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pg. 111 OTHER RESOURCES Lifeline and SafeLink Lifeline is a government program that offers qualified low-income households a discount on their monthly local telephone bill. SafeLink Wireless is for individuals to access the federal Lifeline program through wireless phone services rather than a traditional home phone service. Federal guidelines require telecommunications carriers to establish a customer’s eligibility by allowing them to sign a form that self-certifies they participate in a program administered by FSD including LIHEAP. Missouri also requires the telecommunications carrier to obtain documentation that proves a customer receives benefits from the approved programs. Applicants can provide this documentation by giving the telecommunications carrier a copy of their EA-6. Upon signed, written authorization from a LIHEAP applicant, the agency shall provide a copy of the E1RG screen to the telecommunications carrier. The written authorization will include the applicant’s name, address, Social Security Number, signature, and reason for the request.

Missouri’s TAP Missouri’s TAP provides equipment to qualifying individuals who have difficulties using the phone or internet due to a disability. To qualify for TAP, the applicant must:  Be certified by a licensed physician, audiologist, speech pathologist, hearing instrument specialist or qualified agency as unable to use traditional telecommunications equipment or computer equipment due to disability  Be a resident of the State of Missouri  Have access to basic telephone service for the TAP telephone program  Meet financial income standards The TAP telephone program provides access to basic voice telephone calling (both sending and receiving) for individuals with all types of disabilities through the delivery of adaptive telephone equipment. The program provides equipment such as:  Text telephones  Voice carry over phones  Phones for hearing carry over  Amplified phones  Braille phones  Hands-free phones  Photo phones To ensure ordering of the best equipment is ordered to meet the individuals’ needs, applications must be completed in person. For more information about the program, refer individuals to Missouri Assistive Technology at (800) 647-8557 (voice) (in state only) or (800) 647-8558 (TTY) (in state only) or email info@mo-at.org.