13 May 2022

Lifetime Assistance Program Phone Plans for Seniors -Free Phones for Low Income Seniors

Are you a senior and want to save money with low-cost phone plans? Do you want to get a free phone and enjoy easy and affordable phone services? Are you interested in applying for the Lifeline Assistance Program phone and getting 250 free minutes per month? You can read yourself through our guide about the LAP government provided phone plans below and check if you have the requirements to apply!

All You Need To Know About The Lifeline Assistance Program

Since hitting the market in the early ‘70s, cell phones have altered the way we interact with family, friends, and colleagues at work. These mobile devices have made communication faster and easier through instant messaging, calls, and internet accessibility.

While a lot has changed since those little handheld devices first hit the market, the rising costs of cellphones and data subscriptions threaten the accessibility of these services to low-income households and retirees. To address the problems of accessibility and cellphone maintenance costs in low-income households, the United States government unveiled the Lifeline Assistance Program in 1985.

What Is The Lifeline Assistance Program?

The Lifeline Assistance Program (LAP) is a discounted broadband plan targeted at low-income households to ensure Americans have unfettered access to cellphones and internet technology. The LAP is administered via the Universal Service Administration Company (USAC), is responsible for data collection and calculation and the disbursement of discounts to low-income households.

The federal government launched the LAP in 1985 to ensure low-income consumers have affordable lifeline access to telecom devices. The objective of the LAP is to bring all American households onboard the beneficial platform of digital technology and avoid loss of access to work, family, or emergency services on the grounds of broadband costs.

The program offers qualifying households monthly discounts on wired or wireless cellphone devices and data, as long as they meet each month’s re-verification and recertification demands. Each family is entitled to discounts on one wired or wireless device (Federal Communications Commission regulations prevent a household from having more than one Lifeline service at a time), which are calculated based on the earnings of each household.

Lifeline is available in all U.S states, territories, commonwealth, and tribal lands and works with internet and voice broadband plans.

History and Rationale Of The LAP Government Phone Plans The FCC created the Lifeline program in 1984 during the administration of Ronald Reagan. The program aimed to reduce qualifying households’ phone bills. Another program was adopted three years later called Link-Up America.

The government established the new program to help qualifying households buy and pay installation fees for landline phone services.

The Act, which was one of the many achievements of President Clinton’s administration, established the Universal Service Fund (USF). This Act made it compulsory for all telecommunication carriers to fund. The LAP is among four programs converted by the USF.

A year after its creation, the FCC mandated Universal Service Administration Company (USAC) to manage the USF and collect contributions from telecommunications carriers. FCC also made changes to the LAP in 1997. An example of such changes was to raise the federal support amount for the program.

The use of cell phones prompted the FCC to make LAP benefits available for pre-paid wireless service plans in 2005 during George Bush (Jnr) admission. The benefits amounts vary by state and household, but LAP beneficiaries receive an average of $9 per month in discounts.

Qualifying for the life assistance program-income requirements To qualify for this program, you need to consider the following conditions:

Size and state of residence

You can get the lifetime program if your income is 135% lower than the Federal Poverty Guidelines. These guidelines depend on the size and state of your household. For example, a household size of three in Alaska needs to earn $37,000 or less to qualify.

But, the same household size needs to earn $29,000 or less to qualify in California. Also, you have to show proof of income, such as a tax return or three consecutive pays stubs during application.

Depends on if you use other programs

You can qualify for this program if you or any member of your household participated in the following programs; - Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program. This program used to be called Food Stamps. - Medicaid - Supplementary Security Income (SSI) - Federal Public Housing Assistance ( FPHA) - Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit

It is important to show proof of participation during registration. For example, include a benefits letter when you apply for the program.

Through your child or dependent You may qualify for LAP if your child or dependent participates in any of the programs listed above.

Qualification through tribal assistance programs

If you live on Tribal lands, it is possible to receive the Lifeline program if your household participates in the following:

  • Any of the federal assistance programs listed earlier.
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
  • Head Start ( only households meeting the income qualifying standard).
  • Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tribal TANF)

It is compulsory to show proof of participation during application. How to qualify for LAP as a senior citizen Senior Citizens are eligible for the program if they meet the following requirements:

  • Participants in federal public housing assistance through HUD vouchers or other methods.
  • Receive Supplementary Security Income
  • Receive the Veterans or Survivors Pension benefit
  • Or take part in any of the other programs listed above.

Benefits of LAP

The lifeline is a federal program that offers affordable and modest phone services to low-income households in the U.S. Some of the benefits of the program include: Enhanced network The communication network has more value when more people are connected to it. Also, access is increasingly vital to the sustainability of the network.

However, having reliable access to the sideline and wireless connectivity is not easily affordable to households of modest means. Lifeline plays a crucial role in providing essential services for Americans with low incomes.

It provides affordable basic phone services The wireless Lifeline program offers a discounted rate on conventional phone services to the home. Usually, wireless Lifetime is a modest pre-paid service that requires no deposit. Typically, the program includes a free handset and 250 minutes every month.

Household customers can buy extra minutes to extend their plan. Presently, the Lifeline program does not include data, but you can use the small Lifeline broadband pilot program.

Cost and condition of lifeline assistance cell phones’ plans

Similar to other Federal assistance programs, they are conditions attached to the Lifeline program by the Federal Communications Commission. First, only one Lifeline Program subscriber is permitted in a household. Also, if you don’t have access to the National Verifier application system website, you should submit documents to verify your eligibility for the program.

In addition, you should keep your wireless or wireline provider up to date on your Lifeline Program status. The Lifeline program costs $9.25 per month. This cost includes all wireless or wireline services like telephone and broadband Internet.

However, the cost of cellphone plans is determined by the telecommunication network used. For example, T-Mobile cost differently from AT&T. But, the minimum standard service requirements are 750 minutes every month for phone services, 250GB of data on fixed broadband.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the frequently asked questions about the program. We have provided answers to these questions.

Where to get Lifeline Assistance Program?

You can get the Lifeline program through an online platform by visiting the official website – www.Lifelineassistance.or. After registration, you can schedule a telephone or video conference interview.

What kind of phone is available on LAP?

Under the LAP program, households are provided with either a home phone or a cell phone, but not both. The phones are given at a discount by telecommunication carriers. The monthly discount on cell phone services is as high as $14, while the service connection discount is approximately $39.

Conclusion

The Lifeline Assistance Program was created to make communication easier for those with modest income. Although the program began before the existence of cell phones, provisions have been made to include them in the new program.

Households can get either wireline or wireless phones in the house, but they can’t have both. The program has been beneficial to many people around the country.