The California LifeLine Program (California LifeLine) provides discounts on phone services to qualified households. This consumer program of the California Public Utilities Commission helps to lower consumers’ phone bills. Consumers must be approved before receiving the California LifeLine discounts. For more information on program eligibility, go to www.cpuc.ca.gov/General.aspx?id=2752#qualify.

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE CALIFORNIA LIFELINE DISCOUNTS

If you think your household qualifies for the California LifeLine discounts, contact TruConnect at 800-430-0443. We will review the program and eligibility rules with you. And we will inform the California LifeLine Administrator to start the application process for you. The California LifeLine Administrator will provide the application form with a Personal Identification Number (PIN). You can apply online at www.californialifeline.com using your PIN or complete, sign, and mail the application form and any required proof of eligibility to the California LifeLine Administrator. The application form and any required documents must be completed and returned before the response date indicated on the form. If you do not return the completed application form, or fail to provide the required documentation, you will not receive the California LifeLine discounts and will continue to pay the regular rates for your phone service.

ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES

You can qualify for the California LifeLine discounts by either Program-Based OR Income-Based. Qualifying by Program-Based means that you or another person in your household is enrolled in a public assistance program such as Medicaid/Medi-Cal, CalFresh, Supplemental Security Income, or other programs. Qualifying by Income-Based means that your household’s total annual income is at or less than 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

ONLY ONE CALIFORNIA LIFELINE DISCOUNTED SERVICE PER HOUSEHOLD 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. Only one California LifeLine discount per household is allowed, except for TTY users, in which case a second phone line may be discounted. Households that do not follow the California LifeLine one discounted service per household rule will lose their discounts, and may be prosecuted by the U.S. government. Individuals can also be punished for giving false information to get the discounts. Penalties can include imprisonment, losing the discounts, monetary fines, and being banned from the California LifeLine Program. The discounts can only be for the primary residence. Discounts are non-transferable from one person to another.
California LifeLine participants may transfer their discounts from one phone company to another, but you may NOT have more than one phone line active with the California LifeLine discounts. If you choose to transfer your California LifeLine discounts from TruConnect to another California LifeLine provider, then TruConnect will charge retail rates for you to continue using your phone service.

SERVICE CONNECTION/ACTIVATION CHARGES

The California LifeLine fund will pay for no more than two activation fees (whether with the Company or any other wireless service provider) per household per year. If the Company confirms during the enrollment process that the customer has already received LifeLine service from two (2) LifeLine providers within the year, then the consumer will be responsible for the $39 activation fee. Otherwise, TruConnect will be responsible for the fee.

HOW TO KEEP YOUR CALIFORNIA LIFELINE DISCOUNTS

You must renew your California LifeLine participation annually. The California LifeLine Administrator will mail you a renewal form in a PINK envelope with a Personal Identification Number (PIN). You can renew online at www.californialifeline.com using your PIN or complete, sign, and mail the form to the California LifeLine Administrator. Or you can renew by phone by contacting the California LifeLine Administrator. If you do not renew before the response date, you will lose the California LifeLine discounts and will be charged the regular rates. If you have questions about your renewal, contact the California LifeLine Administrator at 877-858-7463 or 888-858-7889 (TTY) from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
If you believe your household no longer qualifies for the discounts or if your household is getting more than one discount by mistake, you must inform TruConnect or the California LifeLine Administrator within 30 days. If you do not follow this notification rule, you may be penalized.

DE-ENROLLMENT RULES

Your household may lose the California LifeLine discounts if your household no longer qualifies, is already receiving the discounts (except for TTY), fails to use the California LifeLine discounted phone service for 30 consecutive days, violates the California LifeLine Program’s rules, or does not renew the discounts on an annual basis.

NEW CALIFORNIA LIFELINE LIMITATIONS EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 2017

Beginning June 1, 2017, California LifeLine has new limitations on consumers requesting the California LifeLine discounts for phone services.

New Limitation #1 = 30 Day Waiting Period for an Enrollment Request for the California LifeLine Discounts for Cell Phone Service

When you submit an enrollment request to receive the California LifeLine discounts for cell phone service you have to wait up to 30 days to submit another enrollment request. You CANNOT have multiple enrollment requests for the California LifeLine discounts for cell phone service going at the same time. The 30-day waiting period ends when either 1) the California LifeLine Administrator sends the final eligibility decision, 2) the enrollment requests canceled, or 3) the 30 days have passed since the enrollment request, whichever occurs first. After the 30-day clock stops, you may then submit another enrollment request for the California LifeLine discounts for cell phone service, as applicable. You can independently cancel an enrollment request by contacting the California LifeLine Administrator by phone or going to Check Your Status. The cell phone company can also cancel an enrollment request.