Have you ever imagined getting a mobile phone for free? It is true. These phones are offered to certain citizens living below the poverty line. The US government gives this phone to the customers who have very low income. Additional to all free government phones these customers get free incoming calls plus various other facilities if they meet the eligibility criteria to get the free phone.
The US government introduces a program called Lifeline services in 1984 during the Reagan administration. The main aim of this program was to offer quality telecommunication services at an affordable cost to those living under poverty line. So people who were shortlisted as eligible were given a great discount in their monthly telephone bills under the Lifeline program.
SafeLink Wireless program extended the services provided by the Lifeline program further to mobile phones also. Under this program, the US government provides all free government cell phones to those having very low monthly income. Additional to this they are offered free airtime also. The SafeLink plan actually converts the discount on the telephone bill given by the Lifeline program) into free talk time. The user can make use of these additional minutes every month.
These all free government cell phones can use the free minutes given for various types of services like nationwide calling, activating call waiting and caller ID services, calling 911, using voice mails and 411 directory services. SafeLink Wireless services are now available to people in 31 states across the US. Nearly 2 million people use the service everyday and the Trac-One Wireless Company pays for all the calls they make.
A person generally qualifies to avail the services of SafeLink if they participate in other public assistance programs like Food Stamps, SSI or Medicaid. People who receive assistance from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) are also eligible for the service. Even if they do not receive assistance from any of these programs, they can qualify for SafeLink services if the family gross income is below the level government has set up for poverty line ( $ 14,621 for a single person). Every state has a slightly different eligibility criterion for the citizens availing this facility from their area. However most of them are similar in major areas.
The US government introduces a program called Lifeline services in 1984 during the Reagan administration. The main aim of this program was to offer quality telecommunication services at an affordable cost to those living under poverty line. So people who were shortlisted as eligible were given a great discount in their monthly telephone bills under the Lifeline program.
SafeLink Wireless program extended the services provided by the Lifeline program further to mobile phones also. Under this program, the US government provides all free government cell phones to those having very low monthly income. Additional to this they are offered free airtime also. The SafeLink plan actually converts the discount on the telephone bill given by the Lifeline program) into free talk time. The user can make use of these additional minutes every month.
These all free government cell phones can use the free minutes given for various types of services like nationwide calling, activating call waiting and caller ID services, calling 911, using voice mails and 411 directory services. SafeLink Wireless services are now available to people in 31 states across the US. Nearly 2 million people use the service everyday and the Trac-One Wireless Company pays for all the calls they make.
A person generally qualifies to avail the services of SafeLink if they participate in other public assistance programs like Food Stamps, SSI or Medicaid. People who receive assistance from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) are also eligible for the service. Even if they do not receive assistance from any of these programs, they can qualify for SafeLink services if the family gross income is below the level government has set up for poverty line ( $ 14,621 for a single person). Every state has a slightly different eligibility criterion for the citizens availing this facility from their area. However most of them are similar in major areas.
About the Author:
Learn more about getting a cell phone government discount. Stop by Bob Woods's site where you can find out all about government phone plans and what one can do for you.
0 comments:
Post a Comment