Some states offer low income people a free cell phone...

[Pamster]

Sorry if this shouldn't be here, I didn't know where else to post this valuable resource...I wanted to share this with you guys because it's helped me so much to lessen my anxiety about going out shopping or to dr. appts. The states this is currently offered in are:

Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

And coming soon:

Alabama, Connecticut, D. of Columbia Delaware, New Hampshire & North Carolina.

A link to their website:

https://www.safelinkwireless.com/

We got one last year and it's been wonderful to have one less thing to worry about when I go out to the store, now if something happens I can phone for help. If you get public assistance, medicaid, SSI or other assistance you most likely qualify for this free cell phone, I love mine! I get free minutes every month and it's really improved the quality of my life by making me more confident when I go out, I know I can call for help now if something should happen and for someone with PSTD and Anxiety this is a big help.

[dclary]

Wow. I wish I made less money.

[jennifer75]

I've noticed that no matter much or how much less money I bring home, how broke I am, how much I can't afford to get that special something...I never qualify for "low income". I'm always a bracket away. Yet I'm broke. How do you qualify for "low income", I really want to know. And I need a cell phone.

[Pamster]

I am not sure where they draw the line, but if you are on any public assistance that qualifies you automatically. It's such a shame that in this economy so many people are now struggling and finding new lows and yet not low enough to get some of the help that's out there. I hope that this does help some people though, it really has helped me a lot and the best part is the minutes ROLL OVER! Unheard of!

[James81]

You have to be kidding me.

[jennifer75]

I'd never qualify for PA. I'd have to get pregnant. I'm only broke with two kids, not one, apparently.

[dclary]

So... I'm guessing this is how all the bankers at AIG and Fanny Mae have been calling each other. They're all on PA now, right?

[billythrilly7th]

Wow. I wish I made less money.

I bet you feel like a sucker for paying your mortgage, huh?

[Kathleen42]

I'm kind of torn on this, to be honest. I think it's great for people with medical conditions or who cannot afford a landline but I know people who do not have cell phones because they cannot fit them into their budgets. I've gone five years without an upgrade specifically because I want to stay on a month-to-month contract because I consider it something that can be cut if necessary.

[Unique]

NC! That's me!
And I'm poor!
I know they'll be a disqualifier tho -
Apparently it is my destiny to write, How to Live Rich While Being Poor.

But I am going to check it out.
Remind me, okay? I forget things sometimes.

[dclary]

We should collaborate on "Living Beyond Your Means For Dummies" Unique. :D

[Pamster]

The income limit is $26,000 annual income, and trust me if you get less then that help with getting a phone is really beneficial. I hope that by sharing this it helps some people. I understand to some it might be considered a luxury, but when you can't afford a phone it's a godsend. Legislative Pork? Maybe, but just as useful as other programs of public assistance meant to help people who are struggling to make ends meet each month, who most likely have little or NO savings.

[Clair Dickson]

Michigan also does it for domestic abuse victims, in case "darling" spouse shows up or cuts the landline or something.

You can donate old phones for this cause, as well. I'm not sure where drop off centers are. I've only got one phone now.

For better or for worse, the are you live in can seriously affect how far your money goes. In my county, for example, if you live in my city housing costs a lot more than if you go twenty miles west to the farm country where the housing costs some 50k to 100k less. So, take two people who make the same amount of money. One gets buy the other doesn't-- just because of how much it costs to keep a roof over your head.

Public assistance isn't always able to take these location disparities into account, but for anyone struggling, I strongly suggest talking to your LOCAL public assistance agencies. They may be able to direct you to resources you can use withint your income.

Salvation Army doesn't verify your income before letting you shop for appliances, electronics, clothes, and furniture. This is one way a lot of people can save money. Though, most people I know, will only buy new. They're "broke" but not broke enough that they'll stop buying $6 coffees, new clothes, meals at restaurants, ipods, etc. (Not at all referring to anyone on AW, but to people I know in real life.)

[Unique]

The income limit is $26,000 annual incomes.
I'm in. What's the catch? Something stupid, I'm sure. I never qualify for these things. Usually because I'm a vet. It sux.

Yeah, deek. We should. Gotta work on that title tho -

I don't "need" a cell phone but with a cheap plan I might could save money on the phone bill.

[William Haskins]

if they're using donated and recycled phones (and even if they're buying them wholesale new, the costs are fairly low) and striking a deal with service providers to make financially responsible deals on airtime, i can see this having an enormous benefit for needy families.

[Don]

We should collaborate on "Living Beyond Your Means For Dummies" Unique. :D
Both Unique's How to Live Rich While Being Poor and your Living Beyond Your Means for Dummies sounds like the textbooks they've apparently been using in government indoctrination camps schools for the last couple decades, and look where that's gotten us. :D

How about something like Kingly Living on a Pauper's Budget or Living Rich Within Your Means for Dummies?

[Pamster]

You have to go to the website and 'apply' for it online at their website and then they send the free motorola phone within like ten days. We got ours in five...

[Pamster]

I do believe they are recycled Tracfones William. :)

[William Haskins]

then i say it's up to the states. if their budgets can sustain it, more power to them.
a phone is important to just about every aspect of modern life, from getting a job on up. if it makes for a better quality of life for a few hundred bucks a year, that's a sound investment in human dignity.

[billythrilly7th]

No money.

Smoke signals.

Pretty easy to learn. Good luck.

'Nuff said.

[mscelina]

I don't have a problem with this. You can't get a job without a contact number these days, and if you can't afford a phone a prospective employer can't contact you--vicious circle. Same with domestic violence victims or people in poor health. I'd venture to guess that if someone can't afford a phone, landline or otherwise, that they aren't wasting what money they do have on new clothes or going out to eat, etc. This seems like something that's actually helpful. So yeah--works for me.

[billythrilly7th]

Doesn't work for me.

No taxpayer money should go to buy poor people cellphones or give them minutes. Donated fine. But that's it.

Let the unemployment office set up voice mails for people who need to be contacted by potential employers.

While you are unemployed you can request a voicemail system that you can check until your unemployment runs out. That I can live with. And if you don't have ANY friends or ANY money to make a call into your voicemail system then you probably aren't too swift to begin with.

I can't take it!

What happens next?

A thread about how "I Just Got a Free Car!....it makes it so much easier to go places now and I don't have to walk or take the bus. This is really cool. Go to www.getafreecarifyouarepoor.com?"

I can't take it anymore.

Thank you.

[William Haskins]

for an obama fan, you have a low threshold for entitlements, sir.

wait till they start giving away laptops and spiffy little uniforms for the obama youth.

[billythrilly7th]

for an obama fan, you have a low threshold for entitlements, sir.

wait till they start giving away laptops and spiffy little uniforms for the obama youth.

Hmmmmf.

[William Haskins]

you think i'm kidding.

[Don]

Did Hitler Youth get abaci along with their uniforms?

[William Haskins]

they got mobile telegraph machines.

[robeiae]

The latest participant in the program:

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/robeiae/gecko.gif

[dclary]

.-- .... . .-. . / -.-- --- ..- / .- - ..--..?

[shawkins]

I don't have a problem with this. You can't get a job without a contact number these days, and if you can't afford a phone a prospective employer can't contact you--vicious circle. Same with domestic violence victims or people in poor health. I'd venture to guess that if someone can't afford a phone, landline or otherwise, that they aren't wasting what money they do have on new clothes or going out to eat, etc. This seems like something that's actually helpful. So yeah--works for me.

What she said.