Assistance Paying Your Bill
Senate Bill 1976
Beginning September 1, 2017 electric providers may provide a benefit to their low-income customers. In order to be eligible to match you must be in the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) or on Medicaid and the name of the program participant MUST be the same name on the electric bill. Self-enrollment is NOT allowed for the electric matching program. Please contact your electric provider to see if they participate and what their low-income benefit is. For additional information you can call 1-866-454-8387.
Lifeline
The Lifeline program is designed to help qualified low-income individuals pay the monthly cost of basic telephone service.
A resident is qualified if the current total household income is at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. A resident is also qualified if they are currently receiving: Medicaid, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program support, SNAP, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Health Benefit Coverage under Child Health Plan (CHIP) under Chapter 62 support, National School Lunch Program - Free Lunch Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
Assistance Paying Your Bill
| Number in Household |
Annual Income (150%) |
| 1 |
$22,590 |
| 2 |
$30,660 |
| 3 |
$38,730 |
| 4 |
$46,800 |
| 5 |
$54,870 |
| 6 |
$62,940 |
| 7 |
$71,010 |
| 8 |
$79,080 |
| 9 |
$87,150 |
| 10 |
$95,220 |
| 11 |
$103,290 |
| 12 |
$111,360 |
| 13 |
$119,430 |
| 14 |
$127,500 |
| 15 |
$135,570 |
| Each additional add |
$5,380 |
Lifeline reduces the basic monthly telephone rate up to $12.75 for those who qualify. This program does not cover the cost of additional services such as caller ID or voice messaging. In addition, a reduction for installation of local telephone service may be available to these customers through the Link-Up program.
You can apply for Lifeline Discounts by calling toll free 1-866-454-8387 or by downloading the application below.
Visit the FCC website cnm.universalservice.org to find a Lifeline provider in your area.
Lifeline Self-Enrollment Discount Forms
You can fax or email your completed and signed scanned copy of your application, with all the backup information, to the administrator at:
Link-Up
The Link-Up program is designed to reduce the cost of initiating new telephone service to qualifying low-income residents who live on approved tribal lands.
A resident who lives on an approved tribal land is qualified if the current total household income is at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. A resident is also qualified if they are currently receiving: Medicaid, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program support, SNAP, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Health Benefit Coverage under Child Health Plan under Chapter 62 (CHIP), National School Lunch Program - Free Lunch Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
Link-Up offers a 100 percent discount (up to $100) for telephone installation charges. Link-Up does not cover more than one phone line in the home, but the program does include an option for delaying payment on the balance of the connection fee, up to $200, for up to one year without interest charges. Link-Up does not offer financial assistance for additional services on the telephone, such as caller ID or voice messaging.
Visit the FCC website cnm.universalservice.org/ to find a Lifeline provider in your area as well as guidelines for applying to the Link-Up program.
Victims of Family Violence
If you are a victim of family violence, you are eligible to have your electric service deposit waived.
To qualify as a victim of family violence, you will need to provide a Texas Council on Family Violence deposit waiver certification letter.
The letter must be filled out by family violence center personnel, treating medical personnel, law enforcement personnel,
a Texas District Attorney or County Attorney, Office of the Attorney General personnel, or a grantee of the Texas Equal Access to Justice Foundation.
The letter must be submitted directly to the Retail Electric Provider using the REP's toll-free FAX number.
A copy of the deposit waiver certification letter can be obtained from the Texas Council on Family Violence's Website
at https://tcfv.org/findhelp/
Weatherization Assistance Program
The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs Weatherization Program is designed to offer qualified low-income Texans an energy audit, or a review of the home's energy efficiency, and installation of weatherization measures to increase energy efficiency of their home.
A household qualifies if the income is at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines and their home must be able to benefit from being weatherized. After the households qualify, those with small children under the age of six, with elderly residents, with a disabled resident or households with the highest energy costs and lowest income will be given priority.
The Weatherization Program offers an audit of a qualified resident's house to see if there are any air leaks or inefficient appliances that may be causing the household to pay more in energy costs than needed. Then, after the audit is completed, the program will give financial and installation assistance and to improve the energy efficiency of the home.
You can apply for the Weatherization program through your Retail Electric Provider.
For more information, please contact the following:
- Your Retail Electric Provider
- Visit the TDHCA Weatherization program's website at http://www.tdhca.state.tx.us/assist_repair.htm
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