Eligibility Information

 

Who Is Eligible? There are two categories for METROLift eligibility. Persons with disabilities who are unable, without the assistance of another person, to board, navigate, ride or disembark from an accessible local bus. Persons with disabilities who are prevented from getting to and from the local bus due to their disability. Eligibility is based on a functional limitation preventing the patron from walking or rolling to a bus stop without assistance from others. Eligibility cannot be granted solely based on the lack of curbcuts or other environmental barriers, distance to the bus stop or because METROLift is perceived safer or more convenient than local bus service.

How Do I Apply For METROLift Service?

You must complete and submit a METROLift eligibility form to become certified to use METROLift services. It is important that the eligibility form is completed properly.

Please complete your personal information on the METROLift eligibility form, including your signature on the line marked “Signature of Applicant.” Then you must have your doctor or other METRO approved healthcare professional complete and sign the physician section of the METROLift eligibility form. The doctor must describe in detail (using lay terminology) why your disability prevents you from boarding, navigating, riding, or disembarking from the local bus, even if the local bus provides accessible features such as a wheelchair lift, ramp, and stop announcements.

You must also ask the doctor to submit an accompanying letter on his or her professional letterhead or prescription form, verifying completion and signature of your METROLift application. This must be done for each applicant.

Remember, both the eligibility form (completely filled out) and the doctor’s signed letter must be submitted to METRO for review prior to acceptance for processing by METROLift. Failure to do so will delay the processing of your application.

Applications are available at any METRO RideStore. You can also call METROLift Customer Service at 713-225-0119 (TDD 713-652-8969) between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday – Friday, and ask that a METROLift eligibility form be mailed to you. Send the completed applications to:

METROLift
P.O. Box 61429
Houston, TX 77208-1429

After your fully completed application has been received by METRO, you will receive a letter explaining how to make an appointment for your in-person interview. The in-person interview will help METRO determine which of the METRO services will provide you the greatest mobility. Appointments can be made Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., by calling 713-225-0119. If an appointment is not scheduled within 14 days, no further processing will be made by METRO. Interviews are not conducted without an appointment. No walk-ins will be accepted.

Decisions regarding eligibility will be furnished in writing within 21 days. Applicants that are denied METROLift services have the right to appeal METRO’s decision in writing within 60 days to the following address:

METROLift Eligibility Appeals
P.O. Box 61429
Houston, TX 77208-1429

Appeals will be forwarded to the METROLift Appeals Committee for review and final ruling.

Patrons have the right to use the service if the appeal decision is not made within 30 days after METRO receives complete information required to process your written appeal.