1) Proofs Information

In this section, you will find information related to:

• Program participation (FoodStamps, Medicaid, SSI, Section 8, etc.)
• Income Qualification
• SSN Escalation
• DOB Escalation
• Address escalation
• Proof of Tribal Program participation and Tribal ID
• Veterans Pension Survivor Benefit
• Identity proof

Program Participation

For the applicant to show that they or the dependent participates in a program below:

• Medicaid
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
• Veterans Pension or Survivors Benefit

Provide a document that includes:

• Full name, or dependent’s name
• The name of the program, such as SNAP
• The name of the government, Tribal entity, or program administrator that issued the document
• An issue date within the last 12 months or expiration date in the future

Here are some common examples:

• A benefit award letter
• A statement of benefits
• A benefit verification letter
• A screenshot of online benefits portal

EBT/Food Stamps cards are not valid proofs for the state of TX.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

• Benefit Letter issued by the Social Security Administration (SSA) with the consumer’s name, date, claim number, and payment amount
  • USAC understands that consumers may request a beneficial verification letter via my Social Security account. This letter may also be referred to as “my Social Security Benefit Verification Letter,” a “budget letter,” a “proof of income letter,” or a “proof of award letter.”
  • To be acceptable, documentation must show supplemental security income payments, not Social Security benefits
• Notice of Award issued by the SSA with the consumer’s name, award date, claim number, payment amount, and term dates
• Benefit Check Stub from the SSA with the consumer’s name and date
• Benefit Summary letter issued by the SSA with the consumer’s name, date, claim number, description of payment assistance, and term date
• Notice of Change in Payment issued by the SSA with the consumer’s name, date, claim number, description of change in payment assistance, and effective date

Income Qualification

To qualify through income, applicants must provide a document that includes:

• Their name, or the dependent's name
• Their annual income
• An issue date within the last 12 months

Here are common examples:

• Your prior year’s state, federal, or Tribal tax return.
• Current annual income statement from your job.
• A Social Security statement of benefits.
• An unemployment or worker’s compensation statement of benefits.
• A Federal or Tribal notice letter of participation in General Assistance.
• A Divorce Decree or child support award.
• An official document with a date in the last 12 months that shows your annual income, or official documents showing your income for three months in a row. This could be pay stubs that have dates within the last 12 months.

Bank statements, checks and currency are not valid income proofs

SSN Escalation

Provide a document that includes:

• Your first and last name
• Your date of birth

Here are common examples

• SSN card
• W-2 form from within the last 2 years
• Prior year's state, federal, or Tribal tax return
• SSA-1099 form (Social Security Benefit Statement)
• United States government, military, state, or Tribal issued ID showing the SSN#
• Military discharge documentation showing the SSN#
• weapons permit showing the SSN#
• Government assistance program document showing the SSN#
• Statement of benefits from a qualifying program showing the SSN#
• unemployment/workers' compensation statement of benefits showing the SSN#
• The SSN number from the proofs submitted must be identified as SSN. This means that if the title that comes before the SSN is “Claim number”, “Member ID”, etc., the proofs should not be considered valid.

DOB Escalation

Provide a document that includes:

• Your first and last name
• Your date of birth

Here are common examples

• Unexpired Driver’s License
• Birth Certificate
• Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of U.S. Citizenship
• Unexpired Permanent Resident (Alien) Card
• Unexpired State ID Card
• Unexpired Military ID
• Unexpired Tribal issued ID with DOB and/or SSN and/or Tribal ID
• Unexpired Passport
• Military Discharge documentation with DOB and/or SSN and/or Tribal ID
• Unexpired Weapons Permit with DOB and/or SSN and/or Tribal ID
• Government Assistance Program document with DOB and/or SSN and/or Tribal ID
• Statement of Benefits from a qualifying program with DOB and/or SSN and/or Tribal ID
• Unemployment/Workers' compensation statement of benefits with DOB and/or SSN and/or Tribal ID
• Eligibility confirmation from state eligibility database or administrator with DOB and/or SSN and/or Tribal ID
• Voter Registration Card
• Unexpired SSA or State Letter
• Unexpired Official Income Documentation
• Citizenship and Immigration Documentation
• Medicaid card

Invalid address escalation

If you need to show your address:

Use the mapping tool in the online application from www.lifelinesupport.org OR

Provide a document that includes:

• Your first and last name
• Your address

Here are common examples:

• A map that shows your physical address or location, including latitude and longitude coordinates (coordinates are required if you live on Tribal lands)
• Recent Utility bill with the consumer’s name and address (not older than 90 days and excluding your internet company)
• Current income statement from an employer, paycheck stub, or W-2 with the consumer’s name and address
• Prior year's state, federal, or Tribal tax return with the consumer’s name and address
• Current mortgage or lease statement with the consumer’s name and address
• Unexpired driver's license
• Unexpired government, state, or Tribal issued ID
• Government assistance program documents with the consumer’s name, address, and effective dates
• Voter Registration Card
• Statement of benefits from a qualifying program with the consumer’s name, address, and effective dates
• Retirement/pension statement of benefits with the consumer’s name and address
• Unemployment/workers' compensation statement of benefits with the consumer’s name, address, and effective dates
• Appointment letters with the consumer’s name, address, and effective dates

For all these proofs, the address and the customer’s name must be printed, not handwritten. Agents will have to explain to applicants that the proof must not be expired, the name must match exactly as it is on the enrollment and that it has to be legible enough

• If there is an expiration date in the document and it is not past due, the proof should be considered valid.
• Proofs with abbreviations such as St, Ave, Rd, etc. are valid for this escalation. 

If you need to show your household:

If you live with another adult who participates in the Lifeline program, you will need to answer a few questions to find out if your household qualifies for more than one benefit.

• If completing by online application: Complete the blank, fillable worksheet that will guide you through the steps.
• If completing by mail: Complete the Lifeline Household Worksheet and mail it to the Lifeline Support Center.

Proof of Tribal Program Participation

If you live on qualifying Tribal lands and need to show you or your dependent participate in a program below:

• Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
• Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
• Head Start (only those households meeting its income qualifying standard)

Provide a document that includes:

• Your name, or your child or dependent’s name
• The name of the program, such as FDPIR
• The name of the government, Tribal entity, or program administrator that issued the document
• An issue date within the last 12 months or expiration date in the future

Here are common examples

• A benefit award letter
• A statement of benefits
• A benefit verification letter
• A screenshot of online benefits portal

Tribal Identification Number

Provide a document that includes:

• Your first and last name
• Your Tribal ID number

Here are common examples:

• A Tribal ID card
• An official certificate or letter from your tribe’s enrollment office
• A Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB)

Veterans Pension Survivors Benefit

• Pension Grant letter issued by Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) with the consumer’s name, address, and entitlement amount
• Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) letter issued by VBA with the consumer’s name, program, adjustment or assistance amount, and effective date
• Survivors Benefit Summary letter issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with the consumer’s name, address, and description of benefit
• Survivors Pension COLA issued by the VA with the consumer’s name, address, monthly payment, and effective date

Section 8 / Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)

• FPHA Housing Contract for a federal public housing property with the consumer’s name, address, and lease dates
• Lease Agreement with the consumer’s name, landlord or owner, address, housing assistance information, and lease dates
• Rent Change Notice with the consumer’s name, address, effective date, and housing assistance information
• Owner’s Certification of Compliance with the consumer’s name, effective date, and housing assistance information
• Documentation must be issued or include the appropriate public housing program information in order to be accepted.

Identity Proof

Provide a document that includes:

• Your first and last name
• An issue date within the last three months

Here are common examples:

• Driver's license (unexpired)
• Birth certificate
• W-2
• Prior year's state, federal, or Tribal tax return
• Social Security card 
• Certificate of Naturalization
• Certificate of U.S. Citizenship
• Permanent resident card (unexpired)
• Permanent resident alien card (unexpired)
• U.S. government, military, state, or Tribal issued ID (unexpired)
• Passport (unexpired)
• Military discharge documentation
• Weapons permit (unexpired)
• Government assistance program document (including SSN or DOB)
• Statement of benefits from a qualifying program