Has your home phone been disconnected? Do you own a cell phone but have no minutes on it? Are you unable to afford a cell phone at all? How would you contact someone in an emergency? For many people these are real problems that have no solutions. Some people are elderly, alone or injured but have no way to reach another person if an accident should happen. But now, the government has come to the rescue of those citizens, by offering a free cell phone, as well as monthly minutes, for people who qualify.
If you are handicapped, draw disability or live on a low income you could qualify for the unique program. In conjunction with Safe Link Wireless most states now offer a government-funded program that allows certain citizens to receive the phone and minutes with no cost to themselves. TracFone, one of the worlds leading prepaid wireless programs, is given to Lifeline Assist qualifiers, the program responsible for providing the phones and service.
Although the amount of minutes and other details of the phone and service vary from state to state people who qualify can receive the phone free, as well as free minutes every month. If any of these minutes are unused they will rollover to the next month. Some features come free with the phone and service, such as caller ID, call waiting and even voice mail. No matter what state you live in the phone is generally offered to only one person in the home. It is meant as a family phone and one is not provided to each member of the family. If you are already drawing food stamps, are drawing a disability check, have a family member drawing S.S.I. or are in a government housing program you probably qualify for the free phone program. Another qualification for receiving the phone and service is that you have a physical address. The phone will be mailed to you and the program does not allow for post office boxes. You must provide a real address. Before the phone is sent you will be asked to prove your income or your participation in a qualifying government program. Also, the phone must be maintained in the name of the person who has qualified for the program. If you qualify for the free phone program, and the phone is sent to you, it can be kept forever. Even if you later drop out of the program, or no longer qualify for free minutes, you can purchase more minutes yourself or keep the phone and end the service. You do not have to return the phone should you withdraw from the program. Annual verification audits are conducted by choosing random participants and having them prove their eligibility for the program. These audits are done annually according to the laws connected with the free phone program. If asked to verify you could provide W2 forms, pay stubs or other qualifying paperwork. Many people, upon joining the program, ask if they can use their own phone with the programs free minutes. The answer to this is "No". If you qualify for the free phone program you must use the TracFone provided to you. You may not transfer the minutes onto another phone you own. Although the minutes provided to you free are not exactly plentiful - an hour or so a month - they are sufficient for making emergency calls or short calls to let relatives know you are okay each week. You can text, roam and even make long-distance calls. You will receive a replenishment of minutes around the first of the month, each month, as long as you continue to qualify for the program. Many people with no phone service worry that there will be an emergency and they will have no way to call for help. For others, loved ones with no phone causes worry and concern, and the Safe Link program can give them some relief. In most states you can apply for the free phone and minutes online. It takes little time to get verified, and after you do, you can be expecting your phone in the mail at any time.
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