"California Lifeline provides discounted home or cell phone services to eligible households. Eligibility is determined based on a household's total annual gross income or enrollment in other public assistance programs, including Medi-Cal, Section 8 housing, SNAP, WIC and more. Households have to choose either home or cell phone services, not both. The application form asked for a Social Security number, which caused confusion about whether households with undocumented residents could apply,"
"According to a bill analysis, the federal Lifeline program began requiring Social Security numbers in 2012, and California's program also began to collect them at that time to maximize the federal support available to California subscribers. Valencia's bill, which passed along party lines before Newsom signed it in early October, specified that a Social Security number is not required to apply for the program."
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill ensuring undocumented California residents can access the California Lifeline program for discounted home or cell phone services. California Lifeline offers discounts based on total household gross income or enrollment in assistance programs such as Medi-Cal, Section 8 housing, SNAP and WIC; households choose either home or cell service. Federal Lifeline rules began requiring Social Security numbers in 2012, and California collected them. The new law removes the Social Security number requirement and bars the California Public Utilities Commission from sharing applicants' information with other government entities. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz requested a federal investigation, alleging legal conflicts and misuse of taxpayer funds.
Read at www.ocregister.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]