Reduced Cost Services Guide - Wa

[Pages:35]DSHS 22-1841 (Rev. 4/23)

Reduced Cost Services Guide

Contents

Introduction.........................................1 Glossary...............................................2 Internet.................................................3 Telephone............................................6 Utilities..................................................8 Transportation................................. 14 Medical, Pharmacy, Dental........ 16 Retail and Farmers Markets...... 18 Financial Institutions.................... 23 Museums.......................................... 24 Children's Museums.................... 28 Parks.................................................. 29 Zoos................................................... 30 Gyms................................................... 31 Miscellaneous................................ 32

If you have questions, changes or additions to this document please contact Brice Montgomery at montgba@dshs.. A special thank you to Amanda Meier for her work on this guide.

Introduction

The following Reduced Cost Services Guide highlights a variety of products and services available in or near Washington state that are offered at reduced cost for people meeting certain income levels.

We hope this resource will help you to find more affordable options for common and often essential products and services.

Nearly one of every four Washington citizens turns to the Economic Services Administration (ESA) for assistance with cash grants, food, child support, child care, disability determination and supports for transition to employment and other services. Each day this customer base of almost two million receives service from 4,200 dedicated ESA employees help individuals and families across Washington State meet their foundational needs and work toward achieving their full potential.

Every day, strong organizational values help us transform our vision into reality. This means progress toward the achievement of our unified goal to reduce the number of individuals and families living in poverty by 50 percent by 2025 in a way that eliminates disparities. Pursuit of this unified goal shapes our organizational culture and guides decision-making on everything from staffing decisions to setting priorities on allocation of limited resources.

Our values and commitment to providing opportunities for people and reducing poverty led to this project. We hope you will find it useful.

The Department of Social Health Services (DSHS) and the Economic Services Administration (ESA) do not endorse any of the products and services included. The contents of this resource are not constantly updated, therefore occasional outdated information may be included. Please confirm the product or service cost details prior to ordering. Additionally, while we made every effort to include all options, some may have been missed.

1

Glossary of Acronyms

CHIP: Children's Health Insurance Program - Provides health coverage to eligible children, through both Medicaid and other CHIP programs.

DVR: Division of Vocational Rehabilitation - A statewide resource assisting people with disabilities to prepare for, secure, maintain, advance in, or regain employment.

EBT: Electronic Benefits Transfer - If you receive food assistance in Washington, you will be issued an EBT card, also known as a "Quest Card." You use this card like a debit card to purchase food items at stores. Cash assistance recipients are given the choice of an EBT card or direct deposit into a bank account.

FMNP: Farmers Market Nutrition Program - Eligible WIC participants are issued FMNP coupons in addition to their regular WIC benefits. These coupons can be used to buy eligible foods from approved farmers' markets or roadside stands.

FPL: Federal Poverty Level - An economic measure that is used to decide whether the income level of an individual or family qualifies them for certain federal benefits and programs. The FPL is the set minimum amount of income that a family needs for food, clothing, transportation, shelter and other necessities.

Medicaid: In Washington State, Medicaid is called Apple Health. Apple Health provides preventative care, like cancer screenings, treatment for diabetes and high blood pressure, and many other health care services.

NSLP: National School Lunch Program - A meal program operating in public, non-profit private schools and residential child care institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children.

PUD: Public Utility District a community-owned, locally regulated utility.

SNAP: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as food stamps) ? Called Basic Food in Washington, the program provides food assistance to low-income families and individuals. Benefits are issued through the EBT system and used at participating grocery stores or markets.

SSI: Supplemental Security Income ? A federal income supplement program designed to help aged, blind and disabled people who have little to no income. SSI provides cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing and shelter.

TANF: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families - Provides cash grants to families with children and pregnant women who are below income and resource limits. Persons who are caring for a relative's child or guardians who are acting in the place of a parent are also able to apply for TANF on behalf of these children.

WIC: Special Supplementation Program for Women, Infants and Children Provides supplemental foods, health care referrals and nutrition education for lowincome pregnant, breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk.

Glossary of Acronyms 2

Internet Discount Programs

Federal Internet Discount Program (click on the Company Name for an internet link)

Company Service Program Eligibility

Name

Area Name

Conditions Cost

Type of Internet

Installation Hardware Download Upload

Fee

Fees

Speed

Speed

Term of Data Cap Extras Service

Universal All states Lifeline Service + DC Co.*

Household Lifeline also Participating

income is at or offers phone firms will

below 200% assistance. reduce

of the Federal Households the cost of

Poverty

may select existing

Guidelines, or one or the household

if a member of other, not service by

the household both

$9.25/m (or

participates in

$34.25/m

at least one of

if a tribal

the programs

member

below (please

and live on

see ACP link

federally

for complete

recognized

list): Federal

tribal lands.)

Pell Grant

during the

current award

year, Free and

Reduced-

Price School

Lunch, SNAP,

Medicaid,

Federal

Housing

Assistance,

SSI, WIC,

Veterans

Pension or

Survivor

Benefits,

TANF/Tribal

TANF

Wireless/ landline telephone, home internet, or cell phone plan

Varies

Varies

Minimum of Minimum of No contract Varies 18 Mbps 2 Mbps but

reestablish eligibility annually

If a tribal member and live on federally recognized tribal lands, Lifeline can reimburse the full cost (up to $100) of initiating internet service (w/ certain companies)

Internet Discount Programs 3

Internet Discount Programs (continued)

Federal Internet Discount Program (click on the Company Name for an internet link)

Company Name

Service Area Eligibility

Benefit

Description

Affordable Connectivity Program

All states + DC

SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Housing, Veterans & Survivors Pension, Tribal assistance programs or if income is less than 135% FPL

A discount of $30/m ($75/m on tribal lands) toward broadband services

The EBB is teaming up with hundreds of broadband providers to provide a temporary discount on broadband services to low income households

Extras

Contact Information

A one time $100 discount on a laptop, desktop or tablet computer if you contribute at least $10 to the purchase price

Phone: 1(888) 225-5322

*LifeLine Program Participants (click on the Company Name for an internet link) Company Name Service Area

Eligibility

CenturyLink

Consolidated Communications Q Link TDS Telecom Viasat Rainier Connect

Longview, Kelso, Rainer, Castlerock, Vader, Ridgefield, Winlock, Skamokawa, SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Housing, Veterans & Survivors Pension, Battle Ground, Yacolt, Brush Prairie, Pe Ell, Chehalis, Vancouver, Centralia, Tribal assistance programs or if income is less than 135% FPL Morton, Rochester

Cle Elum, Eatonville, Ellensburg, Kittitas, Lacey, Mckenna, Naches, Olympia, SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Housing, Veterans & Survivors Pension,

Rainier, Roy, Selah. Tenino, Thorp, Tumwater, Vantage, Yakima, Yelm

Tribal assistance programs or if income is less than 135% FPL

Washington (main service around major highways)

SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Housing, Veterans & Survivors Pension, Tribal assistance programs or if income is less than 135% FPL

Amboy, Anatone, Asotin, Cinebar, Ethel, La Center, Mossyrock, Onalaska, Salkum, Silver Creek

SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Housing, Veterans & Survivors Pension, Tribal assistance programs or if income is less than 135% FPL

Washington

SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Housing, Veterans & Survivors Pension, Tribal assistance programs or if income is less than 135% FPL

Centralia, Eatonville, Fife, Fircrest, Graham, Lakewood, Puyallup, Roy, Spanaway, Tacoma, University Place

SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Housing, Veterans & Survivors Pension, Tribal assistance programs or if income is less than 135% FPL

Type of Internet DSL

Wireless Mobile DSL Satellite Cable

Contact Information

Phone: (800)244-1111

Phone: (844)YOUR-CCI Phone: (855)754-6543 Phone: (855)220-2592 Phone: (844)702-3199 Phone: (253)683-4100 or (800)832-5725

Internet Discount Programs 4

Internet Discount Programs (continued)

Low Cost Wired In-Home Internet Options (click on the Company Name for an internet link)

Company Eligibility Conditions Cost Name

Type of Installation Hardware

Internet Fees

Fees

Comcast

NSLP, Housing, Medicaid, SNAP, SSI

No debt owed to Comcast in the last year and is not a current subscriber

$9.95/m + tax

Cable Internet

None

Included

- choice with no extra

of self-

cost

installation or

professional

installation

Download Speed

50 Mbps

Upload Speed

Enjoy costeffective connectivity, with no installation fee and rentfree modems

Charter NSLP, SSI, Not a current Spectrum SNAP, TANF subscriber

$14.99/m Cable

+ tax

Internet

Self-Install Kit for free or $49.99 for a professional

Included with no extra cost

30 Mbps

Varies

Wave

A participant No credit check, Free for Satellite Free

in public

and have not 60 days,

assistance subscribed to $9.95/ m

programs, Wave services + tax for

Medicaid, within the 60 day additional

SNAP, SSI, period prior to 10 months

and others applying for the

program

Walmart SNAP,

Limited to 1

$14.88/m Mobile None

Family Medicaid or household

Internet

Mobile other social - requires

assistance an unlocked

programs T-Mobile or

GSM compatible

phone

Varies on plan

25 Mbps Varies

None

N/A

N/A

Term of Service No contract but reestablish eligibility annually

No contract but reestablish eligibility annually No contract

No contract

Data Cap Extras

Contact

1 Tb/m, excess use will be automatically charged at $10 per 50 Gbs not to exceed $200/m

Unlimited

Low cost laptop or desktop computer for $150, limited Xfinity hotspot use, and internet usage classes

Home WiFi for $5/m more

Phone: (800)-XFINITY

Phone: (833)267-6094

2 TB -

None

Unlimited

is an extra

$20.00/m

Phone: (855)971-1252

None

Unlimited talk, Phone:

text and mobile (877)440-9758

hotspot capable

Internet Discount Programs 5

Free or Discounted Telephone Programs

LifeLine Free Federal Wireless Program (click on the Company Name for an internet link)

Company Name Service Area Program Name Eligibility

Conditions

Universal Service Co.*

All states + DC LifeLine

Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, Lifeline also offers internet Federal Public Housing services. Households may Assistance, Bureau of select internet assistance Indian Affairs General or cell phone assistance, Assistance, Tribally-Ad- not both. ministered TANF, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, Tribal Head Start, Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit, if income is less than 135% of FPL

Cost

Type of Service

Free or reduced Wireless cellular

cost service

service

plans. Some

offer free phones.

? see details

below

All plans offer the opportunity to purchase additional monthly minutes for a fee

Term of Service Extras

No contract but reestablish eligibility annually

Tribal members residing on federally recognized tribal lands may receive additional discounts or increased service levels

LifeLine Program Participants - Free Services (click on the Company Name for an internet link)

Company Name

Cost

Specifics

Extras

Access Wireless

Free ? if eligible

Using your own compatible phone or one you Tribal customers are eligible for unlimited talk and purchase; unlimited talk, text and data (25 GB high text and 5.5 GB of data speed) per month. Only one line per household.

Assurance Wireless

Free ? if eligible

Free Android smartphone (shipping charges may apply); unlimited talk, text and data (35GB high speed) per month. Only one line per household.

EnTouch Wireless

Free ? if eligible

Some residents may be eligible for a free smart- Tribal customers are eligible for unlimited voice and phone; 1000 voice minutes, 500 texts and 100 MB text and 4.5 GB of data of data per month. Only one line per household.

Life Wireless

Free ? if eligible

Free cell phone (shipping charges may apply); 1000 voice minutes, unlimited texts, 30 GB of data per month. Only one line per household.

Q-Link

Free ? if eligible

Using your own compatible phone; unlimited

Eligible customers can get a new tablet through the

voice, text and data. Only one line per household. EBB program.

SafeLink

Free ? if eligible

Using your own compatible phone or one you pur-chase; unlimited voice, text and data. Only one line per household.

Contact Information (888)900-5899

(888)321-5880

(800)551-4636

(888)543-3620

(855)754-6543 (800)723-3546

Free or Discounted Telephone Programs 6

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