New Options May Be Just Right For You

NYNEX administers a program that may be of significant benefit to some seniors in Cambridge. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a vision, speech or mobility impairment, you may be eligible to receive a Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD), a telephone amplifier, a large button telephone, signalers, or other assistive telephone equipment.

The Council on Aging has information packets with the necssary forms needed for application and approval. You may call the COA office at 349-6220 to obtain a form. A form for your doctor to sign to certify your disability and an application form asking for some income information is included in the packet.

When your application is approved your equipment can either be picked up at a designate location or ordered by telephone.

AT&T, the long distance carrier, also offers a program that may be of direct financial benefit to seniors. If you are eligible for the "Lifeline" discount you can receive a 15% discount below the standard rate for the first 60 minutes of calls you make to other states each month. This is called the Price Protection Plan because it also freezes the long distance rates for you for three years so that you will not be affected by any approved rate increase during that period. This program best helps those seniors making a small number of long distance calls per month. If you make a lot of calls out of state it might be wise to compare some prices and discounts offered by more than one long distance carrier. There are readily available programs that might give you 25% or more off your telephone bill.

To sign up for the Price Protection Plan you only need to make a telephone call to: 1 (800) 853-7770 ext. 16548. When you make this call you will be given the instructions you need.

Many seniors are still leasing telephones from AT&T and paying $7-10 per month for this service. As you know the telephone stores are gone and repair visits rarely are free. Yet telephones are affordable and readily available to purchase or your might get them as gifts from friends or relatives if you tell them you want to save this phone rental costs. You could also obtain a more modern telephone with speed dialing, touch tone buttons, etc. Some of these features may make telephone calls easier and more accurate for you and are not hard to learn how to use. Please consider such options.

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