News Release
December 2005 Linking Solutions, Inc. * (904) 633-9877 * (866) 899-7106
Cell: Ava L. Parker (904) 545-3661
What: A Lifeline Assistance/Link-Up Florida Rally and Community Luncheon, part of a statewide grassroots effort, will be held to inform low-income Floridians about financial assistance available to them for installing a phone line and lowering their monthly phone bills. Consumers will be qualified and can sign-up on-site – See accompanying information for more details.
Where: Truman School Senior Center
When: Friday, December 16, 2005 * 11:30 a.m.
Call (305) 295-5166 by December 13, 2005 to reserve a free seat
Who: Attending will be the Public Counsel for the State of Florida, members of the Florida Legislature, representatives from the Florida Public Service Commission, AARP and an estimated 100 seniors, service providers and representatives from the community who will be on hand to provide information or sign-up for the program.
Why: The Lifeline Assistance and Link-Up Florida programs, provide eligible consumers with up to a $13.50 reduction on their monthly phone bill and a reduction on the cost of installing a phone line.
The Lifeline Assistance/Link-Up Florida Rally and Community Luncheon are part of a statewide grassroots effort to increase awareness about the availability of financial assistance and emphasize the importance of sharing the information with neighbors and friends. The Rally also will encourage non-profit organizations to join the “Connect Florida Campaign” as Alliance Partners to help increase education and awareness in their community.
How to Qualify
On-site: If you receive most forms of federal assistance you may sign-up by completing a Self-Certification Application with no additional documentation. Or to sign-up based upon your income (if you receive no federal assistance) bring documents that show your total household income with you for an immediate determination of your eligibility. Such as Social Security Statements of Benefits, Individual U.S. Income Tax Returns, W-2 Wage and Tax Statements, and official agency Eligibility Letters stating your designation as a low-income household.
Applications will be taken without documentation and processed within a week to 7-days. Please address questions concerning documentation to 1-800-540-7039.
More About Life-Line Assistance and Link-Up Florida
Lifeline Assistance and Link-Up Florida are programs that assist low-income consumers with telephone connection fees and monthly telephone bills. The programs were developed when the Federal Communications Commission determined that it was crucial for all citizens to have affordable local telephone service. A Consumer whose household income is no more than 135% of the federal poverty income guidelines, or, who participates in Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8), Food Stamps, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) or if they have children enrolled in the National School Lunch Program are eligible to participate in the programs.
Although the Lifeline Assistance and the Link-Up Florida programs have been available for several years, consumer participation rates remain low in Florida. Therefore many qualified Florida residents are not receiving benefits from these programs.
The “Connect Florida Campaign” is a grass roots effort working with non-profit organizations, community centers, churches, senior housing complexes, and low-income housing communities to increase the awareness of the availability of the programs. The Campaign encourages these organizations to support the efforts by becoming Alliance Partners. Alliance Partners participate in training sessions to learn more about the programs, spread the word in their organizations and communities and participate in educational events to increase public awareness.
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(904) 633-9877 * (866) 899-7106
Cell: Ava L. Parker (904) 545-3661