Washington Telephone Assistance Program
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:
|
Asotin (TDS) |
509-243-4111 |
|
Ellensburg (Fairpoint) |
509-925-1425 |
| Hat Island | 360-444-1122 |
|
Hood Canal |
360-898-2481 |
|
Inland |
509-649-2211 |
|
Kalama |
360-673-2755 |
|
Lewis River (TDS) |
360-985-2111 |
|
McDaniel (TDS) |
360-263-2191 |
|
Century Link |
1-800-201-4099 |
|
Pioneer |
509-549-3511 |
|
Tenino |
360-264-2915 |
|
Toledo |
360-864-4552 |
|
Century Link |
1-800-877-1125 |
|
Wahkiakum West |
360-465-2211 |
|
Whidbey |
360-321-1122 |
|
YCom (Fairpoint) |
360-458-2171 |
|
Qwest |
1-800-244-1111 |
|
Rainier Connect |
360-832-6161 |
|
Pend Oreille |
208-366-2840 |
|
Skyline (Midvale) |
1-800-462-4523 |
|
Frontier |
1-877-462-8188 |
Community service voice mail offices
More details about Community Voice Mail can be found at http://www.cvm.org.
|
Bellingham |
360-734-5121 |
|
Island County |
1-800-317-5427 |
|
North Central WA |
509-662-6156 |
|
Peninsula |
360-956-0476 |
|
Seattle |
206-694-6771 |
|
Skagit County |
360-416-7585 |
|
South Central WA |
509-545-4042 |
|
Snohomish County |
425-259-3192 |
|
Spokane |
509-456-7106 |
|
Tacoma |
253-572-5960 |
|
Vancouver |
360-699-5106 x100 |
|
Portland |
503-823-4930 |
