Oregon Telephone Assistance Program"
Low-Income Oregonians Receive Subsidized Phone Service with the Help of St. Vincent de Paul and Cricket Wireless

Posted on 12 May 2010. Tags: Cricket Wireless, Oregon Telephone Assistance Program, Oregpn Public Utility Commissioner, OTAP, Portland Council of St. Vincent de Paul, PUC, Society of St.Vincent De Paul
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With unemployment at an all-time high and uncertainty surrounding certain benefits, Oregonians in need of telephone service are turning to the Lifeline Program

As Oregon struggles with high unemployment and the nation copes with uncertainty about long-term unemployment benefits, more Oregonians than ever before are looking for new ways to ease their strained budgets. One little-known resource can help consumers wondering how to reduce their telephone bill at a time when the link to potential employers is increasingly important.

St. Vincent de Paul Portland Council is helping Oregonians find unique solutions to this problem through a partnership with Cricket Wireless to improve awareness of the Oregon Telephone Assistance Program (OTAP), a subsidy for low-income Oregonians that can reduce their monthly phone bill –including their cell phone bill – by $13.50 each month.

OTAP, more commonly known as “Lifeline,” is a program that grants eligible individuals up to $13.50 off their monthly phone bill. The discount has recently been expanded to cell phone bills, opening the door for thousands of Oregonians to “cut the cord” while saving money. Oregonians may be eligible for the Lifeline discount if they receive assistance from any of the following programs:

* SNAP (also known as Food Stamps)
* TANF (Temporary Aid to Needy Families)
* SSI (Supplemental Security Income)
* Medicaid or certain state medical programs

An eligible customer, once qualified by the Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC), may receive a Lifeline subsidy on either a landline or wireless connection. The discount is available for one phone line per household. Lifeline can be applied to any single Cricket Wireless rate plan. Cricket also provides eligible consumers a one-time credit of 50% of their activation fee if they are new to Cricket or have activated their wireless service within the past 60 days.

“This year due to the economy, emergency food box requests are at record highs. In these tough times, even the smallest gift can make a huge difference,” said Sharon Hills, executive director, St. Vincent de Paul Portland Council. “Our organization is on the front lines serving the poor and economically disadvantaged in Portland and the NW region of Oregon. The continued support and generosity from our partners is vital to meeting the ever-increasing needs of the community.”

Jon Cray, Program Manager at the PUC, welcomes the efforts of St. Vincent de Paul and Cricket Wireless to help communicate the availability – and value – of the Lifeline Program to qualifying individuals.

“I commend telephone service providers who are getting the word out to Oregonians in need of assistance,” says Cray. “I encourage people who feel they qualify for Lifeline to learn more about the program and either apply in person at any Cricket Wireless location or online via the PUC Web site.”

The partnership between St. Vincent de Paul Portland Council and Cricket Wireless involves Lifeline informational brochures in the agency’s administrative offices, flyers inserted in emergency food baskets and referral cards that the recipients can return to a local Cricket store so the wireless company will make a donation to St. Vincent de Paul in their name.

“I’m really grateful for the extra help. In this economy, every little bit helps,” commented Sabina Riggi, “I didn’t know I could use it for my cellphone.”

The online application is available at: http://apps.puc.state.or.us/rspf/otapapp.asp. A printable version of the application is available in local Cricket stores Completed print applications can be faxed to the Oregon PUC at 1-877-567-1977 or 503-378-6047, or they can be mailed to: PUC, PO Box 2148, Salem, OR 97308.