LINK-UP and Lifeline services are available to qualifying customers.

LINK-UP Assists with connection charges

The Low-Income Connection Assistance Program (LINK-UP) is a plan that assists qualified low-income applicants with reduced service connection charges. The assistance applies to a single telephone line at the applicant’s principal place of residence. A reduction of fifty percent of all service connection charges, or $30.00, whichever is less, will be provided to qualified applicants.

The consumer shall receive the benefit of the LINK-UP program for a second or subsequent time only for a principal place of residence with an address different from the residence address at which LINK-UP assistance was provided previously.

Eligibility requirements: An applicant must participate in one of the following to be eligible for assistance:

1. Medicaid (such as Title XIX/Medical, state supplemental assistance)
2. Food Stamps
3. Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
4. Federal public housing assistance
5. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
6. An income below 135% of Federal Poverty Guidelines
7. Temporary assistance to Needy Families (FANF)
8. National free school lunch program

Application for assistance: Applicants shall request assistance by completing a form provided by HMU.

Charges and deferred payments:

1. All tariffed service connection charges for installing basic residential telephone service, except security deposits, shall be reduced by 50% OR $30.00 whichever is less.
2. Applicants may defer payment of the service connection charges or security deposit. Payments may be deferred up to 12 months with a payment schedule of equal payments up to $200.00 assessed for commencing services. Interest will not be charged on deferred payments.

LIFELINE ASSISTANCE assists with monthly charges

Lifeline Assistance Program is a plan that assists qualified low-income applicants with reductions in monthly local exchange service rates. The assistance applies for a single telephone line at an applicant’s principal residence. Qualified applicants shall have their monthly local exchange service rate reduced by the federal support of $1.75, in addition to the $6.50 of baseline federal support used either to waive the Lifeline customer’s federal end-user common line charges, or to reduce the Lifeline customer’s residential rate.

Eligibility requirements: An applicant must participate in one of the following to be eligible for assistance:

1. Medicaid (such as Title XIX/Medical, state supplemental assistance)
2. Food Stamps
3. Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
4. Federal public housing assistance
5. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
6. An income below 135% of Federal Poverty Guidelines
7. Temporary assistance to Needy Families (FANF)
8. National free school lunch program

Application for assistance: Applicants shall request assistance by completing a form provided by HMU.

Lifeline customers will receive a monthly credit toward their local exchange service rate. The total monthly credit of $8.25 consists of the $1.75 federal support and the $6.50 baseline federal support to waive the Lifeline customer’s federal end-user common line charges or to reduce the Lifeline customer’s residential rate.

Toll blocking shall be included with this service offering without charge. No service deposit will be required if applicant voluntarily elects toll blocking with the initiation of Lifeline Service.