional services
A Consumer Action Training
Features & Benefits
• Measured Local Service Discount
– Up to 60 untimed local calls per month
– Not more than the current $3.66 / month rate
for most customers (through December 2012)
– Never lower than $2.50, and can not exceed
50% of service provider’s regular rate for
measured service
– Additional local calls (over 60/mo) cost 8¢ each
– No discount on optional services
A Consumer Action Training
Features & Benefits
• Rate Changes
– Beginning January 1, 2013, service providers
must establish their CA LifeLine rates for the
coming year
– The rate can only be changed once per year
(each January)
– Adjusted rates cannot exceed 50% of the
service provider’s regular rates for flat and
measured service
A Consumer Action Training
Features & Benefits
• Tribal Lands (Enhanced) Lifeline
– Individuals living on federally recognized tribal
lands who qualify for CA LifeLine may be
enrolled in Tribal Lands Lifeline
– Monthly flat-rate service for $1
– Applicants must be approved for CA LifeLine
before they can apply for Tribal Lands Lifeline
A Consumer Action Training
Features & Benefits
• To Get a Second CA LifeLine
Connection for Hearing Impaired
Household Member:
– Household must be eligible for CA LifeLine
– Disabled person in home uses a TTY
– Medical certificate required if TTY not issued
by Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications
Program (DDTP)
A Consumer Action Training
Features & Benefits
• Free Toll Blocking
– Prevents outgoing long distance or local toll
calls
– Able to receive incoming long distance calls
and make calls to toll-free numbers
– Protects CA LifeLine customer from high bills
– Use a prepaid telephone card for long distance
A Consumer Action Training
Federal Lifeline
Features & Benefits
• Offered by some wireless providers
– Prices and services vary by provider
– Activation fees vary by provider
– Monthly service as low as $2.50, but varies by provider
– Included voice minutes per month vary by provider
– Some providers include additional features like caller ID, call waiting,
nationwide calling, and voicemail
– Some providers include text messaging
– Some providers offer free handsets
– Currently, providers offer federal Lifeline as a pre-paid service
A Consumer Action Training
Lifeline Eligibility
• Household
– One family OR an extended family living
together as a group
– If one or more families share a home, each
family is eligible for its own Lifeline service
– Limit of one Lifeline discount per household
(except household with TTY user)
A Consumer Action Training
Lifeline Eligibility
• Lifeline Eligibility Criteria:
– Public assistance program enrollment OR
meet Lifeline household income limits
– Lifeline connection is in primary home and
currently does not have Lifeline service (except
household with TTY)
– Not a dependent on someone else’s income
tax return
A Consumer Action Training
Lifeline Enrollment
• If you do not have local service,
contact service provider to set up
– Application form arrives in the mail in a PINK envelope
– Complete application form by mail or online by the due date
– Pay regular rates, connection charges, and deposits until
approved (ask about interest-free payment plan)
– After approval, receive credit for any deposit paid for basic
service and all but $10 or half the regular service connection
charge, whichever results in the higher credit and lower cost to
you
– After approval, the Lifeline discount will be applied retroactively
from the date you applied for Lifeline
A Consumer Action Training
Lifeline Enrollment
• If you already have local service,
contact service provider to apply for
Lifeline
–
–
–
–
–
Application form arrives in the mail in a PINK envelope
Complete 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 you applied for Lifeline
A Consumer Action Training
Annual Renewal
• Must renew Lifeline eligibility each
year
– Lifeline Annual Renewal Form is mailed 105 days
before enrollment anniversary date in a PINK
envelope
– Complete program-based or income-based section
– Complete by mail or online by due date
– Forms arriving late will not be processed
A Consumer Action Training
Annual Renewal
• If you do not renew cont’d eligibility by due
date:
– You will be removed from program
– Service will be converted to full-priced service
– A deposit may be required
• Notify service provider if you no longer
qualify
– Or you may have to repay the difference
• Eligibility may be audited at any time
– Provide proof of income or assistance program enrollment
– If ineligible, you will be billed for previous discounts you
should not have received, plus interest
CA LifeLine Call Center
New service calls:
English
866.272.0349
Spanish
866.272.0350
Laotian / Hmong
866.272.0351
Cambodian
866.272.0352
Tagalog
866.272.0353
Korean
866.272.0354
Vietnamese
866.272.0355
Mandarin / Cantonese
866.272.0356
Japanese
888.765.1568
TTY
866.272.0358
Call center hours: Monday-Friday from 8am to 7pm
CA LifeLine Administrator Hotline
Status of application and renewal forms:
English / Spanish
877.858.7463
Mandarin / Cantonese
888.765.1566
Korean
888.765.1567
Japanese
888.765.1568
Vietnamese
888.765.1569
Tagalog
888.765.1577
TTY
888.858.7889
Hotline hours: Monday-Friday from 7am to 7pm
Website: www.californialifeline.com
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
and 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: 415-777-9648
• www.consumer-action.org