Link-Up/Lifeline

Telephone Savings Program

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Link-Up/Lifeline – What is it?

Link-Up – Provides a 50% reduction in telephone service hook-up charge, up to a maximum of $30

Lifeline – provides at least $13.50* credit on qualified residential local monthly phone bills ($162 per year)

* $10.00 from Federal Universal Service Fund with balance from the local telephone company

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Link-up/Lifeline – How to get it?

Eligibility Criteria/Administering Agency:

Medicaid – DCF Food Stamps - DCF Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) - DCF Supplemental Security Income (SSI) – Social Security Admin Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8) - HUD Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) - DCA National School Lunch Free Lunch * - DOE Income at or below 135% of Federal Poverty Level* - OPC

*Only BellSouth, Sprint and Verizon

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Link-Up/Lifeline – What has been done?2002 – to Present

In 2002 BellSouth Added Income Criteria – 125% of the Federal Poverty level

In 2003 Sprint & Verizon at OPC’s request adopted criteria 2 years early Media Kick-off – Press Conference – AARP Public service announcements

Connect Florida Campaign

Participation by industry, FPSC, state legislators, local officials, and AARP Community Outreach & Education

State Agency Coordination

DCF Lifeline project FPSC Report OPC – Income based eligibility

FPSC translation of Lifeline brochures/applications

Spanish Creole Braille

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Link-Up/Lifeline – What has been done?2002 – to Present

FPSC gains voluntary support of agencies, organizations, and businesses regarding outreach

Continued Media Events

Press conferences Radio and Newspaper publications

Simplified Certification Form

Added National School Lunch Free Lunch Program

2.6 M brochures to 66 of 67 School districts, including simplified form

Increased Income Criteria to 135%

FPSC produced CD that includes:

Lifeline brochures and applications in English, Spanish, Creole OPC’s application in English and Spanish Lifeline posters in English, Spanish, and Creole The Annual Lifeline Report to the Governor and Legislators Listing of Florida telephone companies providing Lifeline/Link-Up and contact numbers Form to request additional copies of PSC publications Frequently asked questions regarding Lifeline/Link-Up

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Lifeline/Link-UP – What are Short Term Plans?

Linking Solutions - Target Agency for Work Force Innovation

Goal – facilitate distribution of self certification forms at point of contact

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Link-Up/Lifeline – What are future plans? Implement F.S. 364.10 (3)(b) & (h)

Work with Agencies to Distribute Lifeline Application Forms (364.10(3)(b))

Pursue DOE Plan (per 364.10 (3) (h)) Pilot Project - Target 10-15 Counties with largest student

population to disseminate brochures/forms; do awareness events

Placement on agenda of School Superintendents and Food Directors Annual Meeting

Continue Grassroots Efforts

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Link-Up/Lifeline – What is needed from agencies?

Simple and Effective Partnership: Short Term –Distribute Forms at Point of Contact

Explore expansion to Agencies (initially DCF) collecting forms, sending to distribution point (FPSC?)

FPSC to sort and send to local company Limited Trial – Companies to provide prepaid-stamped

forms, end user send directly to local company Long Term – Explore integrating Lifeline

enrollment in any future Agency’s “One Stop” process Agencies enroll clients at point of contact and send form

electronically directly to local company

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Link-Up/Lifeline – What does agency need?

Distribution of Application Forms Provide forms to regional offices

Industry Provided Training Initial training and materials for agents Ongoing training efforts Provide Q&A for clients

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Link-Up/Lifeline - Questions