Lifeline Program

The Lifeline Program For Tribal Lands

Lifeline is the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) program to help make communications services more affordable for low-income consumers. Lifeline provides subscribers a discount on monthly telephone service and broadband. The discounts help ensure that low-income consumers can afford 21st-century broadband and the access it provides to jobs, education and opportunities. The FCC allows a discount up to $34.25 per customer, per month.

  • A $24.50 discount for phone service.
  • An additional $9.75 discount for broadband service.

Rules

If you qualify, your household can get Lifeline for phone or internet service, but not both.

  • If you get Lifeline for phone service, you can get the benefit for one mobile phone or one home phone, but not both.
  • If you get Lifeline for internet service, you can get the benefit for your mobile phone or your home connection, but not both.
  • If you get Lifeline for bundled phone and internet service, you can get the benefit for your mobile phone bundled service or your home bundled service, but not both.

Your household cannot get Lifeline from more than one phone or internet company.

You are only allowed to get one Lifeline benefit per household, not per person. If more than one person in your household gets Lifeline, you are breaking the FCC’s rules and will lose your benefit.

Lifeline Program Terms

  • If you do not have broadband service a discount of $24.50 will be applied to your bill.
  • Broadband customers will receive unlimited monthly service at up to 15 Mbps.
  • Wi-fi is an additional monthly fee of $2 a month.
  • Calls placed within the Fort Mojave Telecommunications service area are covered and included under all FMTI call plans.
  • Toll charges of 5¢ per minute apply if calling outside of the FMTI service area when you choose FMTI Long Distance as your carrier. Contact your long distance carrier for rates if other than FMTI.
  • Enhanced Lifeline does not cover the cost of calling features, call plans or toll charges and are the responsibility of the customer.
  • Enhanced Lifeline customers may be disconnected after 60 days of non-payment.

Qualifications

In order to qualify you must participate in one of the following programs:

  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • Medicaid
  • Federal Public Housing Assistance
  • Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit Program
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
  • Tribally-Administered Temporary Assistance for Needed Families (TTANF)
  • Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
  • Head Start Program (only households that meet the income qualifying standard)

To qualify under the income guidelines:

  • 1-person household = $16,389
  • 2-person household = $22,221
  • 3-person household = $28,053
  • 4-person household = $33,885
  • 5-person household = $39,717
  • Add $5,832 for each additional person in the home.

Requirements

When applying using a program for eligibility you will need to provide either:

  • Award letter
  • Statement of benefits

When qualifying based on income eligibility the following is required:

  • Previous years federal tax return
  • Current income statement from employer or 3 consecutive paycheck stubs
  • Social Security statement of benefits
  • The last 3 per-capita check stubs (only iF it is your sole source of income).

Complete Form 5629: Lifeline Program Application and return it to FMTI. If you need one mailed to you or have questions about Enhanced Lifeline call FMTi Customer Service at (928) 346-2500.

If someone else at your address gets Lifeline, use Form 5631: Lifeline Program Household Worksheet. It will help you find out if there is more than one household at your address.