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California LifeLine Program - 211 San Joaquin | Get Connected. Get Help.

California LifeLine Program

Agency: CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION (CPUC)

  • Description:

    Provides discounted home phone and cell phone services to qualified households.

    Discounted home phone services on monthly flat rate service up to $19 and service connection or conversion up to $39. Discounts on two telephone lines if you use a teletypewriter (TTY) or are part of the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program.

    Landline carrier: AT&T, ConnectTo, and ECNTel.

    Discounted cell phone service on monthly flat rate service up to $19. Price on cell phone plan is based on wireless plan. Customer selects which cell phone provider and wireless plan.

    Wireless carrier: Access Wireless, AirTalk Wireless, American Assistance, Assurance Wireless, enTouch Wireless, Excess Telecom, Infiniti Mobile, Life Wireless, SafeLink Wireless, SafetyNet Wireless, StandUp Wireless, TAG Mobile, and TruConnect.

    Only one discount per household is allowed (except for teletypewriter users and for Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program participants). Each household must choose to get the discount either on a home phone or on a cell phone, but not on both.

    • Phone:

    Email: public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov
    Website: https://www.californialifeline.com/

    Program Hours

  • Hours: Mon: 7am - 7pm; Tue: 7am - 7pm; Wed: 7am - 7pm; Thu: 7am - 7pm; Fri: 7am - 7pm;

    • Location(s)

    Program Delivery

    • Eligibility: Must meet eligibility Option 1 or Option 2 as describe below: Eligibility Option 1 Program-Based Qualification: May qualify for California LifeLine if you or another person in your household is enrolled in any one of these qualifying public assistance programs:
      *Medicaid/Medi-Cal
      *Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
      *Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
      *Federal Public Housing Assistance or Section 8
      *CalFresh, Food Stamps or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
      *Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC)
      *National School Lunch Program (NSL)
      *Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs); Welfare-to-Work (WTW); Greater Avenues for Independence (GAIN)
      *Tribal TANF
      *Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
      *Head Start Income Eligible (Tribal Only)
      *Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
      *Federal Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit Program Or Eligibility Option 2 Income-Based Qualification: May qualify for California LifeLine if your household's total annual gross income is at or less than these annual income limits: Household Size / Annual Income Limits 1 / $23,400 2 / $31,700 3 / $40,000 4 / $48,400 Each Additional Member $8,400
      If you use a TTY, you must have immediate and continuous access to it. If the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program did not give you other proof, provide a copy of a medical certificate indicating your need for a TTY is required to receive the discount on the second home phone line.
    • Languages: Other languages available through the language line, Spanish, English
    • Application Process: Apply for landline or wireless program by calling California Lifeline Call Center or apply online at www.californialifeline.com
    • Program Fees: Fee varies based on wireless plan
    • Required Documents: Option 1: Documentation of proof of eligibility is required. Submit copies of proof of eligibility with the completed and signed application. Make sure that your signature is very clear and legible. Option 2: Documentation is required to show your household’s total annual gross income meets the annual income limits if you are qualifying by Income-Based. A household’s total annual gross income consists of money received before taxes by everyone in your household (adults and children), from whatever source derived, whether taxable or non-taxable, including, but not limited to: wages, salaries, interest, dividends, alimony and child support, grants, gifts, allowances, stipends, lottery winnings, inheritances, worker’s compensation, unemployment and public assistance benefits, social security payments, pensions, rental income, income from self-employment, and cash payments from other sources, and all employment-related, non-cash income.

      • Service Area

    • Defined Coverage Area: N/A