If you're a low-income American there is an initiative called SafeLink Wireless which provides a free cell phone and airtime each month for eligible customers. The company offers discounted phone services through a program called Lifeline, funded by the Universal Service Fund. You'll get 60 minutes of talk time per month and a free phone, although it is worth noting the phone is not an iPhone or any other smart phone, just a basic one. The service provides a much needed lifeline for those who need it most - giving low-income Americans the ability to keep in touch with family and contact potential employers if looking for a job. Over 80 per cent of Americans have a mobile telephone, and for most of them it's their only phone. Credit isn't cheap and monthly bills can be high; if you're out of work or not earning much, keeping up with a monthly bill can be hard work. There are a number of categories which you might fit into to be eligible, for example, if you already receive any help from the state such as Federal Public Housing Assistance, Medicaid or Food Stamps, or if your total household income is at or below the poverty guidelines set by your State and/or the Federal Government. To find out if you're eligible for SafeLink's initiative, go to www.safelinkwireless.com, where you'll find tons of information about the program such as how to qualify, eligibility, how to enrol, and you can also manage your account, set up voicemail and update or cancel your account. Currently benefits vary according to which ZIP code you live in, but on the website there is a tool for you to enter your ZIP code and find out what benefits are available in your area.
