Effective Date - January 1, 2009

1803               Link Up America/Telephone Assistance

Link Up America – N/A

Telephone Assistance - W.S. 42-2-301, -303; ARW, Chapt. 3, Medicaid Rules

A.    Purpose:

1.    The Link Up America program assists Wyoming residents with the cost of installing a telephone;

2.    The Telephone Assistance program assists Wyoming residents with a monthly discount on their telephone bill.

B.    Eligibility:
Require the client to receive benefits from one of the following programs:

1.    POWER;

2. Medical assistance;

3. Child Care;

4. SNAP;

5. LIEAP;

6. PDA.

C.   Services:

1. Explain the Link Up America program provides a 50% discount on each service installation not to exceed $30; and

2. Explain the Telephone Assistance program provides a discount on basic residential telephone service and waives the monthly Interstate Customer Access Service charge.

D.   Procedures:

1.    DFS-FO responsibility:

a.    Request a supply of applications from the telephone company;

b.    Identify potential eligibles at the time of interview and inform them of the program; and

c.    Provide an application.

2.    Client responsibility:
Inform the client s/he must complete the application, attach a copy of her/his medical coupon/card or approval letter and mail it directly to the applicable telephone company.

3. DFS-SO responsibility:

a. Verify eligibility for the telephone company upon request;

b. Perform a yearly review for the Telephone Assistance program with each telephone company to assure all recipients continue to be eligible;

c. Allow eligibility to continue until the yearly review is completed.

4.    Telephone company responsibility:

a.    Accept the medical coupon/card or approval letter as verification of eligibility;

b. Certify the individual meets the additional eligibility requirements;

(1) The telephone bill must be in the name of the person who is eligible;

(2) The telephone line and bill must be for a single residential line;

(3) The eligible person must live at the residence.

c. Work directly with the client for any additional information;

d. Notify the applicant of approval or denial and arrange for installation when appropriate;

e.    Notify the client when s/he becomes ineligible.

E.    Referral procedures
Review the following flow chart which outlines the referral procedures.

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NOTES:

LINK UP AMERICA/TELEPHONE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

REFERRAL PROCEDURES FLOW CHART

FIELD OFFICE RESPONSIBILITY

Identify potential eligibles from the

following Programs:

¯

Personal Opportunities With Employment Responsibilities (POWER)

Medical Assistance/PDA Program

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

SNAP/Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP)

Child Care

¯

Inform the client about the programs

¯

Provide an application

¯

Have the client mail the application

to the local telephone

company

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THE TELEPHONE COMPANY RESPONSIBILITY

Accept the medical coupon/card or approval letter as verification

¯

Certify the client meets the

additional program requirements

÷ ø

YES NO

¯ ¯

The telephone company will The telephone company will

notify the client and notify the client they

arrange for have not met all

installation Requirements