Trying to reduce your monthly phone bill? Qualified Massachusetts residents can get help from “Lifeline,” a program offered by Verizon and the Granby phone company. Lifeline subscribers can save $15.50 per month on their basic phone bill. If you are eligible for any of the following programs, you should be able to get Lifeline discounts: Food stamps; Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; Fuel Assistance; MassHealth (Medicaid); Supplemental Security Income (SSI); Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC).

Lifeline can only be used for the main telephone line in a household, and the name on the phone bill must match the name of the person who is eligible for the program. To sign up for Lifeline you should contact your local phone company. For Verizon customers, call 1-800-870-9999, Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. For the Granby phone company, call 413-467-9911 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. You will be asked to provide proof of your eligibility by returning a signed, “self-certification” form. Once the phone company receives your proof of eligibility, your monthly Lifeline benefits will start. Your continued eligibility will be reviewed from time to time, and you will have to submit updated proof of eligibility forms—on-going involvement with the program is not automatic.

The “Lifeline” program should not be confused with in-home “personal emergency response systems” (PERS) services with a similar sounding name. This “Lifeline” program is a form of financial discount, not an emergency service. The PERS “LifeLine” is a private service available for a fee that allows the person to call emergency responders by pressing a button on a necklace or bracelet worn by the person.

To find out more about the Lifeline phone discounts, or the personal emergency response systems available, call MVES or ask a question.