Discounted Telephone Service

The program provides discounted residential telephone service or cell phone service for low-income people with a valid social security number who meet income, residence and tax status requirements in the State of California. The program also serves homeless individuals. Eligible carriers offer the Universal Lifeline Telephone Service (ULTS) plan to qualified customers when they sign up for telephone service. There are no geographic restrictions.

Current customers may also apply. To qualify, a person must have a total household income of no more than 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines; the house in which the person is applying for ULTS must be their primary residence; and the person must not be claimed as a dependent on another's income tax return. People are required to re-certify yearly. California residents who receive Medicaid, food stamps, and other federal or state aid, as well as those with annual income below $15,000, can apply for the Lifeline cell phone program. Only one phone per household is allowed unless the applicant is a renter.

Maximum Annual Income for a 1 to 2 person household is $28,700; for 3 people the maximum income is $33,300; for 4 people, maximum income is $40,600; for each additional person over 4 people add $7,300.