Help With Phone Bills

Verizon New Jersey partners with NJ SHARES for Communications Lifeline outreach and enrollment efforts that assist individuals and families living in New Jersey who are in need of temporary help in paying their communications bills.

Verizon Lifeline

HOPES CAP, Inc. is an official application agency for Verizon Lifeline.

Here’s How...

Through Link Up America, eligible new customers receive a 50% discount on the initial phone connection charge, with the remaining 50% paid in 12 monthly installments. Through Communications Lifeline, existing Verizon residential customers may be eligible to receive discounted local telephone service.

Communications Lifeline offers eligible consumers a service package that includes:

Discounted residential phone service, including Touch-Tone service, ranging from zero to $1.95 per month

Opportunities to add optional features, like Caller ID, Three-Way Calling, and more

A choice of three different local service options:

Flat Rate Service provides an unlimited number of calls within a calling area at no additional cost.

Moderate Rate Service provides up to 75 outgoing local messages of 5 minutes or less each month without additional charges. For every local message after the first 75, customers are charged 6.5 cents.

Low Use Message Rate Service provides up to 20 outgoing local messages of 5 minutes or less each month without additional charges.

For every local message after the first 20, customers are charged 10 cents.

You are eligible if:

1. If no one claims you as a dependent on his or her income taxes (unless you are at least 60 years old) and you receive benefits from one of these programs:

• Medicaid
• Food Stamp Program
• General Assistance (GA)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
• Lifeline Utility Credit/Tenants Lifeline Assistance
• Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD)
• Temporary Assistance to Needy Families/Work First New Jersey (TANF/WFNJ)

2. If you are age 65 or over and are not participating in one of the above programs and your annual income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty income level (in 2007*, that is $15,315 for one person and $20,535 for a 2- person household), then you qualify for Communications Lifeline and Link Up America.

SafeLink Wireless

HOPES CAP, Inc. is an official application agency for SafeLink Wireless.  SafeLink is a government supported program that provides a free cell phone and free airtime each month to qualifying customers.
The process to qualify for Lifeline Service depends on the State you live in. In general, you may qualify if...

1. You already participate in other State or Federal assistance program such as Federal Public Housing Assistance, Food Stamps and Medicaid.

OR

1. Your total household income is at or below of the poverty guidelines set by your State and/or the Federal Government.

AND

1. No one in your household currently receives Lifeline Service through another phone carrier.
2. You have a valid United States Postal Address. In order for us to ship you your free phone you must live at a residence that can receive mail from the US Post Office. Sorry, but P.O. Boxes cannot be accepted.

In addition to meeting the guidelines above you will also be required to provide proof of your participation in an assistance program, or proof of your income level.
Thanks to SafeLink, Lifeline support is now available for wireless phones. SafeLink Wireless was created by TracFone Wireless, Inc. when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently approved the company to offer Lifeline -- a public assistance program that ensures telephone service is available and affordable for low-income subscribers.
SafeLink Wireless applies the Universal Service Fund subsidy to an allotment of free airtime minutes and TracFone provides the wireless handset at the company’s expense. Instead of receiving a subsidized monthly telephone bill for Lifeline service, SafeLink converts the total amount of discounted service into minutes each month for one year.
The cell phone offers in-demand features: voicemail, text, three-way calling, call waiting, caller ID and access to 911.

SafeLink phones are not paid for by taxpayers or the federal government. TracFone Wireless pays for the phones and also the cost of promoting its SafeLink program to make sure that eligible consumers know about the program.

For more information or to apply for Verizon Lifeline or SafeLink Wireless, please contact:

HUDSON COUNTY

HOPES CAP, Inc.
124 Grand Street
Hoboken, New Jersey 07030
Phone: 201-656-3711
OR
HOPES CAP, Inc.
Family Resource Center
532 Jackson Street
Unit 1B
Hoboken, New Jersey 07030
Phone: 201-876-2935

UNION COUNTY

HOPES CAP, Inc.
7-9 Watchung Ave
Plainfield, New Jersey 07060
Phone: 1-888-409-2935
E-Mail: info@hopes.org