Lifeline Phone Program
Lifeline is a government benefit program that enables qualified low-income consumers to receive discounted service on either a wireless or landline phone. However, qualifying consumers may only obtain one Lifeline benefit per “household.” You cannot transfer your Lifeline service to any other person. The federal government requires every Lifeline customer to recertify their eligibility each year to maintain Lifeline service. This is an effort to eliminate and reduce fraud and abuse in the program. If you are no longer eligible for Lifeline service, you must report this change in eligibility status to your phone company within 30 days. Carriers will contact each Lifeline customer in every year to formally complete this re-certification. Phone companies - such as AT&T, MTA, GCI and Verizon - are required by law to disconnect Lifeline service for customers who do not recertify. To qualify on the basis of income, the applicant’s annual household income must be at or below 135 percent of the applicable federal poverty guidelines for Alaska for a household of that size. The applicant must provide proof of income eligibility that meets the household income criteria for Alaska. Proof of “household” income must be documented in one of the following forms: ● Last year’s state, federal or Tribal tax return ● A current income statement from an employer or paycheck stub ● A statement of benefits from the U.S. Social Security Admin. ● A statement of benefits from the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs ● A retirement or pension statement of benefits ● An unemployment or worker’s compensation statement of benefits ● A federal or tribal notice of letter of participation in general assistance ● A divorce decree or child support award ● Any other official document containing income information. ● If the documentation presented does not cover a full year, such as current pay stubs, the documentation must cover at least three consecutive months within the previous 12 months. To qualify on the basis of program eligibility, the applicant must provide proof of participation in one of the following authorized public assistance programs: ●
Food Stamps (Alaska Quest Card)
● ● ● ● ●
Medicaid Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) General Assistance Supplemental Security Income (SSI) HeadStart Program (if you qualify under income criteria) Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8)
To apply for Lifeline service, complete a Lifeline application form and present the required documentation. Applications are available at AT&T, MTA, GCI and Verizon retail stores.
Size of household
Maximum Household Income
1
$20,331
2
$27,392
3
$34,452
4
$41,513
5
$48,573
6
$55,634
7
$62,694
8
$69,755
For each additional person add
$7,061