Free Cell Phones- Safelink Wireless - is a government supported program that provides a free cell phone and airtime each month t

Submitted by Quest-News-Serv... on Sun, 11/22/2009 - 07:43.

Free Cell Phones- Safelink Wireless


SafeLink Wireless is a government supported program that provides a free cell phone and airtime each month to income eligible customers.

To Qualify:
The process to qualify depends on the State you live in. In general, you may qualify if...You already participate in another State or Federal assistance program such as Federal Public Housing Assistance, Food Stamps and Medicaid. Or your total household income is at or below 135% of the poverty guidelines set by your State and/or the Federal Government. And no one in your household currently receives service from another phone carrier. And you have a valid United States Postal Address. In order to receive your free phone you must live at a residence that can receive mail from the US Post Office. Sorry, but P.O. Boxes cannot be accepted. In addition to meeting the guidelines above you will also be required to provide proof of your participation in an assistance program, or proof of your income level.

You can enroll online at www.safelink.com . To apply you will need your address and social security number. If you exceed the free airtime (68 minutes in Florida), you can purchase additional minutes.

SAFELINK WIRELESS® service is a U.S. government supported program for income eligible households provided by TracFone Wireless, Inc. TracFone Wireless is America’s largest and number one prepaid cell phone provider in the U.S.

________________________________________________________

Department of Health and Human Services:
2009 Annual Federal Poverty Guidelines

48 Contiguous States and DC

 

 Household size

 100%

 120%

 135%

150% 

 185%

200% 

 1

$10,830

$12,996

$14,621

$16,245

$20,036

$21,660

 2

14,570

 17,484

19,670

  21,855

26,955

29,140

 3

18,310

 21,972

24,719

  27,465

33,874

36,620

 4

22,050

 26,460

29,768

  33,075

40,793

44,100

 5

25,790

 30,948

34,817

  38,685

47,712

51,580

 6

29,530

 35,436

39,866

  44,295

54,631

59,060

 7

33,270

 39,924

44,915

  49,905

61,550

66,540

 8

37,010

 44,412

49,915

  55,515

68,469

74,020

 For each additional person, add

$3,740

 $4,488

$5,049

  $5,610

$6,919

$7,480

Alaska
 

 Household size

 100%

 120%

 135%

150% 

 185%

 200%

 1

$13,530

$16,236

$18,266

$20,295

$25,031

$27,060

 2

18,210

21,852

24,584

27,315

33,689

36,420

 3

22,890

27,468

30,902

34,335

42,347

45,780

 4

27,570

33,084

37,220

41,355

51,005

55,140

 5

32,250

38,700

43,538

48,375

59,663

64,500

 6

36,930

44,316

49,856

55,395

68,321

73,860

 7

41,610

49,932

56,174

62,415

76,979

83,220

 8

46,290

55,548

62,492

69,435

85,637

92,580

 For each additional person, add

$4,680

$5,616

$6,318

$7,020

$8,658

$9,360

Hawaii
 

 Household size

 100%

 120%

 135%

 150%

 185%

 200%

 1

$12,460

$14,952

$16,821

$18,690

$23,051

$24,920

 2

16,760

20,112

22,626

25,140

31,006

33,520

 3

21,060

25,272

28,431

31,590

38,961

42,120

 4

25,360

30,432

34,236

38,040

46,916

50,720

 5

29,660

35,592

40,041

44,490

54,871

59,320

 6

33,960

40,752

45,846

50,940

62,826

67,920

 7

38,260

45,912

51,651

57,390

70,781

76,520

 8

42,560

51,072

57,456

63,840

78,736

85,120

 For each additional person, add

$4,300

$5,160

$5,805

$6,450

$7,955

$8,600

Source: http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/09poverty.shtml

_______________________________________________________

 

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EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL

( categories: )

the Plot

And, Guy--since I unwittingly have to promote this service everyday, tell me, honestly...you don't think this is part of the PLOT?? 

(I am just yanking Yogi's chain, but it does make me suspicious/skeptical of the real intentions of this program :)

laura my free safe link cell phone came in 4 days works great

my  free safe link cell phone 71 minutes came in 4 days works great-

(laura your correct its a plot - we wanted a phone that would call all EXTRA-TERRESTRIALS universes and received one that only calls the status qau ets and not the realneo type ets - although we did make contact with a planet that is contoled by cat and dogs and we are relocting there and yogi was promised a girl friend and a home and a great paying job with complete health care at no cost and i will be yogis pet human and be treated equal with no leashes and they won't spade or nuter me and there are other pet humans there so i was promised a mate also - also they love realneo coop and request the offical logo  to be a cat and dog chasing a stray human)

yogi and guy http://www.nationalwardogsmonument.org/

Reply to: "my free safelink cell phone 71 mins came in 4 days"

mayallyour

Re:

Federally funded cell phone program

 

Replying to a post from 2009 is downright laughable but what the heck..I'll give it a shot anyway.

 

Primarily because the Safe-link, US government subsidized, cell phone program for domestic violence victims/victims of crime, disabled and special needs persons in the US is/would be infinitely helpful for those in need. I say 'would be' since this program is not available in the state of California, which puzzles me.

 

Supplying a bare-bones, basic mobile phone and a nominal monthly allotment of minutes may mean the difference between life and death for many people. Some do not have the money to secure a mobile phone and having one (and the minutes every month) is an exceptional idea. These cell phones serve as a 'life alert' for seniors and disabled persons for emergency calls, etc. The ability to phone 911/fire/poison control/emergency services has not been available for thousands of people on fixed incomes in the past. Survivors and children of domestic vilolence are desperately in need of a working mobile phone.  Obviously, there are criteria that must be met and (presumably) the powers-that-be investigate the applicants to verify eligibility. Bravo to whomever put this program into effect.

 

I question why it is that the state of California has not allowed Safe-link to make these phones available to qualified California residents..? The Safe-link site specifically states NOT IN CALIFORNIA in bold red, alert-type font. If this is a federally funded program, then what's it to Sacramento if disabled and/or special needs residents are the recipients of a basic, mobile phone?

 

I'm not a conspiracy theorist by any stretch..I don't have the energy for all that, so that's not why I'm asking. I'm just baffled that this program has been in effect for a few years and somebody somewhere in California is blocking it.

 

Thoughts?

 

Availability of Safelink

 
 

Good question--I don't have an explanation, but the service is evidently slated for additional states.  I deal with many folks who do have one of these phones...commonly referred to as Obama phones...

https://www.safelinkwireless.com/Safelink/program_info/faq/faqOverview

Keep us posted on the availability in CA.  I have always been suspicious of the program, but can't quite figure out yet, if it is part of an evil plot :)

No leashes

Sounds like a great planet! You old dog :)

I disagree

What's next, free cable?!

I know that sounds cold, but that was my first response when I saw this on TV.   I don't think the gov't should provide cell phones.  I'm all for food, shelter, heat, electricity, and educational supplements based on need.  I support gov't healthcare, though I cringe when I hear it's a "right." (to me it's a resource with a limited supply).   But I'm sorry, a cell phone is a "want" not a need, and I resent people expecting the gov't to provide wants in addition to needs.  Where do we draw the line?....this is a good spot.  My wife and I are working class and money's tight in our household.  We work hard to save (we don't have cable) and waited to get cell phones until only recently due to the expense.  I think a problem today is that people have their needs and wants mixed up.   I hope this distinction might be a silver lining in these hard economic times.  

Let gov't protect our rights, help provide for unfortunate's basic needs, but not cell phones.

 

Free Cell Phones for the "unfortunates"

This is the first I have heard low income people referred to as 'the unfortunates'. But, I don't get out much lately. 

But, a cell phone might be needed by those with any sort of disability because it would enable them

to call for help if help was needed.  It is difficult to find a public pay phone these days in some areas. 

If the government can offer cell phones to those who are not earning enough to purchase one I wouldn't object.

I actually wish I could get one.  My income is just above the cut off for most government services, but

not high enough to afford cable or a cell phone without reducing other expenses.  But, I see the advantage

of making phones available in this day and age.

Haves and have-nots

  I agree Leland--btw, we do have a similar government sponsored program for cable. I don't have a problem with the phones, as a service, especially to our elderly residents.  Providing the phone free and 1 hour a month free is all well and good, but you know that this is just a catch--https://www.safelinkwireless.com/EnrollmentPublic/buy_airtime.aspx 

This is how capitalism justifies parasitism.  We see it every day in NEO.  Doing "good" to line our own pockets.  Creating large agencies that are beyond the scope of public scrutiny...to suck blood like the Port Authority and the Land Bank.  I know that this seems like a stretch...to link all of these efforts, but think about it.  Who runs Safelink and who is paying to run Safelink?

I am beginning to understand

I am beginning to understand why my parents would never accept public assistance no matter how poor we were.  They knew that accepting something from the government would place a stigma on us that they did not want us to have.  After reading some of the posts here on ReoNeo I now understand what they were trying to avoid.  So many judges of those who fall below the poverty line, so much criticism and contempt for the poor.

I don't hold contempt for the poor

W14R,

If your comment refers to me, I question who is judgmental.  I do not hold contempt for the poor.  I favor a hand up rather than a handout.   I work at MetroHealth after leaving the Cleveland Clinic because Metro's mission is more in kind with mine.  I serve at a monthly homeless breakfast and am active with Interfaith Hospitality Network (a housing program providing for families/children to keep them out of shelters).  Like your parents, there were times in my life (with young children) when I struggled and qualified for asistance and passed it up.  It was a matter of pride, though good to know if things got worse, there was a safety net.  You and I fundamentally disagree.  I don't believe you help the poor by giving them things.  I think it takes away incentive, engenders entitlement, and enables a cycle of dependence.  It also builds resentment as people are given entitlements that others have to pay for.   Afterall, these cell phones are not really "free." 

Sometimes things are tools

Sometimes things are tools that are used to propel people out of poverty.  I understand that some people abuse the help they receive and become dependent on handouts, but there is another category of people that use the help they are given to move themselves out of poverty.  Without such help I wonder how many would never be able to make this transition?  I agree that it builds resentment when people receive things for free that others have to pay to get.  But, why can't we, as a society, be happy and thankful if we have the ability to earn an adequate income, instead of being resentful of those that can't?  I heard it said that a sign of a great society can be determined by how it treats those that are poor.  I think the same can be said about the sign of a great man or woman. 

cycles and the poor

The cell phones are donated by Tracphone who probably gets a nice tax break (corporate welfare). There Lifeline plan offers either a discounted fee for a landline or limited cell phone service to people who fit the program. The goal is to make sure that the poorest people have access to telephone service. It is mostly used by the elderly and disabled residents, and again, while it looks like it is a service to the poor sponsored by the government, it is actually another subsidy of corporations I believe that any one who qualifies for food stamps should get them and use them. Ditto for other social services.  The only crime in being poor is being poor in the U.S. where we hand out break after break to the upper income people, and corpoarations and leave the rest of the popluation to argue over who deserves help, be it a hand out or hand up. While we fight it out, the top 5% income earners continue to enjoy life on the beach.

Why the negative vibe?

Why are there so many people that are down on this program? I personally have no qualms with a social program that puts cell phones in the hands of the less fortunate. I mean, it isn't like our taxes are going to providing the cell phones rather than doing something else. The program is funded by Telecom (which i am aware we fund through our cell phone bill), but its really a negligible fee. I mean, we don't even feel it. For whatever the fee may be, we are helping Tracfone put cell phones in the hands of those who otherwise cannot afford it. It is not like we are providing cable or DSL, we are providing a means of communication for people who, otherwise, cannout afford it. Really, it is a good cause and the program will do a lot of good. We just need to give it a chance. Just my thoughts.  

Safelink is great!

I'm a little confused about why everyone is against this program as well. I believe Safelink is an extremely helpful program for those who are struggling and trying to make an effort to get back on their feet. Safelink is NOT a free ride. It is doing a good thing, especially for those that are on welfare by giving the opportunity to become available to employers to soon work which would then help them get off of welfare. Phone bills are not cheap which I think we all can agree on. This government program is helping those in need and I think there should be no argument against that.

"OBAMA-PHONES"....250 free minutes...

1) I support the positive part of this program regarding those who don't abuse the program. I've seen these phones be amazing resources for those who don't abuse them....

2) Sadly; like countless other programs; These phones are often used by the abusive people....drug dealers swap them out; addicts trade them for drugs; and they get stolen all the time by thieves requiring them to be replaced.

3) I totally love the respect of the one commenter regarding understanding the way folks are "Shamed" for getting public assistance when they are in trouble.

4) Lifeline is another resource that is supposed to help reduce the regular landline phone bills---but the phone companies use it abusively when they don't get the paperwork in time and they disconnect and charge multiple reconnect fees while they are waiting for the landline-lifeline papers to be processed---which results in the customer having hundreds of dollars in extortionist fees being added to their phone account and forced to pay if they want to sustain the service. AT & T has become an expert at this format of taxing the low income who get the USA Lifeline discounts of almost $13.00 per month.

So, the OBAMA PHONES as they are called on the streets---are a great way to avoid those landline taxations...

Always Appreciative,
"ANGELnWard14"