State services are hurting from recent budget cuts, but there is some good news for low-income Floridians coming out of Tallahassee. With just over $100,000 in state appropriations, the Department of Children and Families recently revamped its communication system to more effectively inform eligible individuals about certain assistance programs.
The retooled system has the potential to rake in close to $100-million in federal funding, while helping many struggling Floridians pay their phone bills. The changes will expedite the process of enrolling individuals in Link-Up and Lifeline, telephone service aid programs offered by the Federal Communications Commission.
The FCC bankrolls most of the assistance - $9.50 a month per household in Florida and up to $30 in service activation fees - but states are responsible for registering individuals. Of the nearly 1-million Floridians eligible for monthly subsidies, only about 135,000 take advantage of the aid. Many individuals, often with limited mobility, are cut off from emergency services and ready communication, while Link-Up and Lifeline go largely unutilized. The state's $100,000 investment should help change that.
To learn more about Link-Up and Lifeline, contact your local phone company or call the Public Service Commission at 1-800-342-3552 for a free brochure. Individuals are eligible if they qualify for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, Food Stamps, Medicaid, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Supplemental Security Income or Federal Public Housing Assistance. Others may also be eligible. If you aren't sure whether you or somebody you know qualifies, contact the PSC. The state has taken a step in the right direction, but the programs won't be a success without Floridians' collaboration.
