Friday, February 10, 2012

A Free Government Cell Phone When you Cant Afford One

By Tanya Brads


Life has its ups and downs, and to some people, the downs seem to overweigh the ups. These are the times when the paycheck is not enough to cover all the basic needs like shelter and food. When you throw in education into this equation, it falls out of balance. Thats why a simple thing like a cell phone seems out of reach even when its a clear necessity. Luckily the government does something about this by offering free cell phones.

These free government cell phones are for basic telephony. That means you dont get the latest features as that would put a financial strain on the whole exercise. You do get free minutes that are just sufficient to enable you reach help whenever you need it. Depending on the state you are in, they could be anywhere from 55 to 240 minutes. You dont exactly get the freedom to make pastime conversation. But when you go for a month or two without using them, they accumulate and give you some limited freedom to make calls.

Qualifying for a free government cell phone is easy. First you need to have proof that you are a low-wage earner. This could be by showing your annual income. When you depend on some public aid of some sort, like SSI, its a clear indication of where your life stands. A social security number is needed since your records will be accessed. And when you finally get through, you are given the phone, with no strings attached.

When you happen to use up all your minutes the few weeks before the month is due, you can purchase some more. But it defeats the purpose of the program when you do this so its best to learn how to refrain.

The government uses many providers to offer this service to the many needing Americans. But even with the effort, some states have not been reached by the program. It would be well to confirm the eligibility of the state you are in, before you forward your application via email or regular mail. A quick online search should confirm any doubts.

Perhaps the best thing about the government cell phones is that you get to keep them when you decide you want out of the program. Its an effort worth a round of applause, considering the government does not earn anything in return.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment