Verizon Lifeline / 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.

HOPES, Inc. is an official application site for Verizon Lifeline actively assisting individuals to apply for this service.

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.

Am I Eligible for This? It’s easy to figure out if you’re eligible.

You are eligible:

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.

You can call NJ Shares at 1 888 337-3339 -- or log onto NJ Shares for information on enrollment.

*Federal poverty guidelines are issued each year in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

How do I sign up?

Verizon has now made it easier than ever to enroll in Communications Lifeline and Link Up America.

If you are enrolled in one of these programs:
Medicaid,
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP),
Supplemental Security Income (SSI),
General Assistance (GA), Food Stamp Program, or
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families/Work First New Jersey (TANF/WFNJ),
then call your county public assistance office and verify that your Social Security number, name, and address match the information you provided Verizon for telephone service. The updated information will be provided to Verizon and you will be automatically enrolled during the next quarterly update. If you do not want to wait until the next automatic enrollment, an enrollment application can be sent to you.

If you are enrolled in Lifeline Utility Credit / Tenants Lifeline Assistance or Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD), call 800 792-9745 and verify that your Social Security number, name, and address match the information you provided Verizon for telephone service. The updated information will be provided to Verizon and you will be automatically enrolled during the next quarterly update.

If you do not want to wait for the next automatic enrollment, an enrollment application can be sent to you.

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

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

Monday through Friday,
9 AM until 5 PM