A Consumer Action Training Connect to Lifeline and Save! Discounted Lifeline Telephone Service Helps Low-Income Californians

A Consumer Action Training Participants will learn: What benefits are available through California (CA) LifeLine and federal Lifeline Who is eligible and how to apply How to continue participation Where to find more information

A Consumer Action Training What Is in Your Folder? Connect to California LifeLine and Save! brochure Sample forms PowerPoint presentation handout

A Consumer Action Training Types of Lifeline Discounts California LifeLine –Currently applies to traditional wired residential telephone service –Future expansion to include alternative technologies, such as wireless phones Federal Lifeline –Some wireless service providers approved to offer federal Lifeline in California

A Consumer Action Training California LifeLine vs Federal Lifeline Similarities –Eligibility criteria –Application and renewal process Differences –Discounts on services –Federal Lifeline only offered by some wireless service providers

A Consumer Action Training California LifeLine Telephone Service Lets get started…

A Consumer Action Training California LifeLine Telephone Service What are some of the reasons you might need phone service at home?

A Consumer Action Training Features & Benefits As a CA LifeLine participant you can save on local phone service.

A Consumer Action Training Features & Benefits Service Connection Discount –Approved customers receive a credit for all but $10 or half of the regular connection charge, whichever results in the higher credit and lower cost to the customer –Does not cover outlet / jack installation –CA landlords must provide one working jack in each rental unit

A Consumer Action Training Features & Benefits Installment Plans for Service Connection & Deposits –Request an interest-free payment plan to help pay for service connection charges and/or deposit for basic service –Contact your service provider for details Deposit for Basic Service Waived –If a deposit is paid when establishing service and applying for CA LifeLine, the deposit will be credited back to you after approval

A Consumer Action Training Features & Benefits Service Conversion Discount –Existing customers with regular service who convert to CA LifeLine will be charged a conversion charge –A conversion charge also applies to customers who change their service to/from flat rate to/from measured rate –The conversion charge for CA LifeLine customers is $10 or half the regular connection charge or the full-priced regular conversion charge (whichever is lowest)

A Consumer Action Training Features & Benefits Monthly Federal Subscriber Line Charge is waived for CA LifeLine customers CA LifeLine service not subject to certain fees, taxes and surcharges

A Consumer Action Training Features & Benefits Flat-rate Local Service Discount –Unlimited local calls –Not more than the current $6.84 / month rate for most customers (through December 2012) –Never lower than $5, and can not exceed 50% of service provider’s regular flat-rate service –No discount on optional services

A Consumer Action Training Features & Benefits Measured Local Service Discount –Up to 60 untimed local calls per month –Not more than the current $3.66 / month rate for most customers (through December 2012) –Never lower than $2.50, and can not exceed 50% of service provider’s regular rate for measured service –Additional local calls (over 60/mo) cost 8¢ each –No discount on optional services

Features & Benefits Rate Changes –Beginning January 1, 2013, service providers must establish their CA LifeLine rates for the coming year –The rate can only be changed once per year (each January) –Adjusted rates cannot exceed 50% of the service provider’s regular rates for flat and measured service A Consumer Action Training

Features & Benefits Tribal Lands (Enhanced) Lifeline –Individuals living on federally recognized tribal lands who qualify for CA LifeLine may be enrolled in Tribal Lands Lifeline –Monthly flat-rate service for $1 –Applicants must be approved for CA LifeLine before they can apply for Tribal Lands Lifeline A Consumer Action Training

Features & Benefits To Get a Second CA LifeLine Connection for Hearing Impaired Household Member: –Household must be eligible for CA LifeLine –Disabled person in home uses a TTY –Medical certificate required if TTY not issued by Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program (DDTP)

A Consumer Action Training Features & Benefits Free Toll Blocking –Prevents outgoing long distance or local toll calls –Able to receive incoming long distance calls and make calls to toll-free numbers –Protects CA LifeLine customer from high bills –Use a prepaid telephone card for long distance

A Consumer Action Training Federal Lifeline Features & Benefits Offered by some wireless providers –Prices and services vary by provider –Activation fees vary by provider –Monthly service as low as $2.50, but varies by provider –Included voice minutes per month vary by provider –Some providers include additional features like caller ID, call waiting, nationwide calling, and voic –Some providers include text messaging –Some providers offer free handsets –Currently, providers offer federal Lifeline as a pre-paid service

A Consumer Action Training Lifeline Eligibility Household –One family OR an extended family living together as a group –If one or more families share a home, each family is eligible for its own Lifeline service –Limit of one Lifeline discount per household (except household with TTY user)

A Consumer Action Training Lifeline Eligibility Lifeline Eligibility Criteria: –Public assistance program enrollment OR meet Lifeline household income limits –Lifeline connection is in primary home and currently does not have Lifeline service (except household with TTY) –Not a dependent on someone else’s income tax return

A Consumer Action Training Lifeline Enrollment If you do not have local service, contact service provider to set up –Application form arrives in the mail in a PINK envelope –Complete application form by mail or online by the due date –Pay regular rates, connection charges, and deposits until approved (ask about interest-free payment plan) –After approval, receive credit for any deposit paid for basic service and all but $10 or half the regular service connection charge, whichever results in the higher credit and lower cost to you –After approval, the Lifeline discount will be applied retroactively from the date you applied for Lifeline

A Consumer Action Training Lifeline Enrollment If you already have local service, contact service provider to apply for Lifeline –Application form arrives in the mail in a PINK envelope –Complete application form by mail or online by the due date –Pay regular rates until approved –Pay small, one-time conversion charge –After approval, the Lifeline discount will be applied retroactively from the date you applied for Lifeline

A Consumer Action Training Annual Renewal Must renew Lifeline eligibility each year –Lifeline Annual Renewal Form is mailed 105 days before enrollment anniversary date in a PINK envelope –Complete program-based or income-based section –Complete by mail or online by due date –Forms arriving late will not be processed

A Consumer Action Training Annual Renewal If you do not renew cont’d eligibility by due date: –You will be removed from program –Service will be converted to full-priced service –A deposit may be required Notify service provider if you no longer qualify –Or you may have to repay the difference Eligibility may be audited at any time –Provide proof of income or assistance program enrollment –If ineligible, you will be billed for previous discounts you should not have received, plus interest

CA LifeLine Call Center English Spanish Laotian / Hmong Cambodian Tagalog Korean Vietnamese Mandarin / Cantonese Japanese TTY Call center hours: Monday-Friday from 8am to 7pm New service calls:

CA LifeLine Administrator Hotline English / Spanish Mandarin / Cantonese Korean Japanese Vietnamese Tagalog TTY Hotline hours: Monday-Friday from 7am to 7pm Status of application and renewal forms: Website: Find information, sample forms, and FAQs

A Consumer Action Training Questions? Can we answer any questions about this portion of the training?

A Consumer Action Training Connect to Lifeline and Save! Depending on the discount, what could a family do with the money saved by being a Lifeline participant?

A Consumer Action Training Thank you! Consumer Action: