For those of you who, like me, are either disabled or on a strict monthly budget due to the Recession and economic downturn, there is a service available for many of us (19 states at present count) that provides you with not only a FREE cell phone, but with 50-70 minutes of FREE airtime each month - sufficient to maintain a lifeline AND cover many of your most important calls (or ALL of them if you do not use the phone every day.)
More below the fold......
You can learn more from this Snopes.com article:
FREE/DISCOUNTED CELL PHONE PLANS AVAILABLE......
The Lifeline™ program is available to many low-income Americans in every state and provides for hugely discounted installation and maintenance of phone service for very little per month.
Participation in any ONE of the listed state or federal programs qualifies one for these discounts and services. One does NOT have to be on 'welfare' to qualify.
But if you ARE on one or more of these programs, you may qualify for a FREE phone and FREE monthly minutes if you live in the 19 states covered by THIS program
FREE CELL PHONE and FREE MONTHLY MINUTES.....
Start at the link above and enter your ZIP CODE. If you live in a location where the program is available, you proceed to the enrollment form. They ship your phone and open your account within 5-10 business days. The number of FREE minutes you receive varies from state to state.
It may not be much - but many people can save between $25 and $50 a month through one or the other of these programs.
So if you need to watch your pennies, but are not comfortable having NO phone service whatsoever (in case of emergency or need to contact state agencies0, then PLEASE look into one or the other of these services!
They are there for a reason - to make sure no one is left cut off from the services they might need to maintain their households and their lives.