Free Gov Cell Phones for low income families

[Pamster]

https://www.safelinkwireless.com/EnrollmentPublic/Home.aspx

If you get food stamps, section 8 housing or other public assistance and can't afford a cell phone here is a gov program for you...

[Pamster]

They are only available in a few states, FL being one of them...I can't remember the others, but this is something I hope they will expand. :)

[scipilot]

I wonder if call charges will be higher to claw back some of the cost of supplying them free?

[Pamster]

There are no charges and you get 68 emergency minutes a month to use on the free tracphone they give you. It sounds good to me, just wish it was across the board, for all states. :(

https://www.safelinkwireless.com/EnrollmentPublic/faq.aspx

They are only in Tennessee and FL...More states on the way but still, not nearly enough. :(

[Slim20]

This is getting out of hand. Do we need to provide more luxury goods to the poorest, while the lower-middle class and middle class are struggling?

What now, free computers with broadband connection and cable TV for every low income family with TV?

[Pamster]

I disagree with you on this, it's not a luxury item if you're stranded in your car and need a phone, you'd be grateful for a cell phone, especially if you've got kids in the backseat. I didn't post this to get politcal and this kind of posting isn't what Brain Talk is about Slim20, so let's just agree to disagree before it gets anyone in trouble. :(

[scipilot]

If they are offered in other states but not yours, could this be considered discrimination under ADA laws? might be worth checking. :rolleyes:

[Pamster]

Yeah that will surely help them make this program more available to others faster, go after them with lawyers....Yeah, NOT! No offense scipilot but only two states offer this right now, I don't think it's a federal program, it seems to be state by state and others are coming soon.

The ADA isn't about helping people navigate this kind of problem it's for helping to end discrimination most disabled people used to have to endure ALL The time, not just because their state doesn't have something another one does. That kind of discrimination wouldn't fit under ADA law....

The thing is because this is put on by tracphone it will be coming soon to other states, they have all kinds of things at their disposal to get this out to the public. I posted this to share the resource with others not to cause trouble for tracphone.

The program they are using used to offer ten dollars a month OFF a phone bill, along with helping to cover installation fees of like $50 one time installation. It's a state program, the way to get this in a state not listed is to write letters and make calls at the state level, get their attention that way and it can help them recognize that the need for 'Lifeline' service in their state exists and that other states ARE doing things to help fill that need.

I should be getting my phone in a matter of days...I can't tell you how excited I am about it, as a disabled mom it's one of my biggest fears something will happen and I will be away from the phone here at home and unable to call for help...now with this program we won't have to worry about that anymore. :D We used to get the monthly credit for this program on our phone service but a year or so ago we went with digital phone service because it was offered with a bundle and cheap as regular phone service so we figured why not? Had we not done that we'd not qualify for it because of getting the monthly credit towards our bill. :)

[Pamster]

I just got mine and think it's great thing. I have two numbers stored in the phonebook and found it pretty easy to use. :) Now I won't have to worry about getting stranded. I feel much better. :)

[gizmogirl]

Sounds like a maybe a good idea to me. Since people have to explicitly buy more minutes, maybe people wouldn't do it and maybe these phones would work better than introductory credit card offers did for the working class. On the other hand, the people who should not waste alot of money on lottery tickets waste the most, right?

I would be curious to hear in a few months how well you are doing at not exceeding 68 minutes, if that is your goal.
Good luck

[Bobbi]

To spread the word:

"Federal Communications Commission rules, 47 CFR 20.18(b), a call to 911 is free, and you need not buy minutes, or subscribe to any cell phone carrier to take advantage of this, you just need to keep the phone charged and with you." (Source: Answering the Call (http://carecure****tgers.edu/mobilewomen/art-answercall-LW.php).)


Secure the Call (http://www.donatemycellphone.org/)
non-profit coalition of Police Departments, Sheriff's Offices, Battered Women's Shelters, Neighborhood Watch Groups, Community Service Organizations and Senior Citizen Centers. We take your donated phone and convert it into a 911 emergency only phone and give it back to our coalition partners for distribution. If you have a need for a 911 phone, we'll work to get you one.



911 Cell Phone Request (http://www.911cellphonebank.org/agencies.asp): Lists Participating Agencies (just use the A-Z links and/or scroll down the page)

If you are in need of an emergency cell phone, please contact your local law enforcement agency, victim advocate, protective shelter or senior center for assistance. We are unable to accommodate requests from individuals needing emergency phones at this time.

If there are no participating agencies in your area, your local law enforcement agency may make a one-time request on your behalf [contact address is cited at the website]

[Pamster]

Thanks Bobbi for sharing that, I think it will help some people. :D

[Rozia]

they only offer it to 3 states . these states here will be getting it in the near furture , so Not a very good program

Alabama Massachusetts
Connecticut New Hampshire
Delaware New York
D. of Columbia North Carolina
Georgia

[houghchrst]

They don't offer it in my state yet though I think it is a great idea especially for those people who have children or health issues. I had a cell phone but the company I was with rates kept getting higher and higher so we wound up going with land line. I am so tired of stopping at home or a relatives to call and check my answering machine to see if the school has called or if a doctor's office has called. If you are someone with health issues or has children with health issues this is a great idea.

There is a special program in my area for low income families to get a discount on their phone service. I can remember scraping up change to go to the public phone down the street to make calls but being screwed if I needed a call back.

Gee I never considered a phone a luxury. Between my health and my children's health, my bf's job I consider it a necessity. In fact we don't even have cable. Maybe those lower middle and middle class should get rid of their cable, SUVs and eating out 3 times a week lol.

[Pamster]

They don't offer it in my state yet though I think it is a great idea especially for those people who have children or health issues. I had a cell phone but the company I was with rates kept getting higher and higher so we wound up going with land line. I am so tired of stopping at home or a relatives to call and check my answering machine to see if the school has called or if a doctor's office has called. If you are someone with health issues or has children with health issues this is a great idea.

There is a special program in my area for low income families to get a discount on their phone service. I can remember scraping up change to go to the public phone down the street to make calls but being screwed if I needed a call back.

Gee I never considered a phone a luxury. Between my health and my children's health, my bf's job I consider it a necessity. In fact we don't even have cable. Maybe those lower middle and middle class should get rid of their cable, SUVs and eating out 3 times a week lol.

I think it's great that they have help for low income families to get something off their bills in your state Christina. But the safelink program would be even better, I wrote my state representative and congressman asking them to bring it up to the floor so people can get help NOW who need it. :) I have used three of my 80 minutes. You get sixty a month and the phone came with twenty more. :)

I am with you a phone is a necessity, you just have to have one...

[Slim20]

Give T-Mobile To-Go prepaid a look. The phone is practically free and you load it up about $100 in minutes and it will get you 1,000 minutes that does not expire for a year.

Once you put in $100, you become "gold rewards" so if you end up not using all your minutes, you can just top off with a $10 card and extend another year. There's no monthly fee.