Telephone bill help available for low-income Iowans

While we’ve heard a lot recently about heating help for low-income Iowans, there’s also help available for paying phone bills. Lori Schulte of the Iowa Telecommunications Association says there are two federal programs available.The “Link-up” program helps pay for the installation of phones service, while the “Lifeline” program gives monthly help in paying the phone bill. Schulte says if you qualify for other federal programs, then you automatically qualify for the telephone assistance. If you qualify for Medicaid, food stamps, supplemental security income, housing assistance or low-income home energy assistance, then you qualify for the phone program. All you have to do is sign up.The forms are available at human services agencies and local telephone companies. Schulte says approximately 180-thousand Iowans would qualify for the service, while there are now about 12-thousand signed up.