Yfree Cell Phone for Those on State assistance...did You Know?

People make fun of those receiving assistance having phones - and to them I say take a look around. How many pay phones do YOU see anymore? Low cost or free cell phones can be the difference between being able to call the sitter (or be called by) or not, or getting that phone call about a job interview or not. If you don't have stable home, at least a phone call can give you a stable phone number. Thanks for posting about this. It looks like many big carriers participate in this.

I'm aware of a program for the elderly and I can appreciate that they may need some assistance if they are on a government program.

I don't have a nasty attitude toward helping people and I do more than my share of donations to help, financially and material goods. However, if I encounter the attitude that I owe someone my donations, etc, because they are "needy" and just expect handouts vs trying to do something for themselves, then my attitude gets nasty. I do believe in taking care of yourself and I am aware that some people need a little boost to help them in the process. I am more than willing to help someone with a good attutude and obviously trying to do better for themselves.

My understanding was this program was mainly for the elderly. I think it is great if they help moms who are in the womens's shelter from escaping abusive situations, etc.

I am all for helping. What I am not is enabling. I'm curious, how long is someone eligible for this program? What is the criteria?

"A government big enough to supply all your needs is a government big enough to take away everything you have." Thomas Jefferson

Free cell phone (That's why an Obama supporter had an apple cell phone, Ipad, taking photos of Mrs Obama at a food kitchen.)
Free food
Free home
Free electricity
Free gas
Free water
Free cable
Free money if you can convince a welfare doctor your misbehaving kids have adhd instead of poor parenting. The doctor gets paid to see the misbehaving kids on a regular basis so he has an incentive to diagnose adhd.
Free medicine
Free doctor
Free taxi to the store and back
And the list goes on . . .

In America, you get more of what you pay well for. We pay people NOT to work and get themselves out of the hole, and we wonder why we have so HUGE a welfare expenditure by the government.

Anyone that has read mamapedia for any length of time has seen the damage welfare has done to families where the "head of the house" only works hard enough to make sure they stay on the handouts and don't actually seek to improve themselves to get a good job.

Good luck to you and yours.

And if you don't qualify for that I can't say enough good things about the StraightTalk phones from Wal-Mart! It was a little hard scraping up the money to buy the phone I wanted upfront, but now I pay considerably less per month for my smart phone than I did for my old Verizon dumb phone....

Thanks for sharing,
Verizon has a similar plan as well.

My friend has one and it has been a life saver to her. You can also get a land line for $2 per month too. It's called Life Line. Anyone who receives assistance of almost any sort.

Once again, 8kidsdad gets it wrong. sigh. You'd think a former teacher would learn to look things up, but that would be too easy.

http://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/government-big-e...

The quote is actually," Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have ... The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases." And it's from an address by President Gerald Ford to the US Congress (12 August 1974). I realize that quoting Jefferson seems to give a statement a bit more gravitas than quoting Ford, unless someone out there knows that your quote is not really by Jefferson.

I did not go through the entire response to point out all of the errors. I have no doubt, however, that the rest of the response is as riddled with errors as the very first sentence.

My sister is part of the program. At first I have to admit I kinda had a WTH thought about it, but then I realized a few things. What they offer is minimal at best, it comes in handy when she is out doing things, she lives somewhat rural and has a crappy car and a long drive. She does not use it like a cell phone, not like mine or most peoples. It is a phone in case of an emergency, we all know that unless you have a traditional style phone in your home when the power goes out..so does your phone.

There is also an internet program for low income, my mom pays for hers so she doesn't need it.

I work in public housing and keep these applications in my office.

Pretty neat program.

http://www.assurancewireless.com/Public/Welcome.aspx

I have heard about this and checked into it for a relative. You can also pay a really small amount each month if you want more minutes. I think it's a good plan for those having money problems.

M., Thank you SO much for this info! I am literally losing my cell phone today (unfortunately, since I also lost my job). I know the state offers Life Line for a home phone, and I was going to apply for that since I need SOMETHING, not only for safety but for JOB HUNTING. But, I didn't know about the cell phone. Thank you!

How do you find out about these programs? My dd is on Medicaid and SSI (due to multiple medical problems) and I have often wondered if there is anything I have missed, in terms of getting benefits for her. If you could tell me a little more about how you find out this information, I would appreciate it.

I have my kids on state assistance for healthcare, so qualify for the Assurance Wireless. I was so thankful, because I never had a cell phone before because of the cost, but wanted to be able to reach my husband if I needed him. Since I started last October I have averaged 7 minutes a month! (So you see, there really would be no point to me paying for a phone and a line.) I just love being able to call home to check on the kids while I'm at work or even just to ask if we need milk! Also, for many people this is their only connection to the Nurse Line we're supposed to use for Medical Assistance.

These commercials are all over the t.v., so it's very well known here in Obamaland. I like the idea that all cell phones have access to 911 whether they are on activated or not. And I do agree with the life line landline for the home, that is far more palatable.

I hope there is a time limit on how long people can have these. But since Obama changed welfare reform a couple weeks ago, making it so that anyone on welfare doesn't have to prove they are looking for work, I'm sure this program is indefinite like welfare is.

I wish there would be better programs for people needing jobs and who are able to work. That's what government should concentrate on.