How to Prove Participation

Here is what to show your company when you sign up for Lifeline.

If you participate in one of these government programs, you qualify for Lifeline. To prove you qualify, show an official document from one of these programs:

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Medicaid
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
• Veterans Pension or Survivors Pension
• Other Programs for Tribal Lands

The person named on the official document can be you, your dependent, or a member of your household.

What to Show Your Company

SNAP (Food Stamps)

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) used to be called Food Stamps. You can show your SNAP card or show an award letter that has:

• Name of the program
• Name of the participant
• Address of the participant
• Date of the award

Your state might use a different name for SNAP. Look it up on this list of SNAP names by state.

Medicaid

Each state has its own Medicaid program and card. Your card should have:

• Name of the program
• Name of the participant

Your state might use a different name for Medicaid. Look it up on this list of Medicaid names by state.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Some states offer SSI, but you can only use federal SSI to sign up for Lifeline. Your award letter (from the U.S. Social Security Administration) should have the following information:

• Name of the program
• Name of the participant
• Address of the participant
• Date of the award
• Award amount

You can also use a check stub from the U.S. Social Security Administration if it includes the date and the participant’s name.

Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)

Some states offer housing assistance, but you can only use Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA) to sign up for Lifeline. If you use FPHA, show one of these:

1. Award letter that has:
   • Name of the program
   • Date of the award
   • Name of the participant
   • Award amount
2. Public Housing Assistance lease agreement that has:
   • The type of Public Housing Assistance credit used

If you do not have these items, contact the agency that approved your public housing application and ask for formal documentation of the award. Find their contact information on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) state contact and agency listing.

Veterans Pension or Survivors Benefit

Some states offer a Veterans Pension, but you can only use the federal Veterans Pension (and federal Survivors Pension) to sign up for Lifeline. If you receive a federal pension, show one of these:

1. Pension Grant Letter that has:
   • The participant’s name
   • The participant’s address
   • A decision about the monthly entitlement amount
   • Payment start date
2. Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Letter that has:
   • Monthly/quarterly/semi-annual/annual payment rate
   • Effective date
3. Survivors Benefit Summary Letter that has:
   • Survivors claim number
   • The related veteran’s name
   • Monthly award amount

Tribal Programs

To qualify for Tribal Lifeline, you must show that you reside on Tribal lands and participate in one of these benefit programs:

Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) General Assistance

Show an award letter from the national or regional BIA office.

You can also show a check stub from the BIA if it includes the date, name of the participant, and that the benefit received is BIA General Assistance.

Tribally-Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Show an award letter that has:

• Name of the program
• Name of the participant
• Address of the participant
• Date of the award

Tribal Head Start

You can only qualify for the Tribal Head Start Program if your household earns 135% or less than the federal poverty guidelines. Show a letter that includes the name of the child who participates.

Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)

Show an award letter from an Indian Tribal Organization (ITO) or another state agency. All award letters or other official documents should have:

• Name of the participant
• The start and end dates of the award period
• The telephone number of the Food Distribution Program office and the name and address of the person to contact for additional information

Valid documentation of participation in the FDPIR is:

• Award letter that states eligibility for FDPIR benefits
• A benefit card or copy of benefit card
• Letter from the administering agency that states participation in FDPIR