The importance of a cell phone cannot be underestimated in todays’ world. People depend on a mobile phone to get in touch with friends and family. Moreover, even businesses today use mobile phones as the mode of communication with employees, clients, and partners. Not having a cell phone would definitely mark you as a primitive. But on the other hand, affording a cell phone is becoming increasingly difficult. The cost of everything is rising and a mobile phone is being seen just as an added bill at the end of the month. No matter how important it is, ruling out the cell phone is one of the first steps a person takes while cost cutting a household budget.
Thankfully there is now a government assisted phone program that has been introduced as a benefit for many people. Under this program, the people who qualify are eligible to receive a free government assisted phone with certain basic facilities like making long distance and local calls, sending and receiving text messages, accessing directory assistance and 911.
The program is available in all the states of the country but each state may have different qualifying criteria. The residents of Louisiana, Arkansas, Illinois, Oklahoma, Maryland, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Kansas, Washington, Rhode Island, Nevada, Iowa, Texas or West Virginia need to be participating in any of the government assistance programs like Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly Food Stamps, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Medicaid, National School Lunch Program’s Free Lunch Program, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). You could also qualify based on your household income. These guidelines are governed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under the Lifeline Reform Order (FCC 12-11). Once you have checked the requirements of your state and believe that you qualify, you can easily apply for the government assistance phone.
