Low Income

Step 8: Annual Verification of Consumer Eligibility

Eligible Telecommunications Carriers (ETCs) in states that follow the federal rules because they do not have their own Lifeline programs or because they have elected to follow the federal criteria must check the continued eligibility of a "statistically valid sample" of Lifeline customers and report those results to USAC. USAC has posted on its web site a chart to help ETCs determine how to calculate a statistically valid sample based on the number of Lifeline customers served.

If an ETC in a federal default state does not receive replies from all of its sample recipients, the ETC should note the number of outstanding replies on its submission separate from those found to be ineligible and update the verification results upon completing the survey.

Original verifications are due annually on August 31. See USAC's Low Income Calendar / Reminders webpage for other Low Income deadlines.

Details describing the verification process are set out in the FCC's Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 04-87, released April 29, 2004) at paragraphs 33-36 and Appendix J. In this Order, the FCC provides two ways for ETCs operating in federal default states to verify eligibility.

An ETC can contact a state agency directly to determine whether particular subscribers continue to be eligible to participate in a qualifying program or have a certain income level.

In the alternative, the FCC's Order states that an ETC can survey its subscribers directly by having the subscribers present in person or send a copy of any Lifeline-qualifying public assistance card (such as a Medicaid card) and self-certifying, under penalty of perjury, that they continue to participate in the Lifeline-qualifying public assistance program.

Subscribers who have qualified for Lifeline support under the income-based criterion must present current documentation that shows their household income is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. They also must self-certify, under penalty of perjury, the number of individuals in their household and that the documentation presented accurately represents their annual household income. Please see the FCC's Order for further explanation.

Companies may access the Lifeline certification and verification form below .

 

Submit to USAC using only ONE method:

FAXAttn: Low Income Programs – Verifications
(202) 776-0080
EMAILScanned Adobe version of the verification with signature via E-mail.
MAILLow Income Programs – Verifications
Universal Service Administrative Company
2000 L Street, NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC  20036

 


Last modified on 8/8/2008