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Individuals who reside on tribal lands and meet the eligibility criteria may qualify for discounts through Enhanced Lifeline and Link-up programs. Tribal lands are described as a reservation, defined as any federally-recognized Indian tribe's reservation, pueblo or colony, and Indian Allotment.
Enhanced Lifeline helps residents of tribal lands who already have telephone service save a significant amount of money on their monthly phone bill. The discount applies to basic local telephone service on one line at the applicant's primary residence only. Eligible residents may receive discounts of around $35 per month on basic monthly service. As a result, depending upon current rates charged by the telephone company, qualified subscribers on tribal lands may receive basic local phone service for as little as $1 a month.
Enhanced Link-Up provides a one-time discount for part of the connection or activation charge for new telephone service at the applicant's primary residence. The discount is up to 50 percent of the first $60 of the installation fee. Qualified subscribers with installation or activation fees above $60 receive an additional discount of up to $70, with a total discount maximum of $100.
Customers of either program can also sign up for toll blocking or toll limitation service that either blocks or limits long-distance calls from your phone.
Both programs have eligibility requirements. You may qualify if you participate in any of the following programs:- Medicaid (example, Title XIX/Medical State Supplemental Assistance)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8)
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as Food Stamps)
- Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
- National School Lunch Free Lunch Program
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Tribally-Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TTANF)
- Head Start (if income eligibility criteria are met)
- Tribal National School Lunch Program
- Or, if your household income is no more than 135 percent of the federal poverty income guidelines (see table below). You must provide documentation of your income when applying under this option.
| 2012 Health & Human Services Poverty Guidelines | |||||||
| Number in Residence | 135% Guideline (Annual) | Number in Residence | 135% Guideline (Annual) | ||||
| 1 | $15,080 | 5 | $36,464 | ||||
| 2 | $20,426 | 6 | $41,810 | ||||
| 3 | $25,772 | 7 | $47,156 | ||||
| 4 | $31,118 | 8 | $52,502 | ||||
For each additional person after 8, add $5,346 to the annual guideline. |
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(Applicable to the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia only.)
To apply for Enhanced Lifeline or Link-Up on Tribal Lands, complete this form (print off and fill out) and return it to your local telephone company. A company representative will contact you to verify your eligibility and complete the application process.
- If you qualify based on participation in a federal aid program, the phone must be in the name of the person who receives those benefits in order to be part of Lifeline or Link-Up. If you qualify based on the National School Lunch Free Lunch Program, the phone can be in the name of an adult.
- Lifeline is available on only one line per household.
- Lifeline and Link-Up discounts cannot be applied to past due telephone bills.
- Once you are on Lifeline, you will be periodically asked to verify that you remain eligible. If you do not respond, the phone company is required to stop the discounts.
- It can take up to two months for the discounts to show up on your bill as a credit. You must pay the bill until that time.
- Link-Up will not cover the cost of a phone or wiring your home.
- You must notify the telephone company when you no longer qualify for the program.
