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Did you know that your phone can actually get deactivated if you don’t use it enough?

Cell phone companies call it “utilization.” If you don’t utilize your phone for two months, they’ll consider your phone a hog on the network. It’s still taking up bandwidth and radio frequency, but it’s not actually being used. So your account gets disabled.

Utilization means just about any action on your phone: making a phone call, taking a phone call, sending a text, reading a text, etc. Any action you take that sends or receives data from the network counts as utilization. Adding Airtime Cards also counts as utilization.

In short, just don’t throw your phone in a drawer or a bag and forget about. Give your phone to someone else if you plan on traveling for more than a month or two. Don’t let it go unused.

If your phone goes unused for more than 60 days, it will get shut down. You’ll then have 30 days to reactivate your phone. With ReachOut Mobile, all you need to do is use your phone within those 30 days to get reactivated. With all the other carriers, you’ll need to call their help line to get reactivated.

What to Do if You Get De-Activated

If your phone does get deactivated, don’t panic. Just follow these steps to get your account back up and running.

For Safelink Wireless Phones. If you reactivate your account within 60 days, you’ll keep all the minutes you had on your account. If it’s more than 60 days, you’ll lose all your credits. To reactivate, you’ll have to apply for the program all over again. Assuming you qualify, your phone will be reactivated. You may have to be assigned a new phone number, as your number may already have been returned to the number pool.

For ReachOut Wireless Phones. ReachOut will charge you a fee for letting your account go inactive. The fee is called the “Service Activation Fee.” Once you re-enroll, you’ll get your first 30 days of airtime, though you’ll most likely lose any additional credit on the account.

For Assurance Wireless Phones.  Letting your account go inactive on Assurance means you’re off the lifeline program. You’ll be able to transfer your account to a traditional Virgin Mobile plan. You can also run a “cash only” account and be charged $0.10 cents per minute. You can only run a cash account for a maximum of 120 days, before being required to sign up for a standard Virgin Mobile plan. If you choose not to enroll in a Virgin Mobile plan, your account will be terminated and any remaining balance on the account will be lost.

The bottom line is simple: use your phone!

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The telecommunications industry has utilized numerous contracts and types of phone numbers in order to provide services. Among these are toll free numbers and the telecommunications tariff. Toll free numbers are a useful marketing tool that allows subscribers to receive calls from customers, without customers paying the standard associated calling fees. Operators handle these calls in a variety of ways, depending on whether the customer is calling from a domestic or an international location. With the advent of new technology, many of these services no longer use a human operator, and instead rely on electronic operator programs. The telecommunications tariff governs the relationship between telecommunications companies and customers. Special tariffs permit telecommunications companies to charge amounts that deviate from the norm, contingent on government approval.

Toll free numbers are a type of phone number that callers may dial in order to receive certain information or services, without paying the traditional service fee that is associated with a call. In the United States, these are traditionally numbers that start with “500”, “700”, “800”, or “900”. As of 2013, toll free numbers are limited to those that that begin with “800”, “888”, “866”, or “855” (Federal Communications Commission 2013). These numbers are not attached to any geographic location. Having a toll free number also provides companies that have purchased these numbers with a unique set of feature. Many times, the company may easily track information related to calls, such as call times and phone numbers that were used to make the call. The subscriber can also utilize call blocking to limit access to its number to a certain geographical region (Rajat et al. 1996).

These unique features have proven to be one of the most valuable aspects of the toll free number service. Not only do businesses get extensive business intelligence, they can also utilize cloud-based services to manage the information, and control where their calls must be routed; this facilitates operations for businesses that have many working locations. In the last decade, the vast majority of phone service providers no longer charge for long distance calls in the United States. Additionally, many customers have comprehensive phone plans, and the existence of a toll-free number no longer incentivizes customers to call. However, the additional features that toll- free numbers provide have ensured that businesses still view the additional cost of obtaining a toll free number as worthwhile. With over 24 million toll free numbers currently in use in the US, these numbers will continue to be a significant part of business culture (Goldberg 2012; SMS/800 2008).“

Responsible Organizations” or “RespOrgs,” who regulate the toll free number issuing process, assign these numbers. These entities access the SMS/800 database, which lists all toll-free numbers. The FCC establishes regulation that determines under what conditions a toll free number may be obtained by a qualified entity. Number may not be hoarded or warehoused – they must be actively used by the entities that purchase them. Additionally, an entity without “RespOrg” status may not sell a toll free number to another entity (Federal Communications Commission 2013).

In order for a call to a toll free number to be completed, the call must be routed. This ensures that the call reaches its intended destination. First, the Service Switch Point determines that a number is toll free due to its number prefix. This then leads to a connection to the Service Control Point, which is able to provide the routing instructions that must be followed. Then, the toll-free number is translated into a standard geographic number, and the call is connected (Federal Communications Commission 2013).

The way that a toll-free number is handled depends on whether it is a domestic or interexchange call. Most countries are divided into regions called exchanges, and within each exchange a local telephone company handles all phone services. Intraexchange calls, which do not leave the individual region, would be managed by the individual local telephone company. However, those that cross exchanges – such as a call that originates in one country and is made to another country – are referred to as interexchange calls. These are typically managed by the country’s respective Telecommunication Administration, which routes the call as is appropriate (Rajat et al. 1996).

Operators can assist in this process in a variety of way. These operators are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and may be either live or automated. However, an operator no longer routinely manages calls – a customer must call a number that features operator assistance, such as 1-800-CALL-ATT. The operator assists in managing the call by enabling a customer to call collect, to bill a third number, to connect you to a specific person within a larger business, to dial the call directly for you, or to provide the time and charges associated with your Operator Assisted call. Innovative phone networks now handle the majority of features that were traditionally managed by an operator (AT&T 2013).  As of 1994, there was no way for callers from countries outside the US to handle US-based toll-free calls. However, AT&T filed a patent to extend access to the toll-free system to non-US-based callers. This patent system did not involve an operator, it operated through automatic recognition of international toll-free calls (Rajat et al. 1996).

An operator is available to provide directory assistance for customers wishing to find out the phone number that corresponded to certain goods and services. This service is provided by AT&T under the Federal Communication Commission’s rule 47, C.F.R. 63.71 and section 214(a) of the Communications Act of 1934, 47 U.S.C. 214(a). AT&T was able to provide this service by accessing its Directory Assistance Database. AT&T requested that this service be discontinued as of March 31, 2000, as there were other reasonable substitutes that could provide toll free directory assistance. AT&T found that in light of the increased availability of substitutes, the high cost of providing the service did not justify its declining value. However, the service remains active to this date (Federal Communications Commission 1999). This service is free to consumers, though not all toll-free numbers are listed in the directory. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) hopes to expand its directory provision services to other competitors, who will utilize a 1-888-555-XXXX number to provide these services (Federal Communications Commission 2013).

Telecommunications tariffs provide conditions on the relationship between telecommunications agencies and customers. Since telecommunication companies are primarily businesses, they may not have customers’ best interests at heart, and may not provide adequate information for customers to make an informed decision. In order to fill this gap, telecommunication tariffs are documents that publicly disclose rates and fees for services. These must be filed with government regulatory agencies.

These telecommunications tariffs originated with the advent of public phone service. In these times, the services provided were less complex, and customers were able to simply read the tariffs to understand how much they would be charged for each type of call. Additionally, only a few telecommunication industries participated in the market, facilitating decision-making. As the market became increasingly competitive, the need for regulation decreased. In 2001, the FCC declared the telecommunications market was fully competitive in the United States, and eliminated the need to file tariffs with federal regulatory agencies. However, to continue operating, many state and local governments still require telecommunications tariffs (Telanalysis 2011).

As smaller companies entered the market, the FCC did not require these companies publish their tariffs. The FCC wanted to prevent collusion that would lead to continued artificially elevated pricing. However, the larger carriers found it difficult to compete with these smaller companies, who often would offer customers lower prices. Only the smaller companies enjoyed the benefit of special tariffs, while so-called ‘dominant carriers’ were restricted to charging customers more because of their tariff agreements. In light of this situation, AT&T began to apply for special tariff filings, arguing that it was necessary in order to stay competitive (Brotman 1995).

These special tariffs were still binding contracts, though they differed from the publicly available contracts. Special tariffs may also apply to services that are notconsidered a part of the ordinary telephone market, such as emergency calls, free calls, and premium rate calls. Emergency call and free calls occur without charge, while premium rate calls are used for services that wish to charge higher rates, such as competitions or information services. These contracts can only occur in the United States through special applications to the Federal Communications Commission to exempt the company from Tariff 12 Rates (Arnold 1989). In recent years, special tariffs have been used to target low usage long-distance subscribers. These can increase service coverage and profitability for companies that wish to offer these special tariffs (Wireline 2007). When Internet services were primarily accessed through modems, some countries offered special tariffs to educational institutions that wished to access the Internet using their phone service (The Campaign for Unmetered Telecommunications 1999).

Special tariffs are also provided in some countries to individuals who are elderly, low income, or in rural areas. These are meant to encourage universal service and facilitate day-to-day activities through the provision of phone services. The United States utilizes targeted small-scale programs, such as Link-up and Lifeline. The United Kingdom uses similar programs to target underserved populations, named “low user” schemes. Some countries additionally provide concessions based on certain criteria for eligibility. Turkey provides very low-cost services and some free calls to underserved populations. Spain provides those who are retired or receiving benefits from the state with a special tariff plan. Belgium offers social tariffs to all eligible customers, and mandates that all telecommunications companies pay into a fund to offset the costs of these social tariff plans. Australia has created an “Access for Everyone” plan that targets underserved populations. Hungary has established a special tariff for subscribers with a low income (Kibar 2007).

The telecommunications industry has evolved as new technologies have become widespread. However, throughout these changes, toll-free numbers have remained an important service that businesses employ in order to increase profitability. Although customers may no longer benefit from the cost-saving aspects of the toll-free call, these special numbers offer business intelligence opportunities that have remained popular with businesses. On the other hand, tariffs have changed extensively in the United States. While a few companies dominated the market, tariffs were essentially universal, and there were few special tariffs. As the market became deregulated and more competitors emerged, special tariffs became more common. Many other countries offer special tariffs to increase accessibility to telecommunications services for under served populations.

Bibliography

Arnold, Jay. 1989. “FCC Permits AT&T to Continue Customized Discounts,”  Associated Press.

AT&T. 2013. “AT&T Operator Services,” AT&T Webpage. < http://www.att.com/gen/general?pid=13695>.

Brotman, Stuart. 1995. “Communications law and practice,” Law Journal Seminars PR.

Chanda, Rajat, Hani M. Dib and Steven T. Heinsius. International Toll-Free Calling Process. US Patent 5550909, filed Oct. 14, 1994 and issued Aug. 27, 1996.

Federal Communications Commission. 1999. “Public Notice: NSD File No. W-P-D-443, Dscontinuance,” Network Services Division, Nov. 16.<http://transition.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Common_Carrier/Public_Notices/1999/da992541.html>.

Federal Communications Commission. 2013. “What Is a Toll-Free Number and How Does it Work?,”< http://www.fcc.gov/guides/toll-free-numbers-and-how-

they-work>.

Goldberg, Art. 2012. “Do we really need toll free anymore?”, Beyond Bandwith, June 28.

Kibar, Yunus Sevki. 2007. “Competition, Changes in Technology and Universal Service,” Dissertation submitted for the MA Degree in Communications Policy at the University of Westminster.

SMS/800. 2008. “Why is Toll Free Important?”, SMS/800 website, <http://www.sms800.com/>.

Telanalysis. 2011. “Understanding and Untangling Telecommunications Tariffs,” Telanalysis Telecommunications. <http://www.telanalysis.com/telecom-audit-blog/telecom-billing/understanding-and-untangling-telecommunications-tariffs/>.

The Campaign for Unmetered Telecommunications. 1999. “Connecting Public Institutions – BT’s Public Institutions Internet Caller Service”, Campaign for Unmetered Telecommunications.

Wireline. 2007. “AT&T and Verizon can unite local, LD operations,” TeleGeography–Authoritative Telecom Data, Sep 4.

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Section 8 of the Housing Act of 1937 (more commonly known as just “Section 8”) is a government program that helps US residents pay for rent and other living expenses. It serves just over 3 million households, which is over 2% of all households in the United States. Needless to say, it’s a substantial program.

Qualifying for Section 8 will also automatically qualify you for the Lifeline program. Even if you don’t qualify for Lifeline based on your income, if you qualify for Section 8, you’ll be able to get a free cell phone. You’ll also save a ton of money on your rent!

Contrary to what the government claims, you do not have to be a US citizen to be approved for Section 8. In fact, some estimates put Section 8’s non-US citizen residency rate at almost 60%.

How do you apply for Section 8?

Finding the Right Office

The largest Section 8 program is called the Housing Choice Voucher program. This program accounts for about 2.1 million households, or about two-thirds of the Section 8 program. If you want to qualify for Housing Choice, you need to first get in touch with your local Public Housing Authorities (PHAs). You can locate your local PHAs here.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development  (HUD) administers the other areas of the program. For example, specific sections of housing may be reserved for US army veterans. Other housing programs apply only to the homeless. The goal of the HUD is to provide affordable housing for all Americans, regardless of socioeconomic background.

To find your local HUD office, click here. If you’re going through any program except the Housing Choice Voucher program, contact HUD instead of your PHA.

Do Some Research

Before meeting with someone from the HUD, it pays to do some research. Talk to people on Section 8 in your area about what the approval process was like. Look for tips to make the application process easier.

For example, one core factor that the HUD looks at is your income relative to the median income of the rental area. So, one strategy could be to look for housing in higher earning areas, which would make your income look lower in comparison.

A tip for non-citizens is that only one legal US resident is required to live in a Section 8 house in order to qualify. In other words, you could get a four bedroom house for four people, even if three of them aren’t legal US citizens.

There are all kinds of little tips and tricks that can make the application process easier. Spend some time studying the specific rules in your area, as well as meeting people who can help you get through the process faster.

Gather Your Documents

Applying for Section 8 requires quite a bit of documentation. There are three pieces of documentation that are essential:

1. Salary Verification. You need to have pay stubs from your employer to prove that you’re indeed earning what you say you’re earning. You may also be asked for bank statements.
2. Confirmation of rent or mortgage. You need paperwork showing that your monthly rent or mortgage is what you say it is. This can be in the form of a lease for a rental, or a mortgage contract if you purchased the home. If you’re on a month to month and don’t have a lease, you’ll need to bring in some form of written agreement between you and your landlord.
3. Proof of US citizenship for at least one resident. This could be a US passport, a social security card and/or a driver’s license. A social security number will be required.

What Happens Once You’re Approved?

Once you’re approved, your rent will be lowered to 30% of your adjusted gross income. If your adjusted gross income is $1,000, then your rent will be $300. The rest is covered by the HUD’s vouchers.

Before you can start receiving these benefits, the HUD will require that you sign a one year lease with your landlord. They may need to inspect your living area to make sure the home falls under their safety guidelines. The landlord may need to sign an agreement that requires them to provide safe housing for you and your family. You may need to sign an agreement to pay the rent on time.

Getting Approved for Lifeline

Once you have Section 8 approval, bring your paperwork to any participating Lifeline location. Your Section 8 qualification will allow you to get a cell phone in no time at all. No other qualifications will be necessary.

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Your free government provided cell phone will come with 250 free minutes a day. That means you have a little less than 10 minutes a day of talk time. That’s enough time to answer the occasional call from employers or for brief calls with family, but it’s not nearly enough for day to day life.

If you think you’ll need more than 250 minutes, all you need to do is add more minutes to your phone. There are a few different ways to do this.

Most carriers will let you add minutes directly from your phone. The number to call is pre-programmed on your phone. You can also usually buy credits from the same place that you got your phone from. You may also be able to buy credits in grocery stores and cell phone stores.

Here’s how to add minutes for each of the major carriers.

Adding Minutes on Assurance

Assurance Wireless comes with 250 free minutes each month. For a lot of customers that just isn’t enough. Here’s how to add more time.

Adding Cash

One popular option is to simply add cash to your account. This is like setting up a bank account that you can “withdraw” from whenever you need extra minutes. The process is simple: just call the phone number that’s pre-programmed into your phone.

If you go over your allotted 250 free minutes, the plan will then dip into your account. Assurance charges 10 cents for every minute over the free plan. In other words, it costs $1 for every 10 minutes of talk time.

Choosing a Different Plan

If you need a lot more time than 250 minutes, you’re probably better off selecting an add-on plan.

The $5 addon plan is a very popular option. For just $5 bucks, you’ll double your 250 minutes to 500 minutes. If you were paying on a per-minute basis, you’d get only 50 minutes for $5 bucks.

Another popular option is the $20 addon plan. This plan gets you 1,000 minutes a month, which is roughly half an hour a day of talk time. In addition, this plan also includes 1000 free text messages, which is far more than you’d ever need in a month.

All these plans work on a per-month basis. There are no contracts and you can upgrade or downgrade any time you choose. If you want to go back to the free plan, all you need to do is make one phone call.

If you go over your plan’s allotment, you’ll automatically be charged $.10 cents per minute. If there’s no money left in your account, your phone will be disconnected.

Text Messages on Assurance

Text messages aren’t included on the basic plan. Text messages and email receipt notifications cost $.10 cents each. If it’s a MMS or picture text, it costs $.25 cents.

You can also get addon plans for text messages on a monthly basis:

• $2.00 a month for 30 monthly messages
• $5.00 a month for 200 monthly messages
• $10.00 a month for 1,000 monthly messages
• $20.00 a month for unlimited monthly messages

Adding Minutes on Safelink Wireless

Safelink works a bit differently from other phone plans. Unlike Assurance, which gives you 250 free minutes each month, Safelink has three different plans that you can choose from.

Plan #1 – This plan only has 68 free minutes. However, unused minutes from each month carry over to the next month. Also, text messages are cheaper and only cost 1/3rd of a minute. Limited long distance calls are included. This plan is great for people who tend to text instead of call.

Plan #2 –  This plan includes 125 free minutes and also carries unused minutes over to the next month. There are no long distance calls and text messages cost one minute.

Plan #3 – You get 250 free minutes. Minutes do not carry. This is the plan that’s the most similar to the other plans.

Most Safelink customers are on one of these three plans. No matter which plan you choose however, there’s no getting around the fact that there just aren’t that many minutes provided.

Fortunately, there are many easy ways to add minutes to your Safelink account. Keep in mind that because Safelink is a subsidiary of Tracfone, they both use the same system for adding minutes. Buying a Tracfone refill card is the same thing as buying a Safelink refill card. Here are the various different ways to add minutes for Safelink.

Getting it Online

Perhaps the easiest way to get more minutes is to buy them online. Just go to Tracfone.com to add minutes to your account. Keep in mind that you’ll need a valid credit card to make the transaction.

It’s worth noting that the Safelink website also sells airtime cards. However, the cards offered on the Safelink website offer minutes at a higher rate than the Tracfone website. Since Tracfone cards work on Safelink as well, it makes a lot more sense to buy directly from Tracfone instead of going through Safelink. You cut out one middleman and cut out the added expense.

By Telephone

You can add more minutes to your account by calling Tracfone’s refill phone number. It’s 1-800-378-1684. Again, you’ll need to process the transaction by phone.

At an In Person Location

Tracfone has refill deals with over 80,000 retail outlets around the country. Most major retail outlets that cater to your geographic neighborhood would probably carry refill cards. Tracfone’s partners include Target, Kmart, Radio Shack, Family Dollar, Walmart, CVS and many others.

Small cell phone outlets will also often carry refill cards. If in doubt, returning to where you got your phone in the first place is a good bet (as long as it’s a store, not a streetside vendor.)

How to Use an Airtime Card

Let’s say you’ve purchased an Airtime Card from Walmart with 800 minutes. How do you add it to your phone?

Start by turning on your phone and letting it boot. Then go to the main screen and select Prepaid Menu. Scroll until you find “Add Airtime” or “Redeem Airtime.” Select that option. Enter the PIN or card number on the next screen. Double check your entry before pressing confirm.

The system will then process your request. This takes less than two minutes. Once the system confirms the validity of the card, you’ll receive a text message to confirm that your Airtime Card balance has been added to your account.

Adding Minutes on ReachOut Wireless

ReachOut’s system is a little bit different than the other systems. For one, paid minutes never expire. The 250 free minutes don’t roll over from month to month, but the paid minutes do. If you don’t use up your balance, you can use it the next month (and the next, and the next, and so on.) If there’s a promo or a special going on, it makes sense to buy a lot of minutes upfront, as you can save them up and use them later.

Unlike TracFone, ReachOut doesn’t have as many connection with retail outlets. Instead, they have direct relationships with money handling establishments like MoneyGram and Western Union. Here’s how to add minutes on a ReachOut phone.

Using the Internet

With a valid credit or debit card, refilling online takes less than 10 minutes. Just go to ReachOutMobile.com to buy an airtime card. There is no physical card that will be delivered; instead it’s instantly added to your phone’s balance.

ReachOutMobile’s system doesn’t process your order on the website. Instead, the PIN number of your airtime card is displayed on your screen. All you need to do is enter the PIN number into your phone. Once it’s entered, within 2 minutes you’ll receive a text confirming your additional minutes.

Adding Minutes at Western Union

Western Union is an international organization dedicated to helping people send money abroad. Because they’re often situated in lower income areas, they’ve also agreed to help sell ReachOut Mobile’s airtime cards. Airtime cards that are purchased at Western Union are automatically entered onto your phone plan, so you don’t even have to enter the PIN yourself.

To find a Western Union location near you, just head to westernunion.com or use Google Maps and search for “Western Union.” Not all locations carry Airtime Cards.

Adding Minutes at MoneyGram

MoneyGram makes it easy to pay cash for minutes. One big problem with online transactions is that a lot of people on government assisted phone plans don’t have credit cards, or often even a checking account. Since the minutes on ReachOut never expire, it’s easy to buy as many minutes as you need in one trip.

MoneyGram has over 40,000 locations across the United States. To find one, go to moneygram.com or use Google Maps and search for “MoneyGram”. Many locations are inside other retailers like CVS or Walmart.

Tips on Adding Minutes

Here are a few tips on adding minutes, no matter what network you’re on:

1) Look for promo codes. Google “Promo Code ReachOut” or “Promo Code Assurance” and so on. Promo codes can save you as much as 40%, or get you hundreds of free minutes. Promo codes are more prevalent around specific times of year, like Christmas or Thanksgiving.

2) Try not to have a credit card on file. It’s okay to buy Airtime Cards with a credit card or to add cash to your account with a credit card, but avoid having a credit card that can be billed on a recurring basis. Having a credit card on file lets the phone companies bill you for anything that goes wrong. For example, if you forget to renew your annual verification for the government assistance program, you may be billed a late fee as well as start getting charged a monthly fee. Not having a card on file helps you avoid these problems.

3) You can always make emergency calls regardless of whether you have minutes on your phone. Calling 911 is always free.

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With the greater risk associated with the elderly, the ability to communicate is a necessity. The elevated occurrences of injury and illness that accompany old age bring an increased need to remain in contact. Problematically, many seniors find themselves on a fixed budget, unable to pay the high costs of maintaining a phone line. Consequently, the government has created a subsidized cell phone program, providing eligible senior citizens with phones and monthly minutes.

This program, known as Lifeline, provides phones and service to qualifying low-income citizens. Originally created during the Reagan administration in 1985, and subsequently updated by the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the program initially intended to provide landline telephone service. However, in recognition of the obsolescence of landlines, and the advent of new technologies, Lifeline was updated in 2008 under the Bush administration to include cell phones. Ironically, the correlation of President Obama’s inauguration with Lifeline’s expanded cell-phone service caused the program erroneously to be attributed to Obama. The phones have subsequently become known in slang, as ‘Obama’ phones.

Lifeline is available to qualifying residents in all of the fifty states. The program is administered by the FCC, and applied for directly through local, government-approved, phone providers. Several companies exist that specialize in Lifeline service, including SafeLink Wireless, Assurance Wireless, and Reachout Wireless. The service is funded by a small fee, known as the Universal Service Fee, added to most people’s monthly phone bill. Lifeline benefits are restricted by household; only one person per home is eligible for enrollment. Currently, Lifeline provides service to over 8 million, and estimates another 20 million are eligible for benefits.

While senior citizens are certainly one of the program’s targeted demographics, Lifeline was designed to provide service to anyone who can’t afford a cell phone. Lifeline provides phones, and monthly minutes to eligible participants in a number of government assistance programs, as well as those whose incomes fall below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines.Taking advantage of the Lifeline program is fairly straightforward. There are a number of resources available online to seniors, and others who qualify. Additionally, information regarding local phone companies who provide Lifeline service can be found.

To enroll in Lifeline, the first step is determining eligibility. There is a Lifeline Eligibility Pre-Screening Tool available online at www.lifelinesupport.org. Eligibility requirements differ from state to state, however, in general, to qualify one must have an income at or below 135% of the federal Poverty Guidelines, or participate in one of the following programs:

• Medicaid;
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program;
• Supplemental Security Income;
• Federal Public Housing Assistance;
• Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program;
• Temporary Assistance to Needy Families;
• The National School Lunch Program;
• Applicable State Assistance Program;

Applicants seeking Lifeline are required to submit documentation verifying their enrollment in these programs. After determining eligibility, the next step in receiving Lifeline assistance, is the application process. Enrollment is done through the customers local, government approved cell phone provider. There is a tool online to help consumers locate a Lifeline provider in their state at www.lifelinesupport.org. During the application process, customers are asked to verify income, and enrollment in specific assistance programs, as well as provide personal information (i.e. name, social security number, age, sex, address, marital status, etc.).

One such provider, available to citizens of Washington state (amongst others), is SafeLink Wireless. Created by TracFone Wireless, Inc., SafeLink is government approved to provide free phones and phone bill assistance to those who qualify under the Lifeline program. In addition to free phones, SafeLink converts the monthly Lifeline discount into free minutes, allocating them to its customers. So, once the applicant has been approved, they receive a free phone, as well as a phone plan with up to 250 minutes per month. Those interested in applying can do so at www.safelinkwireless.com.

The accessibility to a phone is a necessity for senior citizens. A cell phone is imperative to make emergency phone calls, to schedule medical appointments, and to stay in touch with relatives. In addition, there is a sense of comfort, convenience, and security that comes with access to a phone. However, with the cost of living increasing, along with heightened medical bills, and a fixed budget, many seniors are unable to afford the exorbitant monthly bills that accompany most cell phone contracts. The Lifeline program provides a solution for the elderly. By providing free phones, and airtime, Lifeline ensures that access to a cell phone is achievable to every household.

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The Hurricane Sandy disaster is an ominous reminder that severe weather is a looming concern for people around the world. In the United States, we have distinct systems connected with cell phone providers to deliver safety notifications to those in the path of a natural disaster, but what if there isn’t a cell phone in your household?

A terrifying thought indeed to be locked out of all sources of communication and information during such a catastrophic event like Hurricane Sandy. But this is reality for many of our nation’s low income families and the elderly living on social security benefits.

Lifeline is a government program created to provide these demographics with a cell phone or landline in their household for a reduced rate of service. The Lifeline program is funded by the Universal Service Fund which is missioned to connect America, no matter their annual income.

The USF collects its money from cell phone service providers across the country. Most service providers pass this fee onto their customers in their monthly phone bills, usually only amounting to a couple dollars (two to three) a month.

The USF believes everyone should have access to authorities, emergency contacts, safety notifications and informational updates during a torrential storm such as Hurricane Sandy. But do not associate the generous Lifeline program with the mythical ‘obama phone’.

The obama phone does not exist. It is a rumor spread by smear campaigns and propagated by ignorance. The Lifeline program has a rich history of simply helping those who need the help.

Lifeline began in the 1980s under Ronald Reagan’s administration. At this time, the program only offered one landline per household. The landline was crucial as this was one of the main media sources in which important information was communicated at that time.

During President George W. Bush’s presidency, cell phones and internet communication had trumped landline communication almost entirely. Lifeline updated their program to allow one cell phone OR one landline per household to compensate for the landline’s popularity decline.

Lifeline has strict regulations when accepting applicants for its service as well, not everyone is eligible for Lifeline’s discounted phone services. These qualifications change depending on the state of residence of the individual, but generally follow along the same lines.

Potential Lifeline customers must already receive assistance from another government aid program such as SNAP (food stamps) or Medicaid. If the individual does not receive assistance from one of the related government aid programs, their gross household income must come out to 135 percent (or 150 percent depending on state) below the country’s poverty line.

The individual must also be able to verify these requirements with items dawned ‘proof documents’. Accepted proof documents change depending on state residence as well, but generally should be accepted if they are government issued documents which verify the individual’s eligibility qualifications of the Lifeline program.

On the night Hurricane Sandy hit, citizens of the New York City area became aware of just how important having a cell phone truly is in a constantly modernizing world.

As reported by The Atlantic.com, “Some cell phone subscribers got emergency messages pushed directly to their phones. ‘Imminent Threat Alert,’ read one that came in just after 9:30 p.m. ‘Go indoors immediately and remain inside. DO NOT DRIVE. Call 9-1-1 for emergencies only.’”

The officials in charge of our country’s safety have developed a PLAN (Personal Localized Alerting Network) born from WARN (Warning, Alert and Response Network).

Because of the threatening events in NYC’s past, officials began utilizing every method of communication they could to alert the public of any possible threats. Many of these methods revolved around our modern technologies.

The Atlantic.com wrote, “Americans are getting their information from a far more diverse array of sources than in years gone by, so WARN’s purpose was to upgrade the emergency alert system to reach them through a wider variety of channels.”

It seems for some low income individuals, families and elderly who cannot afford these technologies, the world is moving on without them. Safety alerts are trying to reach a wider breadth of people by communicating through different numerous media, but if the simplest, a cell phone, is out of reach to many, how will they survive the next catastrophic event?

The Atlantic.com, “If a government is going to start relying on people getting their Hurricane Sandy information by text message, then you can see where the idea of subsidizing phone service might make sense. Rescue efforts are expensive.”

In the end Lifeline is providing the low income population in our country basic, discounted phones that may one day save a life. Whether the emergency be as small as a car break in or as serious as a category 2 hurricane, everyone in our nation has a right to know as much information as their neighbor.

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With unemployment numbers refusing to budge and the housing market teetering above water, more and more households are finding themselves with even tighter budgets. Since the start of this economic recession there has been a sharp increase in the need for state funded safety net programs. Programs such as Medicaid for health insurance, Section 8 for housing assistance, and food stamps are programs that address the basic necessities for living such as food and housing. In more recent years telephone service has also been added as an eligible benefit for households that already receive some sort of government funded assistance. Free cell phone plans from the government have been outlined in commercials airing in WA State under names like Assurance Wireless or Linked Program. The commercial briefly outlines the eligibility requirements for applying and for getting approved. The commercials emphasize the process as being quick and simple given that you have been approved or have already been receiving some sort of government assistance prior to applying. The application process also requires basic documentation such as pay stubs, valid identification, and social security number.

Upon approval, which is to be only one recipient per household, a basic cell phone is sent to the address given. The cell phone is reloaded with up to 250 minutes and text each month and offers limited service. For an additional fee the recipient may add long distance coverage to their plan. Eligibility is reevaluated at the end of each month to determine if the recipient is still eligible for the program. Recipients are notified through their phone if their eligibility review is coming up. They are also to notify should they have any changes to their income or demographic information, which is standard with almost all welfare or government assistance programs.

In 1985 the Lifeline Program was created with the help of the FCC as a means to help provide “opportunities and security that telephone service offers” to everyone. The Lifeline Program was initially supposed to provide discounts on monthly telephone service. The logic behind the discount was essentially affordability and security. Having reliable phone service provided the link to employment resources, family, and emergency services. The application process is straightforward and is fairly simple to complete. It is now being considered as a bundled benefit for any prospective applicants. This means if you are applying for housing assistance of food stamps only, you can use the application and information you already have to complete an application for a phone. Social service offices have been utilizing this comprehensive approach of searching for all qualified and necessary benefits to apply for from the initial application point in order to provide the most aid for the allotted duration. Free cell phone programs are not meant to be permanent providers. It is one of the newer benefits being added to a network of safety net programs designed to assist low-income families but also to help manage the financial burden for families that have downsized or simply cannot afford their lifestyle. The eligibility requirements are largely income based but can also depend on other external circumstances such as another child, loss of a job or breadwinner or a disability. One phone is allotted per household and for nominal fees Internet and text messaging can also be added with the expense on the recipient.

These types of programs have gained more popularity as more and more Americans are finding themselves strapped for cash and downsizing due to the decline in employment and the housing market. High-risk populations such as single parent homes and the elderly who are on a fixed income have been dramatically affected by the economic downturn. They aren’t able to keep up with payments and have other, more pressing concerns such as medications and childcare to pay for rather than a home phone or cell phone. Not having adequate and reliable phone service can be dangerous for these populations because they will not have access to emergency services, childcare providers, doctors, family members and work. Young people who are just starting off in the workplace and cannot afford phone service on their own are also at risk. With the rise of social media and virtual networking, not having a working phone number or email address can present a huge disadvantage in terms of employment opportunities and even with academics. Despite the pros and cons of free cell phones the importance of having a communication connection cannot be ignored. Cell phones have become a necessity in order to maintain an adequate lifestyle. It is the one true link that keeps everything functioning and connected.

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Recent times have been tough in the American economy. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that from 1948 to 2013, the unemployment rate in the US averaged at 5.81%. In May of 2010, the unemployment rate was at a high 9.9%. It has since dropped two points holding at 7.9% currently. Despite the two percent drop, Americans have come to understand that the number of jobs created does not always coincide with the number of Americans trying to enter the workforce, as competition for all types of jobs is very high. With the rise of couponing and other money saving habits, Americans have found ways to cope in this economy, as every little bit helps. Thankfully, there is additional help available through government regulated assistance programs such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families And, believe it or not, there is an assistance program that offers Americans free access to cell phone service. The Lifeline assistance program is regulated by the Federal Communications Commission and exists as a means for low-income households to be able to connect to current and/or potential employers, family and emergency services.

The federal Lifeline program has been active since 1985, offering assistance for home phones. And in 2005, Lifeline made available the option to choose from home phone assistance plans or wireless assistance plans. Much to some Americans’ concern, Lifeline is actually not funded by taxes. Rather, the program exists through the Universal Service Fund (USF) which all telecommunications companies in the US have to contribute to based on their revenues. This program has been known to be somewhat controversial, as the telecommunication companies then charge their customers a USF-related fee on their monthly bill in order to recover the money lost through contributing to the fund. In addition, the program faced scrutiny a couple years ago when Senator Claire McCaskill, a well-known millionaire, received an offer to apply for a free government cell phone. Thankfully, since then, the FCC has come up with new rules to better regulate the program which should go into affect this year.If you or someone you know is in need of the assistance that Lifeline offers, then here is some detailed information you need to know. If your household is already accepting government assistance, then applying to receive a Lifeline phone should be easy.To be accepted to participate in the program, an applicant must either have an income that is below 136% of the federal Poverty Guidelines and/or receive assistance from one or more of the following programs:

Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance;

Head Start;

Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations;

Federal Public Housing Assistance;

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program;

Medicaid;

National School Lunch Program’s free lunch program;

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance;

Supplemental Security Income;

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families;

Tribally-Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families;

Other applicable State assistance programs.

If you do not receive aid from one of the above listed programs, and you are unsure of whether or not your income is within the guidelines, then you can visit the Universal Service Administrative Company website for Lifeline at www.lifelinesupport.org. This website has a very helpful Pre-Screening Tool that only takes minutes to complete. Please be aware that if you do not already receive government assistance, you may need to know the amount of your household’s earned income before you begin the pre-screening process. Keep in mind that only one Lifeline phone account is permitted per household.

For an applicant that already receives government assistance or who has passed the pre-screening, you can officially apply for a Lifeline phone through your local phone company. In the state of Arizona, there are 24 local phone companies that participate in the Lifeline program including CenturyLink, Valley TeleCom Group and Safelink Wireless. The actual application process may vary from company to company but should be fairly simple, as an application may be filled out online or over the phone.

Once a consumer has been approved and has gained access to a Lifeline account, it is up to them to maintain the Lifeline service. Once a year, Lifeline account holders must undergo re-certification in order to determine if they are still eligible for the service and to make sure that no one else in their household receives Lifeline service.

With the competition for jobs being so high, it is tough for a lot of Americans to be able to pay for modern necessities such as phone service. Whether you or someone you know is an elderly person in need of access to an emergency line, a person looking for a job and in need of connecting to an employer, or a parent that needs to have the ability to contact their child when away, the Lifeline program can help. Although such programs may be controversial, for a person truly in need of assistance, especially those looking for work, the Lifeline program is here to help alleviate the inability to pay for phone service.To get more information about Lifeline, or access the Pre-Screening Tool and a list of telephone companies in your area, visit www.lifelinesupport.org.

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The federal government has a number of programs to help low-income individuals pay for or receive free basic services, such as housing and health care. If you can’t afford a cell phone contract, there is help available for qualifying individuals. With the increase in cell phone use, qualifying individuals now can get free cell phones and minutes without having to sign a contract. The government through the Lifeline Assistance Program has been offering subsidized phone service for low-income individuals since 1984, according to eHow.com. This program has been updated to include wireless service. If you quality for the service, you can get a free cell phone and free minutes through such government-funded phone service providers SafeLink Wireless, Expert Choice Cellular or Assurance Wireless. Eligibility and minute plans vary from state to state. Types of phones also vary from state to state. In Washington, according to Expert Choice Cellular, qualifying individuals can get 250 minutes a month for free through the Lifeline program. Wireless plans in Washington include caller ID, call waiting and voice mail.

Individuals who qualify for the Lifeline program are probably already receiving help through the government in the form of food stamps, Medicare or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, more commonly known as welfare.You also can qualify based on income, which in general must be at or below the national poverty level depending on family size. Income eligibility requirements may differ from state to state. Service through these providers is limited to one individual per household. SafeLink, for example, offers three plans that all include local and nationwide call, nationwide text, free roaming and directory assistance, according to eHow.com. You can choose a plan that offers 68, 125 or 250 minutes. Roll-over minutes and text rules vary depending on which plan you choose. The number of plans available to qualifying individuals through these service providers varies from state to state. If you go through SafeLink and your application is approved, you can expect your phone in five to 10 business days, according to eHow.com. All service providers offer ways to add minutes or text messages at a low cost. The service can be canceled any time. To see if you qualify, visit one of the providers and follow the instructions. You also can qualify over the phone, but it might be quicker online. You will be asked to fill out an application and verify your income. You also will need to provide the last four digits of your Social Security number, birth date and mailing address (you can’t get a phone sent to a P.O. box), among other pieces of information.

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Freedom from phone bills! If every politician hash-tagged these words to his campaign, voter turnout just might go through the proverbial roof, and then punch through the proverbial glass ceiling above that roof. Phone expenses are a pain for many, if not all, American citizens, and a non-issue for the .00012% (I did the math) who control 50% of the nation’s wealth. Safelink, the cellular phone service that costs 0.00 dollars per month, now available all over again for low-income families feeling the bill pinch. Phone assistance programs are nothing new for American families. The idea was first implemented in 1985 as the Lifeline Assistance Program by the Reagan administration and has since provided services to those surviving on the poverty line. The program received its ‘Safelink polish’ in 2012 for the sake of cellular phones, now owned by 87% of American adults, and THE INTERNET, the newest rage from those brains at MIT. So, why wait so long to update the Lifeline initiative? After all, cell phones have been in wide usage for fifteen years. Did they, like, forget? Technology has to cycle out. We’ve seen the evolution from antennae phones to pocket devices to internet-capable smart devices that can anticipate your buying decisions and social networking trends. Now that cellular phones have been in circulation for over a decade, and are in most households, it makes sense for the government to prop up the industry that makes them with a program that makes them free of charge to Americans with low income- especially if they can hand out the low-tech models that get the job done.

Safelink is run by a company called Tracfone, which is a subsidiary of America Movil, a telecom giant headquartered in Mexico City which stands as the 3rd largest in the world for total subscribers.

Safelink applies what’s called the Universal Service Fund subsidy for an allotment of free airtime minutes, and Tracfone provides the wireless handset at the company’s expense. Safelink is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company, a non-profit created in 1997 to collect universal service contributions from telecommunications carriers and administer universal support mechanisms designed to help families all over America hit the snooze button! These boring old ‘facts’ don’t come with a shiny new cell phone.

 Safelink cellular service is available in 36 states, along with DC and Puerto Rico. If you’re from Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, Vermont, South Dakota, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Marianas Islands, or the Virgin Islands, you were born in the wrong state/territory and you don’t get any. If you were born on the butter-side-up land of Safelink service, all you need do is verify your eligibility. This means checking your household income, with the number of people within your household factored in, against the United States’ poverty indices. You must be at or above 135% of the threshold for poverty for your income and household occupant count. Basically, you have to be at the level, plus another 35% in the poverty tank. Even if you don’t meet the federal guidelines, you may also qualify by being enrolled in a litany of government aid programs, including Medicaid, food stamps, tribal benefits and even the National School Free Lunch program, depending on your state.

Once you’re approved, you get 250 minutes uploaded automatically, OR 1,000 free texts.

Alternately, you can choose a plan that gives you 68 free minutes, and unlimited texts, or a plan which offers 125 minutes and texting with texts costing .10 minutes, or 6 seconds, per text, BUT you don’t get international long distance calling. The 250 minute plan texting at .20 minutes, or 12 seconds, per text, without international long distance OR the carry-over feature, which allows you to move unused minutes from month to month. Nationwide long distance, roaming, voicemail, caller ID, three-way calling, 411 directory assistance, and 911 are all included in each plan, but toll-free calls are not, including the Safelink customer service line. Bummer.

 Like with all aid initiatives and programs, wires can get crossed if benefits overlap. The USAC has a “take one, please” policy with Safelink, which means that if a recipient has more than one Safelink program, you will be asked to keep one and ditch the others. My mother has been a public school educator for the largesse of 30 years, and was the representative for her school at the district office, as well as being a titan who made all of her own classroom installations and demonstrated for every single publicly voted education levy. One of her complaints with modern parenting is that, despite the holes in their pockets, moms and dads will get themselves a smart phone while sending little Jeremy to the donation bin to get year-old green beans. This is less than reprehensible considering that cell phones make life easier to manage. If something is sold which allows you to do absolutely everything atthe touch of a button, then the expense will seem worth it, especially with kids in tow. Cell phones, once a luxury, now make life easier and connected in a world where much of what we do is transacted without wires.

 Phone programs like Safelink aren’t run by the government, but in fact kept in working order by mutual back-scratching between telecom super-giants like America Movil and the U.S. government’s Federal Communication Commission, through the use of subsidies. Subsidies are made available by a government in order to keep an industry functioning, to facilitate the usage of its good or service. This distinguishes Safelink from the federal safety nets, such as welfare and food stamps.

Safelink, like most aid programs is as easy as applying. You can do it over the cell phone you’re currently paying for, and receive your new, free phone in three to five days. Safelink represents a form of subsidized aid that is there for the taking. Now, everyone say, ‘Thanks, Uncle Sam!’

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