Can someone please explain this to me

[happily single]

So I've heard it on commericals and have heard people talk about it, but what the heck is this "free government cell phone program" all about?

I'm sure that this is a scam as the government has enough issues to deal with than worry that the low income, those on SSI, etc. need a free cell phone with 250 minutes

I tried google and my local Atty General's office and have come up with nothing. Of course, you knows know more than google. I have to report back to the girls in the office tomorrow, as several of them think this is true.

 

[GAGirlInVA]

So I've heard it on commericals and have heard people talk about it, but what the heck is this "free government cell phone program" all about?

I'm sure that this is a scam as the government has enough issues to deal with than worry that the low income, those on SSI, etc. need a free cell phone with 250 minutes

I tried google and my local Atty General's office and have come up with nothing. Of course, you knows know more than google. I have to report back to the girls in the office tomorrow, as several of them think this is true.

From what I've heard from others, it is true. Just like the government used to subsidize home phone lines they appear to be in the cell phone subsidizing business as well.

 

[kaytieeldr]

So I've heard it on commericals and have heard people talk about it, but what the heck is this "free government cell phone program" all about?

I'm sure that this is a scam as the government has enough issues to deal with than worry that the low income, those on SSI, etc. need a free cell phone with 250 minutes

I tried google and my local Atty General's office and have come up with nothing. Of course, you knows know more than google. I have to report back to the girls in the office tomorrow, as several of them think this is true.

No scam: http://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/

 

[Betzee]

I saw a news report on this just yesterday, don't remember if it was CNN or FOX, but they were remarking about the fact that this program cost 1.6 BILLION dollars. Yup, that's BILLION, with a "B"...

Guess where that money came from???

 

[MickeySP]

Yes they are available.

I know of a few instances where they have been issued. One is a 76yo woman with COPD, she keeps it with her at all times. It is far less expensive than a life alert system which the elderly on a fixed income can't afford anyway.

The other a woman whose xH was extremely abusive to both her & her children. She kept it with her everywhere.

I am sure there are abuses like any govt program but I would rather spend it on this than EBT cards which can buy cigarettes - liquor - gas etc......

 

[wdw4rfam]

No scam- I helped my MIL apply, and now she has it. If they get food stamps- they are eligible. It takes the place of the landline that they already offered for years. She had to choose one or the other.

 

[charming23]

Not a scam at all. My best friend is unemployed and has one since she could not afford a cell phone, or land line on her own. She gets 128 minutes a month and she uses it for potential job interviews/emergencies. It has helped her a ton. Especially since the minutes rollover from month to month (at least with her plan)

 

[bigredbill]

So I've heard it on commericals and have heard people talk about it, but what the heck is this "free government cell phone program" all about?

I'm sure that this is a scam as the government has enough issues to deal with than worry that the low income, those on SSI, etc. need a free cell phone with 250 minutes

I tried google and my local Atty General's office and have come up with nothing. Of course, you knows know more than google. I have to report back to the girls in the office tomorrow, as several of them think this is true.

Nothing is ever free. Someone is paying for these, just not the recipients.

 

[cornflake]

As above, not a scam.

In many places, people who have serious money problems have problems keeping stable housing, and keeping up with the smaller, less important bills like phone bills (landlines or cell).

However, most places won't even take a work application without a phone #.

In addition to the problems of kids being in school with no contact number for the parents, the emergency type of thing with seniors in a previous post, etc.

It can save money in the long run to give people in that kind of need (you have to demonstrate that need) a basic phone to have. They can get a job easier, keep a job easier if they're reachable, the school can contact people, people can contact the unemployment office (here you can do the whole thing on the phone if you don't have computer access), etc., in addition to being the emergency lifeline for a lot of people who may need it.

 

[focusondisney]

Yes they are available.

I know of a few instances where they have been issued. One is a 76yo woman with COPD, she keeps it with her at all times. It is far less expensive than a life alert system which the elderly on a fixed income can't afford anyway.

The other a woman whose xH was extremely abusive to both her & her children. She kept it with her everywhere.

I am sure there are abuses like any govt program but I would rather spend it on this than EBT cards which can buy cigarettes - liquor - gas etc......

Nothing is ever free. Someone is paying for these, just not the recipients.

I work in an inner city hospital & most of our patients are on public assistance. And unfortunately, we see these abuses regularly. I'm glad to know that some really deserving folks are getting them, coz it gets discouraging when all you see is people milking the system.

 

[Imzadi]

From what I've seen in the commercials, they use Tracfones for the free phones & service. I've had various models of Tracfones for about 9-10 years now. (Not the government subsidy program, the regular Tracfone service.) I love Tracfone.

The minimal (regular) Tracfone service one can get a month is for $7 per month. So, I'm sure they figured out a way to be subsidized by the government program to provide that service.

Tracfone RENTS service from the 3 major phone carriers: Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile. It is the SAME exact service. The cellphone brands are: Motorola, LG, Samsung & Kyocera. Although, I doubt all those phones are available for the government program.

So, if someone needs this government subsidized service, it's a good deal.

 

[SandrA9810]

A friend of mine received one in the mail because she gets food stamps. She didn't even know about the program.

My mother could've really used one back when she took care of my brother. I tried connecting a landline, but she didn't always pay it. Eventually I added her to the cell phone contract, for an extra $10 a month to the bill.
It was much easier knowing she could get a hold of emergency services and well as contact me or my sister to know what was going on.

 

[charming23]

From what I've seen in the commercials, they use Tracfones for the free phones & service. I've had various models of Tracfones for about 9-10 years now. (Not the government subsidy program, the regular Tracfone service.) I love Tracfone.

The minimal (regular) Tracfone service one can get a month is for $7 per month. So, I'm sure they figured out a way to be subsidized by the government program to provide that service.

Tracfone RENTS service from the 3 major phone carriers: Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile. It is the SAME exact service. The cellphone brands are: Motorola, LG, Samsung & Kyocera. Although, I doubt all those phones are available for the government program.

So, if someone needs this government subsidized service, it's a good deal.

The phones themselves are not fancy at all. She has a standard phone that can only do the basics (no camera).

 

[aprilgail2]

Nothing is ever free. Someone is paying for these, just not the recipients.

yea- so now I can not only pay for my own cell phone but other peoples too!
I just found out Saturday that my friend has one- the same friend that goes to bingo every week spending 30.00-40.00 a week to play. So the government thinks that she needs a free phone so she can keep on playing bingo with the rest of the money they give her. And people wonder why taxpayers get pissed over the free handouts!

 

[sduck]

yea- so now I can not only pay for my own cell phone but other peoples too!
I just found out Saturday that my friend has one- the same friend that goes to bingo every week spending 30.00-40.00 a week to play. So the government thinks that she needs a free phone so she can keep on playing bingo with the rest of the money they give her. And people wonder why taxpayers get pissed over the free handouts!

I see no problem. The phone program is an either or - cell or land line. Your friend chose the cell. If she choses to use her money to play Bingo, who are we to tell her she can not, she is an adult.

To qualify for the phone if she is being honest, her income is low. This thread is not going to end well.

The problem above is that you are judging your friends choices. Not in my opinion the sign of a true friend. If I had a friend whose income was that low, I would be okay with them choosing to have a little fun. Other's feel that if you are on Social Services you deserve no life at all.

 

[cm8]

yea- so now I can not only pay for my own cell phone but other peoples too!
I just found out Saturday that my friend has one- the same friend that goes to bingo every week spending 30.00-40.00 a week to play. So the government thinks that she needs a free phone so she can keep on playing bingo with the rest of the money they give her. And people wonder why taxpayers get pissed over the free handouts!

As a friend, you should call her out on it

 

[aprilgail2]

As a friend, you should call her out on it

LOL--oh yea I did say something to her and got the "well since I am on medicaid and SSI I am entitled to it".. I had another friend (now ex friend because it pisses me off so much!) that was on medicaid and SSI but babysat for 4 kids in her house full time making money off the books-enough to go on vacations to Disney etc.

 

[Art 1]

I see no problem. The phone program is an either or - cell or land line. Your friend chose the cell. If she choses to use her money to play Bingo, who are we to tell her she can not, she is an adult.

To qualify for the phone if she is being honest, her income is low. This thread is not going to end well.

The problem above is that you are judging your friends choices. Not in my opinion the sign of a true friend. If I had a friend whose income was that low, I would be okay with them choosing to have a little fun. Other's feel that if you are on Social Services you deserve no life at all.

Would you be okay with them choosing to have fun with your money? If so and you don't mind paying for it more power to you. You could treat them out to dinner and a movie once a week.

 

[aprilgail2]

Would you be okay with them choosing to have fun with your money? If so and you don't mind paying for it more power to you. You could treat them out to dinner and a movie once a week.

 

[luvmy3]

I see no problem. The phone program is an either or - cell or land line. Your friend chose the cell. If she choses to use her money to play Bingo, who are we to tell her she can not, she is an adult.

To qualify for the phone if she is being honest, her income is low. This thread is not going to end well.

The problem above is that you are judging your friends choices. Not in my opinion the sign of a true friend. If I had a friend whose income was that low, I would be okay with them choosing to have a little fun. Other's feel that if you are on Social Services you deserve no life at all.

No see you have it wrong. I think they deserve a life however if they have $40 a week to blow on gambling then they don't deserve a tax payer funded phone contract Clearly they don't need it, which is why its available, so that pp's friend is abusing the system. If you are okay supporting that, write an extra check every year and save some of us the money