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Eligibility:
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Only one California LifeLine discounted phone is allowed per household (except for teletypewriter users and for Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program participants). The California LifeLine discounts can only be for the individual’s primary residence. An individual can only have one primary residence.
Households may qualify for California LifeLine via Program-Based OR Income-Based criteria.
Program-Based Criteria
A person in the household must be enrolled in any one of the following public assistance programs:
- Medicaid/Medi-Cal
- Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Federal Public Housing Assistance or Section 8
- CalFresh, Food Stamps, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC)
- National School Lunch Program (NSL)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
+ California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs)
+ Stanislaus County Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (StanWORKs)
+ Welfare-to-Work (WTW)
+ Greater Avenues for Independence (GAIN)
- Tribal TANF
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Head Start Income Eligible (Tribal Only)
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
- Federal Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit Program
OR
Income-Based Eligibility Guidelines (valid 6/1/2025 - 5/31/2026):
Household size of 1: monthly income of $2,016; annual income of $24,200
Household size of 2: monthly income of $2,716; annual income of $32,600
Household size of 3: monthly income of $3,425; annual income of $41,100
Household size of 4: monthly income of $4,133; annual income of $49,600
Add $8,500 for each additional person in the household.
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Languages:
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Telephone Interpreting Services. American Sign Language Interpreter available on request, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, English, Chinese
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Application Process:
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To apply for California LifeLine you must call your cell phone company and state you qualify for the program via Program-Based OR Income-Based criteria. Once you inform the home or cell phone company that you qualify, they will begin the application process for you. Within a week, you will be mailed an application form with an Enrollment Code and/or a Personal Identification Number (PIN) in a PINK envelope. In order to receive the California LifeLine benefits, you must complete the form, sign it, and send it to the California LifeLine Administrator along with any required documents by the due date. You may also Apply Online.
To renew for California LifeLine you will be mailed a renewal form with a Personal Identification Number (PIN) in a PINK envelope from the California LifeLine Administrator 105 days prior to your California LifeLine anniversary date. In order to continue receiving the California LifeLine benefits, you must complete the form, sign it, and send it to the California LifeLine Administrator by the due date. You may also Renew Online.
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Payment methods:
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Program Fees:
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Fee varies depending on the provider and plan selected. Upfront and continuing fees may apply. Contact provider for fee information.
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Documents Required:
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Documents showing income or participation in a public assistance program.
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