Requirements for Universal Lifeline Telephone Service/California Lifeline
California Lifeline, formorly known as Universal Lifeline Telephone Service (ULTS), provides discounted basic residential (landline) telephone service to low-income households.
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 $5.34 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: the lower of $2.85 or 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. |
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 | $21,300 |
| 3 members | $25,100 |
| 4 members | $30,200 |
| Each additional member | $5,100 |
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
If you are an existing California LifeLine customer and your next annual re-certification is due on or after July 1, 2006, instead of your local telephone company, your next annual re-certification will be conducted by the Certifying Agent, an agent of the PUC. A verification form for re-certification will be mailed to you directly from the Certifying Agent.
ULTS program related forms and notices for current and potential carriers
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customer fraud
what do you do if a neighbor who lives down the street proudly admits she is on life line and has been for years - and you know she is not eligible and not even close to being eligible for this program. She signed up using her maiden name, has her 2 small children and 1 adult daughter living with her AND her husband of around 10 years. This woman chooses or does not have to not work because her husband is an executive at a large company, possibly vice president. he probably pulls down 200-250k/year at least. She also employs 2 - 6 "laborers" to help her around house every day. is there a fraud hotline to report end users who are abusing the system?
How to Cancel?
How does one cancel their enrollment in this program if they no longer qualify? Do they call their telephone company or Lifeline? Thank You.
Cancel Lifeline
You should contact your phone company directly.
Renewal of California certificate
Hello,
My name is Tuan Nguyen, home phone : 714-537-5835
Address : P.O. Box 402 Garden Grove, CA 92842-0402
I am using my home telephone services with California Lifeline program. As requested by Lifeline Program, I have sent a confirmation of my current income situation for continuing the program for year 2008. However, I received a message from AT&T informing that my qualification is still unapproved due to lack of my updated income confirmation.
Please kindly double-check my filing document for the issue, or tell me a necessary alternative to do before the deadline.
Thanks,
Tuan Nguyen
AT&T LifeLine Problem
Has your problem been remedied yet? If so, what happened and if not, I need your bills, letters and any literature you have received pertaining to the LifeLine program. Please copy and mail to 3100 5th Ave., Ste B San Diego, CA 92103--ATTN: Sue
removed from the program because of a "non-deliverable address"
I sent my recertification form with my information and signature on it before the due date and so far,nothing has changed regarding my income. When I got my bill from ATT,I was surprised to find out that I was charged an extra $35 or $45 because I was removed from the California Lifeline program. I called the customer service and they told me that the form they sent was mailed back to them because of "undeliverable address". I just dont understand why because though we moved to a different city, we still get our mail from our old address and we have never encountered a program like this with our other bills or mail. The representative said that its a problem with our post office and they cant do anything about it. I just think that its not fair to just remove me from the program without notifying me or giving me a warning about the possibility of losing my certification.Now they're telling me that they cant do anything about it,I just have to pay the entire amount..I have no intention of not paying the bill but I just want to know if I can be given a consideration since the mistake didnt come from me,I did what i had to do which is to send the recertification back before the due date.The extra amount i had to pay really counts so much for us because of our tight budget these days,otherwise I wouldnt be enrolled in a low-income program such as this.thank you so much.
Universal Lifeline Telephone Service (ULTS)
I have been trying to regain the California Lifeline / Universal Lifeline Telephone Service (ULTS) that I have been applicable once before, and that I am applicable for currently, to my phoneline, but since I've signed up with AT&T I have not been able to re-enact the service. Telephone, email, event a visit to the AT&T office, yet nothing has worked, neither while my telephone line was active nor now, after the line has been disconnected due to non-payment. This notice that I'm looking at currently, "Do not sign a contract until the company has completed this form," I believe is the only error I could have committed. Too bad I've discovered this after the fact. SBC Global was thhe phone company that I had gone through previously, abd this time I went with AT&T because I allowed a friend, Lynette Nicco, to sign me up. I am searching for a job currently, so I desperately need a telephone line. I would appreciate it if I could get some assistance in acquiring Universal Lifeline Telephone Service (ULTS) once again. Thank you.
Brian Fergel
3800 Crowell rd apt 141
Turlock, CA 95382
AT&T disconnected phone number: 209 632 6337
Current message phone: 209 863 8096
bfergel [at] yahoo [dot] com
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