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  • California LifeLine Program

     CA LifeLine Fact Sheet

    The CPUC, in Decision 1401036, recently modernized and expanded the California LifeLine Program to include savings on cell phone services. See also the CPUC’s January 16, 2014 Press Release (Spanish version) announcing recent changes to the California LifeLine Program. Go to “Provider Search” at www.californialifeline.com to learn about the approved California LifeLine providers and cell phone plans.

    The California LifeLine Program provides discounts on home phone and cell phone services to qualified households. The California LifeLine discounts help consumers lower the cost of their phone bills. Only one discount per household is allowed (except for teletypewriter users and for Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program participants). Call a participating phone company and ask for the California LifeLine discounts to start the application process.

    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
    • CalFresh, Food Stamps or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
    • Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC)
    • National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
    • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

      1.  California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs)
      2.  Stanislaus County Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (StanWORKs)
      3.  Welfare-to-Work (WTW)
      4.  Greater Avenues for Independence (GAIN) 

    • Tribal TANF
    • Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
    • Head Start Income Eligible (Tribal Only)
    • Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
    • Federal Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit Program

    You can also qualify for California LifeLine if your household's total annual gross income is at or less than these annual income limits:

    LifeLine Income Guidelines*

     Household Size

     Annual Income Limit

    1-2

    $28,700

    3

    $32,600

    4

    $39,700

    Each Additional Member

    $7,100

     * Effective June 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021
     

    Only one discount per household for each residential address is allowed. Each household must choose to get the discount either on a home phone or on a cell phone, but not on both. Households cannot get the discount from multiple phone companies. Households that do not follow the one discount per household rule will lose their discounts. 

    When applying for California LifeLine, please only send forms and supporting documentation to the California LifeLine Administrator at this address:

    P.O. Box 138014
    Sacramento, CA 95813-8014

    The California LifeLine Administrator is the only entity with the authority to process California LifeLine related forms.

    California LifeLine Contacts

    Your Phone Company

    • Contact your phone company if you want to be on the California LifeLine Program.

    • Your phone company can also provide general information about the California LifeLine Program.

    California LifeLine Call Center

    Contact the California LifeLine Call Center for general information about the California LifeLine Program from 7 AM to 7 PM (Pacific Time) from Monday through Friday (except state holidays) at:

    1-866-272-0349

    California LifeLine Administrator

    Contact the California LifeLine Administrator for California LifeLine Program application and renewal related questions and concerns from 7 AM to 7 PM (Pacific Time) from Monday through Friday (except state holidays) at:

    1-877-858-7463

    California LifeLine Complaints

    For complaints related to the California LifeLine Program, or help resolving application denials (appeals) for program participation, please contact the CPUC’s Consumer Affairs Branch (CAB) at:

    1-800-649-7570

    Or Online by visiting CAB's webpage Assistance With LifeLine Billing and Appeals

    California LifeLine Administrator Oversight

    Questions about the California LifeLine Program Administrator oversight should be directed to CaLLAdminOversight@cpuc.ca.gov.
     

     

     


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