Following up on my previous post regarding inexpensive cell phone plans, I recently discovered a (not very well-publicized) government program called SafeLink Wireless that offers FREE cell phones (and discounted service rates) to those living on very low incomes. It’s run through TracFone, here in Texas, which is just one more reason to dig their services.
Since this is aimed at low-income families, you can’t just scam the system by telling them you’re poor and therefore deserve a free iPhone. Sorry, but this is for deserving folks only! To qualify, you must already be on one of the following programs:
- Federal Public Housing Assistance / Section 8
- Health Benefit Coverage under Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP)
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP)
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
-OR-
Your total household income must be at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (there’s a table online here, to see if you qualify).
To apply for the program, or to learn more about how it works in Texas or in other states throughout the U.S. (this is a national program, so check to see if your state is listed!), go to the SafeLink Wireless website.
P.S. Props to Shannon Buck of Living the Low-Income Life for her article alerting me to this shoestring budget option!
P.P.S. For those who are about to raise a ruckus about government-funded cell phones or “Obama phones,” here’s an important quote from the SafeLink website:
“Low-income households have been eligible for discounted telephone service for more than a decade. But the program is funded by telecom companies, not by taxes, and the president has nothing to do with it.”
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Tags: CHIP, Federal Poverty Guidelines, Federal Public Housing Assistance, food stamps, free cell phone service, government-funded cell phones, Health Benefit Coverage under Children's Health Insurance Plan, LIHEAP, Living the Low-Income Life, Low Income Home Energy Assistance, Medicaid, Obama phones, SafeLink Wireless, Section 8, Shannon Buck, SSI, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Supplemental Security Income, Tracfone
I’m glad you mentioned that the tax payer and Obama has nothing to do with these free phones. I have been proud to be a Tracfone suporter because of the good they do for the poor but they also get a benefit out of this program. Since hearing about Safelink I investigated Tracfone’s plans and found that they can save you allot of money if you are a low user of a cell phone. Tracfone’s phones start at $9.99, their cheapest plan is $19.99/90 days/120 min (with double minutes for the life of the phone plan). If you don’t have a promocode on your tracfone card then you will always find one on the net which can give you an extra 40 free minutes or more depending on your card.
Tracfone uses 3 networks, Verizon, AT&T & T-Mobile so their coverage is superb.
This package is real value for money and offers a quality service.
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