How to Get Free Discounts on Phone Services

In contrast to loans, the grants are different since they do not have to be paid back. The federal government in the U.S offers numerous grants, aiming at helping the qualified low-income families lead a better life without filing bankruptcy. The U.S government offers financial assistances for free for accomplishing different purposes such as food, employment, affordable housing, education, and other assistance to pay bills. Whereas the unique initiative "Help with Bills" funded by the federal government is concerned, it works solely for financially backward households. The program intends to alleviate the adversities of these people by offering grants to help with bills.

Communication is an important phenomenon that helps individuals stay connected to jobs, emergency services and most importantly families. However, the high costs associated with the phone services prevent the-low income or no-income families from making any communications via phones or cell phones. This is why, the Federal Communications Commission's Universal Service Fund has been regulating a program called Lifeline to help low-income families get discounted landline or cell phone services. If you are at or below a certain income range, you can apply for the free money never pay back scheme to exercise the benefit.

Eligibility to Avail The Lifeline Benefits

Your eligibility for accessing to the grant program "Lifeline" is determined by two ways- Earning Capability and Accessibility to various grant programs.

Income Criteria -The Universal Service Fund indicates that if a family's monthly earning is at or below 135% as outlined by the federal poverty guidelines, that family or household is deemed eligible for the "Lifeline" program. If it is a constraint to understand your eligibility, use the poverty guidelines chart. If you find everything fine, you may be eligible to avail free money in the form of discount on the telephone or wireless pre-paid phone services.

 Program Based Criteria - The Federal government administers a wide array of financial assistance programs for the welfare of low-income families. Based on the eligibility criteria, if any of your household members gets help from the following grant programs, you can easily qualify for Lifeline and pay the telephone service bills on discounted rates. These federal government programs can be:

· Low-Income Housing Energy Program (LIHEAP)

· National School Lunch Program (NSPL)

· Federal Public Housing Assistance section 8

· Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)

· Medicaid

· Supplemental Security Income

· Supplemental Nutritional Program (SNP)

· Food Distribution Program

Under Lifeline, receiving more than one discount program is not possible for a single household. At the same time, discount on phone services is applicable only to one single device. If you are found to violate the rules of the program, you will be penalized.

How to Apply for Discount on Phone Bill Services

In order to apply for the program, contact your telephone company instead of the Universal Service Administrative Company. Use a household worksheet of the telephone company to apply for the Lifeline Program discount. Exercise the program to the fullest and stay away from paying it back.