In abstract
Advocates say the California Public Utilities Fee’s 10-year-old promise to make the state’s cellular phone service subsidy program obtainable to undocumented immigrants might be fulfilled in November.
The California Public Utilities Fee issued a proposed determination final week that each one Californians ought to have entry to a state cellular phone service subsidy program, even when they don’t have a Social Safety quantity or can’t instantly present one.
Earlier this 12 months, CalMatters reported that the LifeLine software nonetheless asks for Social Safety numbers, though the fee mentioned in February it had applied its 10-year-old determination to cease utilizing them.
5 months later, whereas the applying has not but been up to date, it may change as quickly as late November, following a remark interval and vote subsequent month, mentioned Ashley Salas, an legal professional with the patron group, The Utility Reform Community.
“This is really great news for all Californians because what they propose to do will not only benefit consumers with a Social Security number, but also benefit those with it,” Salas mentioned.
That may embrace unhoused people who may need had their paperwork taken throughout an encampment sweep, individuals fleeing home violence, foster youth who don’t have their delivery certificates, for instance, mentioned Lena Silver director of coverage and administrative advocacy for Neighborhood Authorized Companies Los Angeles.
As CalMatters reported, advocates together with the Utility Reform Community and the Neighborhood Authorized Companies of Los Angeles County raised issues after they realized that, regardless of the fee stating that each one Californians ought to have entry to this system, that wasn’t the case. In actuality, candidates and not using a Social Safety quantity had been nonetheless going through roadblocks 10 years after that call.
The fee has proposed updating their software and renewal varieties to take away language requiring Social Safety numbers and permitting candidates to submit extra figuring out paperwork in addition to a driver’s license and passport. Candidates will even be capable to submit present international authorities identification paperwork.
Moreover, the choice proposes the usage of True ID, an software candidates can use to confirm their id by taking {a photograph} of themselves.
Advocates for low revenue residents nonetheless have issues that many low revenue undocumented or unhoused individuals can have bother accessing unexpired authorities identification from their house nations. Other than privateness issues they’ve concerning the True ID app, advocates say Californians making use of for the cell service subsidy can have bother accessing a mobile system to make use of the app.
“Having a phone is so crucial to gaining access to all the other public benefits. The name speaks volumes. It’s a lifeline. If you don’t have a phone, it’s going to be really difficult to access WIC, CalFresh and other services,” Silver mentioned.
Silver mentioned the group will proceed to advocate for LifeLine to align itself with different main public advantages applications which might be extra versatile in what identification paperwork they settle for.
Individuals who have Social Safety numbers would nonetheless be inspired to supply that data, since it might unlock extra funds from the federal Lifeline program. The state fund would cowl all prices for individuals who don’t have a Social Safety quantity.
The state LifeLine program is funded by a month-to-month surcharge on current phone service. This system’s reported price range for fiscal 12 months 2022-23 was $274.4 million.
