Education for Justice                  FACT SHEET S-6                          Fall 2009

 

FREE PHONE EQUIPMENT FOR

PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

 

 

Minnesota has a program that helps people who have trouble using the phone.  It is called the Telephone Equipment Distribution (TED) Program.   If you qualify, you can get free equipment loaned to you that makes using the phone easier.

 

 

WHAT TYPE OF EQUIPMENT IS OFFERED?

The equipment offered through this program includes TTY/TDD, Captel, VCO phones, Light Flashing Ring Signalers, Amplified Telephones (including cordless), Hands-Free Speakerphones, and Braillephones.

 

A detailed description of each type of equipment, as well as photos, is available online at www.tedprogram.org 

 

 

DO I QUALIFY?

You can get this equipment if:

•         you live in Minnesota

 

•         you have a hearing loss, speech or physical disability that makes it hard for you to use a regular telephone

 

•         you have a telephone in your home or have applied for telephone service

 

•         your family income meets these guidelines:

-       if there is 1 person in your household your income cannot be more than $43,391 a year

-       2 people, you cannot make more than $56,742 a year

-       3 people, you cannot make more than $70,093 a year

-       4 people, you cannot make more than $83,444 a year

 

The income guidelines change every October.  These are for October 1, 2009 through September 30, 2010.

 

HOW DO I APPLY?

If you think that you qualify to get this equipment, you need to apply.  You can get an application 3 ways.

 

•         Send an e-mail to: ted.program@state.mn.us and ask for an application to be mailed to you.

 

•         Call: 1-800-657-3663 (phone), 1-866-635-0082 (VP) or 1-888-206-6555 (TTY) to ask for an application.

 

•         Print out an application online (PDF format) and fill it out.   You can find it at www.tedprogram.org.

 

After you fill out the application, mail or fax it, along with copies of the documents they ask for, to:

 

Telephone Equipment Distribution Program            Fax: (651) 215-6388

P.O. Box 64240

St Paul, MN 55164-0240 

 

 

WHAT KINDS OF THINGS DO I NEED TO SHOW I AM ELIGIBLE?

You need to send in copies of certain documents to show that you are eligible.  These are things like:

 

•         A copy of your license or ID to show that you are a Minnesota resident

 

•         A phone bill in your name to show that you have telephone service

 

•         Pay stubs or a public benefits statement to show your income

 

•         A letter from a doctor that says what your disability is and how it affects your ability to use a regular phone easily.

 

Once you have submitted your application, a specialist from your area of Minnesota will figure out if you are eligible.  If you qualify, the specialist will help you choose what equipment will best fit your needs.

Minneapolis Legal Aid – CLE

MN Legal Services Coalition

2324 University Avenue W- Suite 101B

St. Paul, MN  55114

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