What it is:

The Washington Telephone Assistance Program (WTAP) helps low-income households afford telephone services.  Access to a telephone is considered a basic necessity - allowing you to call emergency 911, get medical and social services; connect with employers, community, family and friends.

What WTAP helps with:

WTAP helps by discounting wireline phone service.  If you’re not able to get a traditional phone, WTAP provides no-cost community voice mail.  WTAP does not help with cell phones.

WTAP assists you by:

• Discounting ½ of the connection fee up to $22 when you move residences.  In addition, the federal Link Up program pays ½ of the connection fee up to $30.  If the connection fee is more than the combined $52 benefit, you are responsible for the remainder.

• Discounting the monthly basic service. You would pay $8 plus taxes per month for basic service (unlimited local calling).  You pay for any additional features such as voice mail or call-forwarding.

• Waiving the first $16 when a deposit is required for local service.  The deposit may be completely waived if you agree to have toll limitation (no long distance).

• Offering special payment options for those who have outstanding balances with their local telephone companies.

If you live where you can’t get a traditional telephone, you may be able to get a no-cost community voice mail box which provides you with a personal telephone number where people can call and leave you a message

Who is eligible:

• Low-income adults who are receiving ongoing DSHS medical, financial or food assistance benefits.  Adult payees receiving benefits on behalf of a child is not eligible for WTAP; or
• Former clients of Community Voice Mail who are referred to WTAP by their Community Voice Mail office.

If you are found eligible for WTAP, you would:

Call your local telephone company, and ask for the WTAP discount.  See below for telephone companies that provide a WTAP discount.

Time Limitations:

The WTAP service year begins July 1 and ends June 30.  For example, if you become WTAP-eligible in December 2008, you will continue to be WTAP-eligible until June 30, 2009.  As long as you are getting qualifying DSHS benefits, you will continue to be eligible for WTAP.

How you apply for WTAP:

• Call your local telephone company, and request the WTAP discount.  The telephone company will contact WTAP to make sure you’re eligible before giving you a discount.
• The person who is eligible for WTAP must have their name on the telephone billing.
• WTAP benefits begin the date you call the telephone company, and the telephone company verifies your eligibility with the WTAP office.

Telephone companies that provide the WTAP discount:

Community service voice mail offices

More details about Community Voice Mail can be found at http://www.cvm.org.