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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown
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Lowery Brown: Financial help is available for basic telephone service
HARRISBURG, Sept. 23 – State Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown reminds residents that programs are available to help residents who might not be able to afford basic telephone service.
"The telephone is an important link for everyday life, and everyone should have it," Lowery Brown said. "The Lifeline and Link-Up programs can give some residents the assistance they need to have a telephone in their home, and they should know these programs are available to them."
The Lifeline 135 program is available for customers of all qualified telephone service providers. Under the program, customers who have income at or below 135 percent of the federal poverty guidelines (currently $30,000 for a family of four) qualify for a discount on local phone service for one line. Also, customers who participate in the following programs qualify: General Assistance, Supplemental Security Income, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Medicaid, Food Stamps or the National School Free Lunch Program.
Residents who qualify for Lifeline 135 also qualify for Link-Up America, which provides a 50 percent reduction off the telephone installation charge, up to a maximum of $30, for households that do not currently have telephone service.
Additionally, there are two programs available only to Verizon customers: Lifeline and Universal Telephone Assistance Program.
Lifeline helps reduce the cost of monthly phone service for one telephone line and provides discounts on connection charges. Residents who have incomes at or below federal poverty guidelines or receive General Assistance, Supplemental Security Income or Temporary Assistance for Needy Family can qualify. Residents who qualify for Lifeline also qualify for Universal Telephone Assistance Program to help pay overdue bills, avoid disconnections and restore basic local telephone service.
Lowery Brown said more information is available by contacting the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission at 1-800-692-7380 or contacting the local telephone company. She urged residents to share this information with others who may benefit from the programs.