In an emergency, who can afford not to have a telephone? Now, for those in need, Verizon Communications makes residential telephone service more affordable in its service area by offering Communications Lifeline and Link Up America services for qualified, low-income customers.

Verizon New Jersey partners with NJ SHARES for Communications Lifeline outreach and enrollment efforts. NJ SHARES is a statewide, nonprofit 501(c)(3)corporation organized to provide assistance to individuals and families living in New Jersey who are in need of temporary help in paying their communications and energy bills. Through NJ SHARES more New Jerseyans in need of this critical telecommunications safety net are aware of and able to benefit from Communications Lifeline.

Here’s How...

Through Link Up America, eligible new customers receive a 50% discount on the initial phone connection charge, with the remaining 50% paid in 12 monthly installments. Through Communications Lifeline, existing Verizon residential customers may be eligible to receive discounted local telephone service.

Communications Lifeline offers eligible consumers a service package that includes:

* Discounted residential phone service, including Touch-Tone service, ranging from zero to $1.95 per month

*Opportunities to add optional features, like Caller ID, Three-Way Calling, and more

*A choice of three different local service options:

Flat Rate Service provides an unlimited number of calls within a calling area at no additional cost.

Moderate Rate Service provides up to 75 outgoing local messages of 5 minutes or less each month without additional charges. For every local message after the first 75, customers are charged 6.5 cents.

Low Use Message Rate Service provides up to 20 outgoing local messages of 5 minutes or less each month without additional charges. For every local message after the first 20, customers are charged 10 cents.

Am I Eligible for This?

 It’s easy to figure out if you’re eligible. You are eligible:

1. If no one claims you as a dependent on his or her income taxes (unless you are at least 60 years old) and you receive benefits from one of these programs:

* Medicaid

* Food Stamp Program

* General Assistance (GA)

* Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

* Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

* Lifeline Utility Credit/Tenants Lifeline Assistance

* Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD)

* Temporary Assistance to Needy Families/Work First New Jersey (TANF/WFNJ)

OR

2. If you are age 65 or over and are not participating in one of the above programs and your annual income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty income level*, then you qualify for Communications Lifeline and Link Up America.  You can call NJ SHARES at 1-888-337-3339 for questions or information on enrollment.

*Federal poverty guidelines are issued each year in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  Current poverty guidelines are available at the HHS Website.

For information on how to apply please call NJ SHARES Client Services at 1-888-337-3339 Monday through Friday 9am to 6pm.

NJ SHARES, Inc. is a statewide, nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation organized to provide assistance to individuals and families living in New Jersey who are in need of temporary help in paying their communications and energy bills.

  You can find out how to enroll in Communications Lifeline or Link Up America  by calling NJ SHARES  at 1 888 337-3339 or by logging onto NJ SHARES .

About NJ SHARES | Where To Apply | How You Can Help | Other Programs | Agency Use Only

New Jersey SHARES
1901 North Olden Avenue Extension, Suite 1A | Ewing, NJ 08618
Phone: 609-883-1626 | Toll Free: 866-657-4273 | Fax: 609-883-6364 | Email info@njshares.org
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