Released: September 09, 2013

California LifeLine program helps low-income consumers

September 9-15 is National Lifeline Awareness Week

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SAN FRANCISCO—Consumer Action and AT&T California have again partnered to promote the California LifeLine Program during “National Lifeline Awareness Week,” September 9-15. 

Qualifying low-income Californians can get support from the state’s LifeLine program to help them connect with family, friends, resources and emergency services. Consumer Action and AT&T today urged individuals and families in need who may qualify to apply for the discounted program.

National Lifeline Awareness Week was created to spread awareness and to ensure that eligible low-income consumers are aware of the Lifeline program in their state and able to obtain affordable telephone service through the assistance of this program.

“The California LifeLine Program can make a real difference to low-income families and individuals,” said Consumer Action Executive Director Ken McEldowney. “As poverty levels rise in California, the discounts low-income consumers can receive through the LifeLine Program become even more important. We want to make sure those in need are aware of the program.”

“We recognize the tremendous impact the LifeLine Program has on low-income Californians. We are proud to partner with Consumer Action to increase awareness of the program and to facilitate a connection between individuals and families in need,” said Ken McNeely, President, AT&T California. “As more consumers struggle to pay their bills in today’s tough economy, it’s more important than ever that those who need financial assistance sign up for the program.”

The California LifeLine Program is sponsored by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and provides qualified low-income Californians with discounted local phone service. All California telephone companies that provide traditional residential service offer the California LifeLine program. Rules established by the CPUC allow customers to qualify for California LifeLine in one of two ways:

• By participating in an approved public assistance program such as: Medicaid/Medi-Cal, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC), Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or CalFresh, formerly known as Food Stamps.
• By meeting certain household income limits.

Consumers can contact a service provider directly and ask about the program. AT&T California customers can call 800-446-5651 (English),  800-882-0521 (Spanish),  800-882-0520 (Cantonese), or 800-962-8250 (Mandarin) to hear pre-recorded information regarding the program, or go online to www.att.com/lifeline.

General information on the California LifeLine Program can be found at: www.californialifeline.com.

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About Consumer Action

Consumer Action, a San Francisco-based national education and advocacy organization with offices in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., has been a champion of underrepresented consumers nationwide since 1971. A non-profit 501(c)3 organization, Consumer Action focuses on financial education that empowers low- and moderate-income and limited-English-speaking consumers to financially prosper. It delivers its multilingual educational programs and materials through a unique nationwide network of 7,500 community-based organizations—with approximately 3,000 located in California—and on the organization’s website (www.consumer-action.org).

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and internationally. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s largest 4G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries.  It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T │DIRECTV brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com/aboutus or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/att and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/att.