In 1984, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) created the Lifeline program in order to provide affordable telecommunication services to the American masses. Free government cell phones and up to 250 minutes worth of free airtime are among the best benefits that Lifeline provides. Read this post to get some tips on how to process your application quickly. Make use of the internet. Online applications are the easiest ways of applying for Lifeline’s affordable plans. All you have to do is go to FCC’s page and click on the link that leads you to your state’s website. Choose plan providers near you. As soon as you are already in your state’s FCC website, you will see a list of telecommunication providers that you can choose from. These providers feature a variety of plan options that go in accordance with Lifeline’s criteria. For your convenience, choose the provider that has an office or branch near you. This makes it easy for you to communicate with their staff and get in touch with them in case problems with your plans or free government phones arise. Prepare your requirements ahead of time. Your requirements would depend on how you qualify for Lifeline. If you apply based on the income qualification, you have to prove that your total household income falls at or below 135 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines in your area. Examples of the documents to prepare are: 1. Income tax returns 2. Paycheck stubs 3. Income statement from your employer 4. Proof of employment You can also qualify immediately if you are a part of existing government assistance programs. All you have to do is to present your statement of benefits from programs such as: 1. Medicaid 2. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) 3. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Food Stamps 4. Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8) 5. National School Lunch Program’s Free Lunch Program 6. Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) 7. Tribally-Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TTANF) 8. Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) 9. Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance 10. Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) 11. Head Start (only if the income eligibility criteria is also met) Since you will be processing your application online, it is advisable to have these documents scanned so that they can be uploaded electronically through Lifeline’s site any time. Be aware of the rules and restrictions. A lot of people fail during the application process because they fail to read about the rules and restrictions. Here are some rules to keep in mind: 1. Only one plan is allowed per household from one telecommunication provider. 2. All members of the household should present their income statements for income qualifications. The author writes for http://qlinkwireless.com/ which provides information regarding cell phones. Q Link Wireless provides a free cell phone and free monthly minutes to qualified Lifeline participants.
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