http://www.mycricket.com/community/cell-phone-news/federal-cricket-lifeline-credit-california-residents
What is the federal Cricket Lifeline Credit?
Lifeline is a government program that grants eligible individuals a credit each month on their phone bill. Millions of Americans benefit from this credit. Eligible customers may receive the Lifeline credit for landline or wireless service, but the credit is available for only one phone line per household. Cricket now offers a $13.50 federal Cricket Lifeline Credit to our California Cricket Wireless customers; the federal Cricket Lifeline Credit is not available for Cricket Broadband or Cricket PAYGo service.
How can I qualify for the federal Cricket Lifeline Credit?
If you are a resident of California, you may qualify for the federal Cricket Lifeline Credit by one of two methods. Method 1 is program-based; if you or another person in your household is enrolled in at least one of the public assistance programs listed below, you may qualify. Method 2 is income-based; you may also qualify if your household’s total annual gross income is at or below the annual income limits listed below.
METHOD 1: PROGRAM-BASED
- Medicaid/Medi-Cal
- LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program)
- SSI (Supplemental Security Income)
- Section 8 (Federal Public Housing Assistance)
- SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
- WIC (Women, Infants, and Children Program)
- Healthy Families Category A
- NSLP (National School Lunch Program)
- TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
– CalWORKs (California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids)
– StanWORKs (Stanislaus County Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids
– WTW (Welfare-to-Work)
– GAIN (Greater Avenues for Independence)
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Head Start Income Eligible (Tribal Only)
- Tribal TANF
METHOD 2: INCOME-BASED
- One or Two Person Household: $24,000
- Three Person Household: $28,200
- Four Person Household: $34,000
- More Than Four Person Household: $34,000, plus $5,800 for each additional household member
How do I apply?
If you don’t have Cricket Wireless service already, you must activate a new account before you can apply for the federal Cricket Lifeline Credit. Once you have Cricket Wireless service, you can start the application process for the federal Cricket Lifeline Credit at a Cricket Corporate-Owned Store or an Exclusive Cricket Dealer. Just complete and sign the federal Cricket Lifeline Credit request form (available in stores or by clicking the Download More Information link at the bottom of this page) and show a government-issued photo ID. Within three weeks, an application form will be mailed to you in a PINK envelope. You must complete, sign, and submit the application form along with any required documentation before the due date.
When will I get my federal Cricket Lifeline Credit?
You will be billed the regular rates for Cricket Wireless phone service until your application is approved. Once your application is approved, you will receive a letter of approval, and Cricket will add the federal Cricket Lifeline Credit to your account. Your first credit will be retroactive to the date your service began or the date you requested the federal Cricket Lifeline Credit, whichever is later. You should see this credit within 60 days of being approved for the federal Cricket Lifeline Credit. If you haven’t received this credit by your second full month of service, just come back to the store for help. After you receive the credit, if you have a net credit balance of $10 or more, you may request a refund check from Cricket.
How long can I keep my federal Cricket Lifeline Credit?
Your Lifeline eligibility lasts for one year. You will continue to receive the federal Cricket Lifeline Credit for a year, unless you request the federal Cricket Lifeline Credit be removed from your account, you are found to no longer be eligible, or you change phone service providers (if you change service providers, you will have 30 days to transfer Lifeline to your new provider).
You must renew your participation annually. Each year, you will receive a renewal form in a PINK envelope. You may choose to continue your enrollment under any eligible method shown above, regardless of which method you used to apply for the current year. If you do not renew, Cricket will remove the federal Cricket Lifeline Credit from your account, and your future bills will reflect the regular rates for Cricket Wireless phone service.
What does the federal Cricket Lifeline credit mean for me?
When you take advantage of the federal Cricket Lifeline Credit, Cricket service delivers even more value for the dollar. Step up to a higher-value rate plan, add a feature bolt-on you’ve always wanted, or just enjoy the savings each month!
Are there any restrictions?
Lifeline can be applied to only one phone line per household. To receive the federal Cricket Lifeline Credit, you must be a resident of California, you must live in Cricket’s designated service area, you must meet the eligibility rules, and you cannot be claimed as a dependant on another person’s income tax return.
Where can I learn more?
You may visit one of the Cricket Corporate-Owned Stores or Exclusive Cricket Dealers listed (visit mycricket.com/locations to find these locations on a map).
Cricket Lifeline Credit Locations
Central Valley
Clovis: 1050 Shaw Avenue, Suite 1049, 93612
Clovis: 151 W. Bullard Avenue, #100A, 93612
Clovis: 605 W. Shaw Avenue, Suite B, 93612
Dinuba: 647 W. El Monte Way, #D, 93618
Fresno: 1135 Fresno Street, 93706
Fresno: 1440 W. Ashlan Avenue, 93705
Fresno: 3602 Blackstone Avenue, Suite 117, 93726
Fresno: 3759 W. Shaw Avenue, #103, 93711
Fresno: 3890 N. Cedar Avenue, Suite 105, 93726
Fresno: 432 E. Shaw Avenue, 93710
Fresno: 4993 E. Kings Canyon Road, Suite 102, 93727
Fresno: 6460 N. Blackstone Avenue, Suite 101, 93710
Hanford: 1675 W. Lacey Boulevard, Kiosk #T32, 93230
Madera: 1475 N. Country Club Drive, #102, 93639
Merced: 1248 W. Olive Avenue, 95348
Merced: 2012 G Street, 95340
Modesto: 3430 Tully Road, #46, 95350
Pinedale: 7273 N. Blackstone Avenue, #101, 93650
Porterville: 977-B W. Henderson Avenue, 93257
Reedley: 941 W. Manning Avenue, 93654
Sanger: 2635 Jensen Avenue, 93657
Selma: 2730 Whitson Avenue, 93662
Tulare: 1283 E. Prosperity Avenue, 93274
Turlock: 1815 Countryside Drive, 95380
Visalia: 1637 E. Noble Avenue, 93277
Visalia: 1933 N. Dinuba Boulevard, 93291
Visalia: 2313 S. Mooney Boulevard, 93277
Visalia: 3522 S. Mooney Boulevard, 93277
San Diego
Carlsbad: 1818 Marron Road, Suite 102, 92008
Chula Vista: 1090 3rd Avenue, Unit 2C, 91911
Chula Vista: 1285 Broadway, Suite 103, 91911
Chula Vista: 263 E. Orange Avenue, #5, 91911
Chula Vista: 645 H Street, Suite E-F, 91910
Chula Vista: 962 Eastlake Parkway, 91914
El Cajon: 1110 Broadway, #106, 92021
El Cajon: 250 S. Marshall Avenue, 92020
El Cajon: 375 N. Second Street, Suite 102-103, 92021
El Cajon: 393 E. Chase Avenue, 92020
El Cajon: 415 Parkway Plaza #9001, 92020
Escondido: 132 W. El Norte Parkway, 92026
Escondido: 1511 E. Valley Parkway, #A2, 92027
Escondido: 245 W. Washington Avenue, 92025
Escondido: 410 W. Felicita Avenue, Suite J, 92025
Lakeside: 12346 Woodside Avenue, 92040
Lemon Grove: 3445 Lemon Grove Avenue, 91945
Lemon Grove: 6902 Federal Boulevard, 91945
National City: 1000 Highland Avenue, 91950
National City: 1610 E. 8th Strett, #A, 91950
National City: 2401 Highland Avenue, #107, 91950
National City: 4 N. Euclid Avenue, #D, 91950
Oceanside: 2023 Mission Avenue, Suite E, 92058
Oceanside: 236 S. Coast Highway, 92054
Poway: 12674 Poway Road, 92064
San Diego: 1075 11th Avenue, 92101
San Diego: 1151 Garnet Avenue, 92109
San Diego: 1490 S. 43rd Street, Suite D-E, 92113
San Diego: 1640 Camino Del Rio North, #9006, 92108
San Diego: 1726 Euclid Avenue, 92105
San Diego: 1824 Coronado Avenue, 92154
San Diego: 1879 Logan Avenue, Suite J, 92113
San Diego: 2475 Broadway, 92102
San Diego: 2850 El Cajon Boulevard, 92104
San Diego: 3445 Midway Drive, #A, 92110
San Diego: 3582 National Avenue, Suite 1, 92113
San Diego: 3648 University Avenue, 92104
San Diego: 4340 Genesee Avenue, #108, 92117
San Diego: 4485 El Cajon Boulevard, 92115
San Diego: 4622 College Avenue, Suite B, 92115
San Diego: 4686 Market Street, #E21, 92102
San Diego: 4915 Convoy Street, 92111
San Diego: 5399 El Cajon Boulevard, 92115
San Diego: 5430 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, Suite A, 92117
San Diego: 6171 Mission Gorge Road, #108, 92120
San Diego: 6201-B Imperial Avenue, 92114
San Diego: 6937 Linda Vista Road, Suite #D, 92111
San Diego: 7034 El Cajon Boulevard, 92115
San Diego: 9480 Mira Mesa Boulevard, 92126
San Diego: 989 5th Avenue, Suite A, 92101
San Marcos: 204 S. Rancho Santa Fe Road, 92078
San Marcos: 218 W. San Marcos Boulevard, Suite 108, 92069
San Marcos: 745 Nordahl Road, Suite 110, 92069
San Ysidro: 342 W. San Ysidro Boulevard, 92173
San Ysidro: 700 E. San Ysidro Boulevard, 92173
Santee: 9535 Mission Gorge Road, #L, 92071
Spring Valley: 8300 Paradise Valley Road, Suite 127, 91977
Spring Valley: 9565 Jamacha Boulevard, 91977
Spring Valley: 9805 Campo Road, #140, 91977
Vista: 1021 N. Santa Fe Avenue, 92084
Vista: 1037 E. Vista Way, 92084
Vista: 1851 W. Vista Way, 92083
Vista: 902 S. Santa Fe Avenue, Suite A1, 92084