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SALT LAKE CITY -- Filling out government documents and wading through the associated red tape can be confusing to anyone and especially difficult for the elderly.
Dena Panouses called us, frustrated that her phone bill keeps rising.
"I can't tolerate it to be $65, and pretty soon $75," she said. "It never stops. It's ridiculous."
The worst part, she says, is that she barely uses the phone.
"I'm not complaining about lights, or water, or the gas. I know I use (those). (But) sometimes nobody calls me all day," she said.
Panouses' phone bill was $65.79. Just a couple of months ago it was $10 less, and even less before that. Panouses is on a fixed Social Security income and can't afford for the phone bill to keep going up.
"I don't have anybody. I'm myself. I'm an old woman. I have the telephone for the medicine, for the grocery. I go to church, I call a couple of friends because I'm lonesome," she said.
Our first stop was her phone company, Century Link. A spokesman fixed Panouses' increasing bill right away and put her on the most basic phone program. Now the bill is down to about $30 a month, permanently.
The spokesman also sent us to the Department of Workforce Services. Director Gordon Walker told us about a program where customers can get an extra $12.75 off their phone bill if they meet certain income guidelines.
As of July 1, 2012, the Utah Lifeline program had over 44,500 + landline and wireless participants.
Low-income households (135% of the federal poverty limit)
"The Lifeline program is an assistance for folks that really don't have much money. It's paid directly out of their telephone bill," Walker said.
We took the Lifeline application back for Panouses to fill out, but it is rather complicated with income guidelines and a place to swear under penalty of perjury that you're telling the truth. We helped her fill it out, but the Department of Workforce Services also provides help.
"We would be happy to walk someone through it," Walker said. "We know that some of these forms are very difficult."
So, Panouses ended up with a phone bill around $30 per month, permanently. She can receive and make local calls, and long distance costs 15 cents a minute. It includes no whistles or bells, but it's all she wants.
The Lifeline Assistance program is little-publicized but is available to anyone who wants a simple phone plan and whose income qualifies. If you think you qualify, or if you are the relative of someone who might qualify, you can help with this process. You can email billgephardt@ksl.com for information.
Also, if you qualify for this program, you may qualify for others too, such as Internet assistance.
