Topeka, Kan. - Access to local
emergency services and community resources is vital to all residents. Lifeline
offers discounts to help low-income consumers connect to the nation’s voice and
broadband networks, find jobs, access health care services, connect with
family, and call for help in an emergency.
The
Kansas Corporation Commission wants to create awareness of the Lifeline program
during National Lifeline Awareness week, September 10-14. Under the federal
Lifeline Program, low-income consumers can receive up to $9.25 per month off
their monthly bill for phone, broadband, or bundled phone and broadband
service. Some may also be eligible for the state Lifeline program that provides
an additional $7.77 monthly discount. Forty-eight companies currently offer
Lifeline services in Kansas.
Residents
enrolled in any of the following assistance programs are eligible: Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income
(SSI), Federal Public Housing Assistance (FHPA), Veterans Pension &
Survivors Pension Benefit, Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance,
Tribally Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Head Start
Tribal Programs (only those meeting its income qualifying standard), the Food
Distribution Program on Tribal Lands. Those at 135% of the federal
poverty level also qualify. Participants must provide three consecutive months
of statements as documentation of income, or provide a copy of their tax return
for the previous year. Recertification is required each year.
Since 1985, the
federal Lifeline program has provided a discount on phone service for
qualifying consumers. In 2016, the program was extended to include broadband.
More
information on program eligibility, enrollment and annual recertification is
available on the KCC’s website: http://kcc.ks.gov/telecommunications/lifeline.
For a list of Kansas providers, go to https://data.usac.org/publicreports/CompaniesNearMe/State/StateOption/KS.
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