MEMORANDUM

DISCUSSION:

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide information to staff that may be useful to connect Income Maintenance and Food Stamp Program participants to telephone services. Being able to communicate to participants is vital. Sharing this information with applicants and participants will help them stay connected to Family Support Division services.

LIFELINE

The Lifeline Program provides discounted phone service to qualifying low-income or disabled consumers. The programs are administered by the Missouri Public Service Commission. The Low-Income program offers discounts of up to $15.75 per month depending on the local phone company. The Disabled program is limited to a $6.50 monthly discount. To apply for these discounts, the individuals must contact their desired telephone provider. Not all telephone companies participate in the programs. See the list of participating telephone companies offering Lifeline service in Missouri.

To qualify for the Low- Income Program households must have income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) or participate in one of the following programs:

• Food Stamps
• MO HealthNet (Medicaid)
• Low Income/Home Energy Assistance Program
• Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Federal Public Housing Assistance or Section 8
• National School Lunch Program, or Qualifying Criteria for Disabled Program

To qualify for the Disabled Program households must receive one of the following:

• Veteran Administration Disability Benefits
• State Blind Pension 
• State Aid to Blind Persons
• State Supplemental Disability Assistance Payments Administered by the Family Support Division
• Federal Social Security Disability

Missouri’s Telecommunication Access Program

Missouri’s Telecommunication Access Program (TAP) provides equipment to qualifying individuals who have difficulties using the phone or internet because of a disability.  To qualify for the Telecommunications Access Program, the applicant must:

• Be certified by a licensed physician, audiologist, speech pathologist, hearing instrument specialist or qualified agency as unable to use traditional telecommunications equipment or computer equipment due to disability;
• Be a resident of the state of Missouri;
• Have access to basic telephone service for the TAP telephone program.
• Meet financial income standards (Generally, the applicant's have an annual adjusted household income under $60,000 for two people; with $5,000 being added for each additional dependent.)

The TAP telephone program provides access to basic voice telephone calling (both sending and receiving) for individuals with all types of disabilities through the delivery of adaptive telephone equipment. The program provides equipment such as:

• Text telephones,
• Voice carry over phones,
• Phones for hearing carry over,
• Amplified phones,
• Braille phones,
• Hands-free phones and
• Photo phones.

To ensure that the best equipment is ordered to meet individuals’ needs, applications must be completed in person. For more information about the program, refer individuals to Missouri Assistive Technology at (800) 647-8557 (voice) or (800) 647-8558 (TTY).

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

AC/