The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) urges qualifying low-income residents to apply for Lifeline Telephone Assistance. Lifeline assistance makes basic local telephone service more affordable for income-eligible families across Ohio. Those who qualify could receive discounts for monthly telephone bills and/or installation costs of telephone service. Wireless and broadband providers also offer Lifeline.
Am I eligible?
You may qualify for Lifeline if your household income is at or below 135 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.
Household size |
Poverty guideline |
1 | $17,388 |
2 | $23,517 |
3 | $29,646 |
4 | $35,775 |
5 | $41,904 |
6 | $48,033 |
7 | $54,162 |
8 | $60,291 |
For each additional person | add $6,129 |
You may also qualify if you participate in one of the following programs:
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Public Housing Assistance/Section 8
- Veterans Pension or Survivors Pension
A Lifeline eligibility pre-screening tool is available at www.lifelinesupport.org.
Are there any restrictions?
Lifeline benefits may be applied to only one type of service – landline, wireless or broadband – and are limited to one line per household. Customers receiving lifeline benefits must also reverify their eligibility annually. Other restrictions may apply. Check with your broadband provider for Lifeline availability.
What is the Minimum Service Standards?
Updated as of December 1, 2020 from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Life Modernization Order, the minimum service standards for Lifeline are below:
What are the benefits? How do I apply?
Eligible low-income customers receive a monthly discount of $5.25 on basic local landline telephone service until Dec. 1, 2022, waiver of installation charges, waiver of deposit fees, optional toll blocking at no charge and optional 900/976 blocking at no charge. Wireless carrier plans also include a $5.25 monthly discount for qualified customers. Contact your local landline or wireless phone company at the numbers listed below and ask to apply for Lifeline. If you have any questions or have a complaint about Lifeline, please contact the PUCO at (800) 686-7826.
Provider Name | Phone | Service |
Air Voice/Feel Safe | 877-247-7799 | Wireless |
American Broadband & Telecommunications/American Assistance | 866-765-2629 | Wireless |
Boomerang Wireless/enTouch | 866-488-8719 | Wireless |
Global Connection Inc of America/Stand Up Wireless | 800-544-4441 | Wireless |
i-Wireless/Access | 800-464-6010 | Wireless |
Q Link Wireless/Q Link | 855-754-6543 | Wireless |
Sage Telecom/Sage Wireless | 866-385-7281 | Wireless |
Telerite/Life Wireless | 888-543-3620 | Wireless |
Tempo Telecom LLC/Now Communications | 866-580-8411 | Wireless |
TracFone/SafeLink | 800-SAFELINK | Wireless |
Virgin Mobile USA/Assurance Wireless | 800-395-2108 | Wireless |
American Broadband & Telecommunications | 866-765-2628 | Home Phone |
Arcadia Telephone Company/TDS Telecom | 888-225-5837 | Home Phone |
The Arthur Mutual Telephone Company | 419-393-2233 | Home Phone |
Ayersville Telephone Company | 419-395-2222 | Home Phone |
Bascom Mutual Telephone Company | 419-937-2222 | Home Phone |
Benton Ridge Telephone Company | 419-859-2144 | Home Phone |
Buckland Telephone Company | 419-657-2222 | Home Phone |
Century Tel of Ohio/Century Link | 855-954-6546 | Home Phone |
The Champaign Telephone Company | 937-653-4000 | Home Phone |
The Chillicothe Telephone Company | 740-772-8331 | Home Phone |
Cincinnati Bell | 513-565-5433 | Home Phone |
The Conneaut Telphone Company | 440-593-7140 | Home Phone |
Consolidated Communications CCI | 844-968-7224 | Home Phone |
Continental Telephone Company/TDS Telecom | 888-225-5837 | Home Phone |
Doylestown Telephone Company | 330-658-2121 | Home Phone |
Farmers Mutual Telephone Company | 419-758-3322 | Home Phone |
Fort Jennings Telephone Company | 419-286-2181 | Home Phone |
Frontier North | 800-921-8101 | Home Phone |
Frontier Communications of Michigan | 800-921-8101 | Home Phone |
Glandorf Telephone Company | 419-538-6987 | Home Phone |
Kalida Telephone Company | 419-532-3218 | Home Phone |
Little Miami Telephone Corporation/TDS Telecom | 888-225-5837 | Home Phone |
McClure Telephone Company | 877-524-8293 | Home Phone |
Middle Point Home Telephone Company | 419-968-2000 | Home Phone |
Minford Telephone Company/Falcon1.net | 740-820-2151 | Home Phone |
New Knoxville Telephone Company | 419-753-2457 | Home Phone |
Nova Telephone Company | 419-652-3577 | Home Phone |
Oakwood Telephone Company/TDS Telecom | 888-225-5837 | Home Phone |
The Ottoville Mutual Telephone Association | 419-453-3324 | Home Phone |
Pattersonville Telephone Company | 330-895-4391 | Home Phone |
Ridgeville Telephone Company | 419-267-5185 | Home Phone |
Sherwood Mutual Telephone Association | 419-899-2121 | Home Phone |
Sycamore Telephone Company | 419-927-6012 | Home Phone |
Telephone Service Company | 419-739-2200 | Home Phone |
Vanlue Telephone Company/TDS Telecom | 888-225-5837 | Home Phone |
Vaughnsville Telephone Company | 419-646-3431 | Home Phone |
Wabash Mutual Telephone Company | 800-988-1618 | Home Phone |
Windstream Ohio | 800-347-1991 | Home Phone |
Winstream Western Reserve | 330-650-8000 | Home Phone |