Households receiving Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Supplemental Security Income Program, Federal Public Housing Assistance Program, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Program, or the National School Lunch Program may qualify for telephone assistance. People may also qualify based on their level of income.

Link-up is a plan that reduces telephone connection fees by 50 percent or $30, whichever is less.

Lifeline is a plan that assists qualified low-income Iowans by providing a monthly credit of up to $10 on the local telephone bill (depending on provider).

Link-up/Lifeline application forms are available from your local telephone company, the Iowa Utilities Board, or most CAP agencies in the state.

Customers eligible for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program are also eligible for the Lifeline assistance plan. Applications for LIHEAP are accepted by the Iowa Department of Human Rights between October 1 and April 15 annually. Customers providing their consent and meeting LIHEAP requirements will be concurrently enrolled for both programs.

Information about the number of customers receiving Lifeline assistance is reported by each Iowa telephone company.

For more information, call the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) toll free at 1-877-565-4450, see the IUB Lifeline Release, or visit www.lifeline.gov or www.usac.org.