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Lifeline and Link Up Information for
Ponderosa Telephone
Customers in
California
Landline Service
Lifeline
(a.k.a California LifeLine Program)
is a government program that offers qualified low income households a discount
on their monthly local telephone bill. Each state has its own guidelines to qualify.
The application and qualification process differs by state and sometimes by individual
phone company.
- How much can I save?
You will
pay $6.11
on your basic monthly bill. These benefits apply to your local telephone service
charges that you purchase
as flat rate service
. These benefits will also cover your
subscriber line charge. - How do I know if I am eligible?
Program based eligibility:
- Medicaid or Medi-Cal
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) formerly called Food Stamps,
- Healthy Families Category A
- Tribal TANF
- Women, Infant and Children Program (WIC)
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Federal Public Housing Assistance or Section 8
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), also known in California as:
- California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWorks)
- Stanislaus Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (StanWorks)
- Welfare to Work (WTW)
- Greater Avenues for Independence (GAIN)
- National School Lunch’s FREE Lunch Program (NSL)
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Head Start Income Eligible (Tribal Only)
- Additional eligibility criteria may apply to residents of federally recognized tribal lands
Income based eligibility:
- Are there any restrictions?
Lifeline can only be used for the primary telephone line in a household. You
may
purchase additional services available to a non-Lifeline customer. You must establish phone service prior to applying for the Lifeline discount.
The name on the phone bill must match the name of the household member participating on the eligible program with the exception of the National School Lunch free Program. - How do I apply?
To apply for Lifeline
call 559-868-6000 or toll free 800-682-1878 directly at Ponderosa Customer Care Center. You may find more information about Lifeline and other telephone services available
from
Ponderosa Telephone
at
http://www.goponderosa.com
. An application can be obtained
via phone. - What proof of eligibility do I need to provide?
You will be asked for proof of your eligibility by submitting a form signed under
penalty of perjury that you receive benefits from or a copy of any dated document
which verifies your participation in one of the qualifying programs listed above.
Proof of total household income may be required for income based qualification.
Your Lifeline benefits will take effect when proof of eligibility is received.
- How do I continue to receive Lifeline benefits?
Eligibility is reviewed periodically. Your benefits will be discontinued when you
no longer meet the eligibility requirements or when proof of eligibility is not
received. Customers who are no longer eligible for Lifeline benefits must
notify their service provider.
- Other Useful information
There are other options that can help you save money, including free toll blocking,
waived deposit with toll blocking and voluntary limit on long distance calling (toll
control).
Link Up
(a.k.a California LifeLine Program)
helps households reduce the cost of initiating telephone service. This
program pays some of the cost of connecting local telephone service to your home
or activating wireless phone service. However, Link Up does not cover the
cost of wiring inside your home.
- How much will I save?
The total Link Up discount will be $31.50.
- How do I know if I am eligible?
If you qualify for Lifeline, you also qualify for Link Up.
- Are there any restrictions?
.
Link Up can only be used for the charges for activating a primary telephone line
or moving existing service to a new address. Charges related to wiring and
telephone jacks within your home and wireless handsets are not eligible for the
Link Up discount.
- How do I apply?
To apply for Link Up you will follow the same application process as Lifeline and the same proof of eligibility as Lifeline.
Being a Lifeline or Link Up customer does not protect you from being disconnected
if you fail to pay your telephone bill.
Lifeline and Link Up discounts cannot be applied to an outstanding balance owed
to your phone company.
Lifeline can only be applied to one wireless OR wireline telephone per
household.
