Afford-A-Phone

Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative, Inc, participates in Federal Lifeline Assistance programs. These programs offer telephone discounts to qualified low income consumers on their residential wire line phone service. Lifeline provides eligible consumers discounts of $13.71 on monthly basic phone service. Link-Up provides eligible consumers a discount of up to $30 on telephone installation charges. Living on Tribal Lands? If you live in one of the exchanges listed below you can qualify for additional discounts through the “Enhanced Lifeline & Link-Up” programs. • Dixon (246) • Charlo (644) • Arlee (726) • St. Ignatius (745) “Enhanced” Lifeline provides eligible consumers discounts up to $38.50 on monthly basic phone service. “Enhanced” Link-Up provides eligible consumers a discount of up to $100 on telephone installation charges.

• Consumers NOT living on Tribal Lands qualify if they are a current Montana Medicaid recipient.

• Consumers living on Tribal Lands qualify if they are a current recipient of one or more of the following programs:

• Medicaid
• Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) General Assistance
• Tribally Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• State Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Head Start (if income eligible)
• Food Stamps
• Supplemental Security Income Benefits (SSI)
• Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8)
• Free Meals under the National School Lunch Program
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
• Income that is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

• Qualifying consumers living on Tribal Lands will sign a self-certification form.  If qualifying under the Federal Poverty Guidelines, must provide documentation supporting the qualification based on the above mentioned criteria.  Blackfoot must have all proof of income eligibility documentation on file.
  
  Some examples of supporting documentation for verification of income are:

• Prior year’s State, Federal, or Tribal tax return.
• Current income statement from employer or paycheck stub.
• Social Security statement of benefits.
• Veteran’s Administration statement of benefits.
• Retirement/pension statement of benefits.
• Unemployment/Worker’s Compensation statement of benefits.
• Federal or Tribal notice letter of participation in Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) General Assistance.
• A divorce decree or child support document.

Lifeline and Link-Up discounts apply to one phone service at the primary place of residence. Lifeline also includes Toll Restriction, enabling the customer to restrict long distance calls.

Lifeline

Customers Living on Non-Tribal Land
(Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative, Inc.)

Customers Living on Tribal Land with Medicaid
(Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative, Inc.)

Customers Living on Tribal Land with Non-Medicaid Qualifications
(Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative, Inc.)

• http://www.lifelinesupport.org/li/
• http://www.lifelinesupport.org/li/low-income/eligibility/tribal.aspx