Home Phone Service Discount for Low Income Families

Most people know of government assistance programs like Food Stamps or Medicaid but were you aware that there's an assistance program for your phone service? Lifeline will save you at least $10 a month but generally reduces your telephone bill by over $13.50. In addition to this monthly savings, there's also a benefit known as Link-up that will pay half of your activation charges, up to $30.

With sustained U.S. unemployment rates above 9 percent for over a year now, it's not surprising that the number of Americans receiving food stamps is more than 40 million and is predicted to keep climbing. Medicaid recipients total over 50 million. If you are one of those individuals, you're qualified to receive the Lifeline discount on your phone service.

Food Stamps and Medicaid aren't the only programs which qualify you for Lifeline assistance. Some states follow federal guidelines while others have their own rules. The Federal guidelines require that your total household income Doesn't exceed 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or that you are registered in at least one of those programs:

* The National School Lunch Program's Free Lunch Program

Now that you know you qualify, just how can you get it? It is simpler than you may think. You don't need to visit a special government office and meet with a caseworker. You do not need to change telephone service suppliers if you currently have service. If you currently have home telephone service, call your phone company and request to be put on the Lifeline program. They'll typically ask you to complete and sign a simple form which you'll need to fax or send to them. The form usually asks for your name and address, and which of those qualifying programs you're registered in. Your signature is saying that you are telling the truth. Some states also require some form of evidence of the qualifying application like your award letter.

The Lifeline discount is applicable to only one telephone line per family. Thus, it's not a good idea to keep altering providers as you'll only get the $30 discount after. You might get away with getting Link-up more often than once by going to another carrier but it's not legal for you to do this and the kind that you sign to get started is your statement that you've never received Link-up before.

The Lifeline benefit can be applied to mobile service rather than home phone. There are a couple cellular service providers that offer a "free government cell phone" that is actually the Lifeline program. It typically gives you between 60 and 200 minutes of service each month and a free handset that is your Link-up benefit. But, you can't get the Lifeline advantage for your mobile if you're getting it on your home phone, and vice-versa.

Understanding and Negotiating Legal Fees

You have decided that you need a attorney. What you do next will have a significant effect on the last outcome and your peace of mind.

This can be a flat fee, an hourly fee or no fee in any way.

- A Contingent Fee implies that the attorney will be compensated only if you win, and can then receive a hefty percentage in the assortment of 30-45 percent of currencies recovered. These typically don't occur in specific types of cases such as criminal issues and divorce. Even where a contingent fee is potential that the client is still responsible for all expenses.

- Costs vary but normally include any expense incurred not covered by the attorney's hourly rate.

- Experts like separate custody evaluators or small company evaluators are two examples. Each will charge for time spent including prep, preparing of reports and testifying.

- Fees Set with a Judge involve cases in which a judge or hearing officer may establish a fee depending on the complexity of the issues and the job involved. Fees in probate cases are a good example.

- A Flat Fee will sometimes be approved by a lawyer generally for cases where the attorney can quote with some assurance the time needed for settling the matter. These occur commonly in routine service instances like drafting a simple will, real estate settlements or uncontested divorces.

- The Full Service Package containing legal information, fact investigation, legal research, correspondence and pleadings (court records) preparation; discussion; representation at hearings; formal discovery; trial. The customer retains the lawyer who provides all services needed within the package. The scope of needed services in decided supplied from the attorney who then invoices the customers accordingly. This is actually the high priced option.

- Hourly rate charges are based on the amount of time the lawyer spends on the situation. The rate depends on the lawyer's experience or the volume of demand. Some of the work will probably be handled by law clerks, legal assistants, associate lawyers and paralegal and ought to be charged at a reduced rate.

You are not billed to the moment but rather in increments for time spent under an hour. That means that if 10 minutes are spent you will still be billed for 15. You pay less when the attorney bills by tenth hours. If your lawyer spends 12 minutes and bills by the quarter hour you'll be billed for.25 of an hour rather than.20 if your attorney is charging by tenths. These add up over time.

The fee is a proportion of the amount claimed or accumulated.

- Payment Arrangements or programs typically require monthly obligations and change greatly from lawyer to lawyer.

- Referral Fees are sometimes charged by lawyers who refer you to a different attorney to handle your issue. The first lawyer may request a portion of the whole fee you may. Referral fees may be prohibited under state codes of professional obligation unless specific criteria are met.

- Retainers are progress payments to be applied toward defraying hourly charges and incurred costs. After the amount is depleted the lawyer may ask another retainer or may simply continue to charge on a periodic basis. Lawyers must follow strict regulations for safekeeping and accounting for all these client funds. Whether or not you have an established connection and payment history with an lawyer will impact the quantity and recurring nature of their retainer.

These agreements clearly set forth all costs and fees to be billed. In addition to all other matters agreed between you and the lawyer such as a payment program, limitation on hours, services to be provided or any other claims or understandings. All must be clearly set forth. This document will induce you and your lawyer to be more clear about your expectations and may help save you future grief. You will need this record if a dispute does arise afterwards.

Remember the principles that regulate the ethical conduct of attorneys require that all fees be "reasonable." This generally suggests that they be fair and competitive in addition to reflect the skill needed to obtain the desired results.

- Ask your attorney to be your mentor while you do most of it yourself.

- Avoid, generally prepaid legal service plans. Most low cost programs only cover a couple of phone consultations and some basic services. After that you receive a discount for additional legal work. The subsequent fee has not proven to be better than that which you can get by doing your assignments, and interviewing several lawyers by yourself. More expensive programs do cover something like bankruptcy or drunk driving, but a few men and women need a lawyer over a few times in their life, which might be unnecessary insurance.

- Be clear about you personally your expectations and what is being provided and get it in writing.

- Stay Informed and up to date.

- Unbundle necessary services into different affordable tasks and employ a lawyer for discrete tasks.

- Use a variety of professionals piecemeal as the demand arises.

- Use non lawyer professionals for jobs in their expertise like attorneys or tax preparers for preparation of financial records, insurance agents for insurance information, real estate brokers for real estate valuations or independent paralegals for routine type preparation. Want to know more about this click divorce proceedings.

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