Lathrop, MO 2017 Telephone Directory

®

Missouri Universal Service

support are required to provide documentation of participation in the qualifying program. Qualifying low- income or disabled programs include: MO HealthNet (f/k/a Medicaid), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps), Supplemental Security Income, Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit, Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8), or have an income at or below the 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. There are no federal Lifeline discounts offered for disabled consumers. The MoUSF program will offer a discount of $6.50 per month for the consumer’s voice, broadband or a bundle of the two services for Missourians that qualify. If a member of the household has a disability and is receiving disability benefits as defined below, the consumer is eligible to receive the disability discount. Disability assistance is available to all Missouri residential customers who demonstrate, by providing documentation, that they are totally and permanently disabled or blind and receiving any of the following: Federal Social Security Disability Benefits, Veterans Administration Benefits, State Blind Pension, State Aid to Blind Persons, or State Supplemental Disability Assistance.

Missouri Universal Service Available To Missouri Customers The Missouri Public Service Commission (MPSC) has approved the establishment of a Missouri Universal Service FUND (MoUSF) to help low-income and disabled Missourians receive discounts for telecommunications service. The Missouri Universal Service Fund assessment rate is 0.0010 (0.10%). This surcharge appears as a separate line item on customer bills detailed as “Missouri Universal Service Fund.” Missouri customers who receive Federal Lifeline support automatically receive an additional $6.50 per month in Missouri Universal Service Fund support. The Federal Lifeline Program and the MoUSF together offer a discount to qualifying customers of $15.75 per month for Voice or Broadband Internet service. Individuals who qualify for low-income or disabled support are required to complete a MoUSF Board approval application. The application form includes a release so that the Missouri Public Service Commission or its staff may confirm participation in the qualifying programs. By signing the authorization, the beneficiary recipient authorizes the appropriate federal, state or local agency to confirm to the Missouri Public Service Commission or its staff participation in the qualifying program that the time the application was made, and as subsequently deemed necessary for purposes of annual verification or other examinations of eligibility – this authorization continues for the duration of participation in the low-income or disabled program. Customers who qualify for low-income or disabled

7

www.grm.net