Lifeline is a government benefit program supported by the Universal Service Fund that provides a discount on phone service or internet service for qualifying low-income consumers. Lifeline helps ensure that eligible consumers have the opportunities that phone or internet service brings, including being able to connect to jobs, family, and emergency services. Federal Lifeline support credit will be made available to qualifying low-income consumers

Qualifying for Lifeline Support

A customer of Consolidated that receives telephone service or internet service in an area where Consolidated is an ETC (Eligible Telecommunications Carrier) must either have a household income that is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or participates in one of the following assistance programs:

You must participate in at least one of the following programs to be eligible for a Lifeline Program discount:

  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • Medicaid
  • Federal Public Housing Assistance
  • Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit Program
  • Income below the Federal Poverty guideline

If you signed up for a Lifeline discount through the National School Lunch Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), or any other state-run program, your phone or internet provider will ask you to confirm your enrollment in one of the above, eligible programs when they do your next eligibility confirmation.

If you are requesting Lifeline on the basis of your household income, please refer to the Estimated Income Requirements for a Household at or below the Federal Poverty Guidelines. You may find this chart, which is revised annually, at http://www.lifelinesupport.org/ls/do-i-qualify/federal-poverty-guidelines.aspx

Important Notes for Eligible Consumers Nationwide

  • Lifeline is available wireline, wireless telephone, and internet services, however, only one discount per household is allowed.
  • Lifeline is a government benefit program, and consumers who willfully make false statements in order to obtain the benefit can be punished by fine or imprisonment or can be barred from the program.
  • Lifeline does not include long distance calls and toll charges apply to those calls. Long distance rates are available on our web site.
  • Lifeline includes unlimited local calling.

Qualifying for Enhanced Lifeline and Link-Up Support on Tribal Lands

A consumer living on tribal lands may be eligible for enhanced Lifeline and Link-Up if he/she has an income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, participates in any of the six qualifying assistance programs for regular Lifeline and Link-Up, or participates in any of these four additional qualifying assistance programs for Enhanced Lifeline and Link-Up:

  • Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
  • Tribally administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TTANF)
  • Food Distribution on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
  • HEAD Start (Income Eligible Only)

Important Notes for Eligible Consumers Living on Tribal Lands

  • Link-Up provides eligible low-income consumers living on Tribal lands with a one-time discount of up to $100 on the initial installation or activation of a wireline or wireless telephone for the primary residence.
  • Federal Lifeline support will be made available to qualifying low-income consumers. Additional federal Lifeline support of up to $25 per month will be made available to eligible residents of Tribal lands. The total Lifeline support cannot exceed the Residential Local Line Charge.

To Apply,

Download and mail this form to the address provided on page 1 of the form.

Lifeline Form

OR

You can also apply online through this link, and once approved, notify Consolidated

Lifeline National Verifier

For more information on Link Up and Lifeline, please contact your local phone company.