Lifeline Program Services

Consumers meeting certain eligibility criteria are able to receive monthly discounts for telecommunications service through the Lifeline Program or the Disabled Program.

The Lifeline or Disabled service program offers a monthly discount up to $24.00 per month.  The discounts are available based on the following:

• $24.00 for a Disabled Program voice subscriber
• $18.75 state discount and a $5.25 federal discount for a Lifeline program subscriber with voice-only service or voice service bundled with a non-qualifying broadband service.
• $14.75 state discount and a $9.25 federal discount for a Lifeline program subscriber with voice service bundled with a qualifying broadband service. “Qualifying broadband service” is a broadband speed of 25 Mbps (down)/3 Mbps (up) or higher.
• $9.25 federal discount for a qualifying broadband only line which is a broadband speed of 25 Mbps (down)/3 Mbps (up) or higher.

To qualify for Low-Income Lifeline in Missouri, a consumer must submit proof of eligibility in one of the following programs:

To qualify for Disabled Lifeline in Missouri, a consumer must submit proof of eligibility in one of the following programs:

Qualifying consumers will receive this assistance on the following services: voice grade access to the public switched network; single-party service; access to emergency services; access to operator services; access to inter-exchange service; access to directory assistance; bundled service plans combining voice and broadband or packages including optional calling features; broadband only services; and voluntary total toll blocking, which prevents the placement of any long-distance calls.

Carriers, like Kingdom Telephone Company, providing Lifeline may not collect a service deposit in order to initiate Lifeline services if the qualifying low-income or disabled consumer voluntarily elects toll blocking.
Only one Lifeline or Disabled service is available per household. Lifeline and the Disabled program are non-transferable benefits and the subscriber may not transfer his or her benefit to any other person, even if he or she is eligible.

The FCC will also require that all current Lifeline recipients be “re-certified” annually. Consumers who willfully make false statements in order to obtain program benefits can be punished with a fine or imprisonment or barred from the program.

For additional details you can call our Business office at 573-386-2241 or apply online at https://www.lifelinesupport.org/.

Telecommunications Access Program

Are you or someone you know frustrated trying to use the telephone? Is it difficult to hear or understand the conversation? Do others have a hard time hearing you, or ask you to repeat yourself often? Is it challenging to dial a phone with small buttons or hard to read displays? Perhaps you don’t always hear the telephone ring or can’t get to the telephone in time before the caller hangs up.

The Telecommunications Access Program (TAP) can provide you with a telephone specifically designed to help you with any of these difficulties.

TAP provides specialized telephones FREE to those that qualify. Missouri residents with existing wireline (house) telephone service and income below $60,000 per year (for a household of 2, add $5000 per dependent) will qualify if certified as having a disability that interferes with hearing, seeing, speech, mobility or cognition. TAP provides equipment only, consumer is responsible for the telephone service.

Call 800-655-6700 or visit www.at.mo.gov to learn more about this free internet service for disabled program to benefit Missouri residents who qualify.