WAG 11-01-05
To qualify for a telephone allowance 
(land line or cellular), an AABD Cash client must:
- have to pay for monthly telephone service because they have no other access to telephone service, and
- need a telephone because of their illness, employment, or residence in an isolated area.
Allow the cost of the basic minimum plan (cellular or land line) as verified by the telephone company. Do not include excess charges such as upgrades, and extra minutes.
If a customer has both cellular and land line service, allow the least costly (minimum) basic monthly local service charge.
Allow the monthly cost of basic local telephone service. The basic service charge varies by telephone company and service area. Obtain the basic local telephone service charge from the telephone company that provides the client's service.
Include a telephone allowance in the Cash Assistance Standard in the following situations:
- The AABD Cash client lives alone or has a separate living arrangement, and:
- needs a telephone because of their illness, employment, or residence in an isolated area, and
- has monthly telephone service in their name.
- The AABD Cash client lives in a shared living arrangement, and:
- needs a telephone because of their illness, employment, or residence in an isolated area, and
- a person in the shared living arrangement has monthly telephone service in their name, and
- the client is paying a portion of the monthly telephone service charges.
If the above conditions are met, prorate the telephone allowance among the number of persons living in the shared arrangement.
