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IcerocketCalifornia Lifeline, formorly known as Universal Lifeline Telephone Service (ULTS), provides discounted basic residential (landline) telephone service to low-income households. You can now apply online at www.CaliforniaLifeline.com. You are strongly encouraged to watch for postcards or other notices reminding you that the ULTS contractor has not received your application. Even if you completed and mailed the form, mistakes can happen. Please make copies of what you have sent and log the dates. If you get a reminder notice after you sent the form in the right envelope and believe it should have been received, you will have no way to prove it if you do not follow up on any reminder notices. It is also recommended that all calls you make are logged and dated in case you are forced to appeal a denial letter.
Available Discounts
| Service |
Description |
Rate |
| Flat-Rate Local Telephone Service | Unlimited local calls and same free access to directory assistance calls as provided to non-ULTS flat-rate residential customers. | Monthly recurring: the lower of $5.47 or 1/2 of utility's residential flat-rate local telephone service. |
| Measured Local Telephone Service | 60 local calls per month and $0.08 per call after 60, and same free access to directory assistance calls as provided to non-ULTS measured-rate residential customers. | Monthly recurring: 1/2 of utility's residential measured local telephone service. |
| Service Connection and Service Conversion | For initiation of telephone service, or change of class/type/grade of service. | Non-recurring: the lower of $10 or 1/2 of utility's connection/ conversion charge for residential telephone service. |
Two Steps to Enroll
1) If you think you meet the above qualifications, contact your telephone company and tell them you want to enroll in California LifeLine. If the telephone company can verbally qualify you, they will enroll you immediately.
2) Within two to three weeks California LifeLine will mail an enrollment form in a PINK envelope to you . In order to maintain your telephone discounts, you must complete the enrollment form, sign it, and return it to the California LifeLine certification agent along with any required income documentation by the due date. If you do not return the completed and signed form to the California LifeLine certification agent by the due date, you will be disqualified and removed from the program. In addition, your telephone company will bill you for any discounts you may have received.
Qualification Types
1. Program-Based:
You can qualify for California LifeLine if you or another person in your household is enrolled in any one of the following public-assistance programs:
| Medicaid/Medi-Cal | Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) |
| Supplemental Security Income (SSI) | Federal Public Housing Assistance or Section 8 |
| Food Stamps | Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) |
| Healthy Families Category A | National School Lunch's FREE Lunch Program (NSL) |
| Tribal TANF | Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance |
| Women, Infant and Children Program (WIC) | Head Start Income Eligible (Tribal Only) |
2. Income-Based
You can qualify for California LifeLine if your total household income is at or less than these income maximums:
|
Household Size |
ULTS Annual Income Limits |
| 1-2 members | $22,900 |
| 3 members | $26,900 |
| 4 members | $32,400 |
| Each additional member | $5,500 |
Required Documents
In order to qualify for California LifeLine based on household income, you will need to provide documents proving that your total household income is at or below the income maximum for your household size. Income documents include:
· Prior year's state, federal, or tribal tax return
· Income statements or paycheck stubs for three consecutive months within the calendar year
· Statement of benefits from Social Security, Veterans Administration, retirement/pension, unemployment compensation, and/or workmen's compensation
· Divorce decree
· Child support document
· Other official documents
Yearly Re-Certification Process
The California LifeLine program requires all existing California LifeLine customers to verify their eligibility on an annual basis. Each year, on your LifeLine anniversary date, the California LifeLine program will mail to you, in a PINK envelope, a LifeLine verification form. In order to continue receiving your LifeLine discount, you must complete and sign the form and return it to California LifeLine by the due date.
Funding Source & Administration:
California LifeLine is funded by an all-end-user surcharge billed and collected by telecommunications carriers which, in turn, remit the surcharge monies to a financial institution as directed by the Commission or its representatives. Procedures for the administration of ULTS are outlined in General Order (GO 153) at http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/published/GENERAL_ORDER/40482.htm
- Public Purpose Telecommunications Programs: http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUC/Telco/Public+Programs/
Other links:
- Solix Website Demonstration Slides - April 16, 2008
- ULTS program related forms and notices for current and potential carriers
Forms, Apply Online, and Frequently Asked Questions
Samples of qualification forms, instructions for qualification forms, frequently asked questions, and online applications are available at: www.CaliforniaLifeline.com.
ULTS program related forms and notices for current and potential carriers
