California Lifeline Telephone Program also known as Universal Lifeline Telephone Service (ULTS)

IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO LIFELINE OR ULTS CURRENT AND NEW CUSTOMERS:

The California LifeLine Telephone Program also known as the Universal Lifeline Telephone Service or ULTS has gone through some administrative changes over the past year.  Consumers need to know two important things.  First, the name change.  California LifeLine is ULTS.  Second, while your telephone company will enroll you and provide you with your telephone service, it is California LifeLine that will certify and verify your eligibility.  You will receive forms from California LifeLine, in a PINK envelope, when you initially apply to the program and then on an annual basis.  You must complete and sign these form and return them along with any required documentation to California LifeLine.  This page provides you with more information.

What is California LifeLine?

California LifeLine was established by the Commission in compliance with Public Utilities Code § 871 providing discounted basic residential (landline) telephone services to low-income households.  Download our brochure about California LifeLine - also en Español.

Types of Discounts Available

Discounted residential telephone services available to California LifeLine customers include the following: 

Service	Description	Rate
Flat-Rate Local Telephone Service	Unlimited local calls and same free access to directory assistance calls as provided to non-ULTS flat-rate residential customers.	Monthly recurring: the lower of $5.34 or 1/2 of utility's residential flat-rate local telephone service.
Measured Local Telephone Service	60 local calls per month and $0.08 per call after 60, and same free access to  directory assistance calls as provided to non-ULTS measured-rate residential customers.	Monthly recurring:  the lower of $2.85 or 1/2 of utility's residential measured local telephone service.
Service Connection and Service Conversion	For initiation of telephone service, or change of  class/type/grade of service.	Non-recurring:  the lower of $10 or 1/2 of utility's connection/ conversion charge for residential telephone service.

Is California LifeLine Right For You?  

Two ways to qualify, income-based or program-based!

1) Program-Based: 

You can qualify for California LifeLine if you or another person in your household is enrolled in any one of the following public-assistance programs:

Medicaid/Medi-Cal	Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)	Federal Public Housing Assistance or Section 8
Food Stamps	Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Healthy Families Category A	National School Lunch's FREE Lunch Program (NSL)
Tribal TANF	Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
Women, Infant and Children Program (WIC)	Head Start Income Eligible (Tribal Only)

2) Income-Based

You can qualify for California LifeLine if your total household income is at or less than these income maximums: 

In order to qualify for California LifeLine based on household income, you will need to provide documents proving that your total household income is at or below the income maximum for your household size.  Income documents include:

·        Prior year's state, federal, or tribal tax return

·        Income statements or paycheck stubs for three consecutive months within the calendar year

·        Statement of benefits from Social Security, Veterans Administration, retirement/pension, unemployment compensation, and/or workmen's compensation

·        Divorce decree

·        Child support document

·        Other official documents

Two Steps to Enroll

1) If you think you meet the above qualifications, contact your telephone company and tell them you want to enroll in LifeLine.  If the telephone company can verbally qualify you, they will enroll you in LifeLine immediately.

2) Within two to three weeks California LifeLine will mail to you, in a PINK envelope, an enrollment form.  In order to maintain your telephone discounts, you must complete the form, sign it, and return it to California LifeLine along with any required income documentation by the due date.  If you do not return the completed signed form to California LifeLine by the due date, you will be disqualified.  In addition, your telephone company will bill you for any discounts you may have received.

Yearly Verification Process

The California LifeLine program requires all existing California LifeLine customers to verify their eligibility on an annual basis.  Each year, on your LifeLine anniversary date, the California LifeLine program will mail to you, in a PINK envelope, a LifeLine verification form.  In order to continue receiving your LifeLine discount, you must complete and sign the form and return it to California LifeLine by the due date.   

HOW TO APPLY

Funding Source & Administration:

California LifeLine is funded by an all-end-user surcharge billed and collected by telecommunications carriers which, in turn, remit the surcharge monies to a financial institution as directed by the Commission or its representatives.  Procedures for the administration of ULTS are outlined in General Order (GO) 153. 

Other links:

• ULTS program related forms and notices for current and potential carriers

Forms and Frequently Asked Questions

A sample of the qualification forms and associated instructions, and frequently asked questions are available at: www.CaliforniaLifeline.com.