Haywood County Schools share Title 1 news

If you are a parent of a student in the Haywood County Schools, the Tennessee Regulatory Authority (TRA) has good news for you. You may qualify to get a credit toward getting a telephone service (LINK-UP); and you may qualify for a discount on your phone bill (LIFELINE).

Need help getting telephone service?

If your child is enrolled in the National Free Lunch program, you are entitled to a discount of one-half up to $30 off of the installation charge for a new service or if you are transferring your local telephone service to a new location. The program is called “Link-up.” No deposit is required if you ask for “local service only” type service. You can still make long distance phone calls by using pre-paid calling cards.

Do you need a break on your phone bill?

If your child is enrolled in the National Free Lunch program, you are also entitled to a discount of up to $13.50 off of the local service portion of your telephone bill. This program is called Lifeline.

You may also qualify for both of these programs if your family receives one of the following: Food stamps, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicaid, Families First or if you live in public housing/Section 8 or received assistance from the Low Income Home and Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) program.

Also, if you do not receive any of the mentioned public assistance, you may qualify by your income.

How do you get this credit?

If you receive one of the listed public assistance and you already have telephone service, contact your local provider. The Lifeline and Link-Up programs have been federally mandated to be offered by all phone companies that meet certain guidelines. If you qualify by income and do not receive one of the listed public assistance, you must call the TRA.

The TRA is committed to making available these vital programs to those who need it. If you have questions, please call the TRA at 1-877-691-2969 for recorded information or call 1-800-342-8359 and ask for Lifeline.