IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT THE
CALIFORNIA LIFELINE PROGRAM FROM SEBASTIAN
The California LifeLine Program (California LifeLine) provides discounts on phone services to qualified residential households. This consumer program of the California Public Utilities Commission helps to lower consumers’ phone bills. Consumers must be approved before receiving the California LifeLine discounts. For more information on program eligibility, go to https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/Lifeline
HOW TO APPLY FOR THE CALIFORNIA LIFELINE DISCOUNTS
If you think your household qualifies for the California LifeLine discounts, call Sebastian at (559) 846-9311 (Kerman) or (530) 367-2222 (Foresthill) or toll free at 1-800-841-9311. We will review the program and eligibility rules with you. Then we will inform the California LifeLine Administrator to mail you an application form. The California LifeLine Administrator will mail you an application form in a PINK envelope with a Personal Identification Number (PIN). You can apply online at www.californialifeline.com using your PIN or complete, sign, and mail the application form and any required proof of eligibility to the California LifeLine Administrator. The application form and any required documents must be completed and returned before the response date indicated on the form. If you do not return the completed application form, or fail to provide the required documentation, you will not receive the California LifeLine discounts and you will continue to pay the regular rates for your phone service.
- CalFresh, Food Stamps, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Medicaid/Medi-Cal
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC)
- National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
- Federal Public Housing Assistance or Section 8
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
- Federal Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit Program
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- California Work Opportunity & Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKS)
- Stanislaus Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (StanWORKS)
- Greater Avenues for Independence (GAIN)
- Welfare to Work (WTW)
- Head Start Income Eligible (Tribal Only)
- Tribal TANF
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
Method 2 Income-Based: your household total annual gross income is at or less than these annual income limits for your household size:
Household Size Annual Income Limits Effective 6/1/22-5/31/23:
- 1-2 members — $28,700
- 3 members — $33,300
- 4 members — $40,600
- Add $7,300 per person for each additional member after four people.
Applicants cannot be claimed as a dependent on another person’s income tax return. The discounts can only be for the primary residence. Discounts are non-transferable.
ONLY ONE CALIFORNIA LIFELINE DISCOUNTED SERVICE PER HOUSEHOLD IS ALLOWED
Each household must choose to get the discount either on a home phone or on a cell phone, but not on both. Households cannot get the discount from multiple phone companies. Households that do not follow the California LifeLine one discounted service per household rule will lose their discounts, and may be prosecuted by the U.S. government. Individuals can also be punished for giving false information to get the discounts. Penalties can include imprisonment, losing the discounts, monetary fines, and being banned from the California LifeLine Program. The discounts can only be for the primary residence. Discounts are non-transferable from one person to another.
California LifeLine participants may transfer their discounts from one phone company to another, but you may NOT have more than one phone line active with the California LifeLine discounts. If you choose to transfer your California LifeLine discounts from Sebastian to another California LifeLine provider, then Sebastian will charge retail rates for you to continue using your phone service.
You may also qualify for the California LifeLine discounts on a second telephone line if you or another person in your household is disabled and needs a teletypewriter (TTY) when using the phone. To get the 2nd California LifeLine discount you must assert the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program issued the TTY or provide a medical certificate indicating the need for TTY.
HOW TO KEEP YOUR CALIFORNIA LIFELINE DISCOUNTS
Once you are a California LifeLine participant, you must renew your participation annually. The California LifeLine Administrator will mail you a renewal form in a PINK envelope with a Personal Identification Number (PIN). You can renew online at www.californialifeline.com using your PIN or complete, sign, and mail the form to the California LifeLine Administrator. Or you can renew by phone by contacting the California LifeLine Administrator. If you do not renew before the response date or get approved, you will lose the California LifeLine discount, will be removed from the
program, and will be charged the regular rates. If you have questions about your renewal, contact the California LifeLine Administrator at 1-877-858-7463 or 1-888-858-7889 (TTY) from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
If you believe your household no longer qualifies for the discounts or if your household is getting more than one discount by mistake, you must inform Sebastian or the California LifeLine Administrator within 30 days. If you do not follow this notification rule, you may be penalized.
HOW TO KEEP YOUR CALIFORNIA LIFELINE DISCOUNTS
Once you are a California LifeLine participant, you must renew your participation annually. The California LifeLine Administrator will mail you a renewal form in a PINK envelope with a Personal Identification Number (PIN). You can renew online at www.californialifeline.com using your PIN or complete, sign, and mail the form to the California LifeLine Administrator. Or you can renew by phone by contacting the California LifeLine Administrator. If you do not renew before the response date or get approved, you will lose the California LifeLine discount, will be removed from the
program, and will be charged the regular rates. If you have questions about your renewal, contact the California LifeLine Administrator at 1-877-858-7463 or 1-888-858-7889 (TTY) from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
If you believe your household no longer qualifies for the discounts or if your household is getting more than one discount by mistake, you must inform Sebastian or the California LifeLine Administrator within 30 days. If you do not follow this notification rule, you may be penalized.
DE-ENROLLMENT RULES
Your household may lose the California LifeLine discounts if your household no longer qualifies, is already receiving the discounts (except for TTY), violates the California LifeLine Program’s rules, or does not renew the discounts on an annual basis.
For more information please go to https://www.californialifeline.com/en
