This week, fast-growing Assurance Wireless, who provides free cell phones and airtime to the poor, introduced their service to Kentucky.
This is great news for financially disadvantaged Kentucky residents, as there are over 211,600 residents in the hard hit state that are now without a job and more than 617,000 living below the federal poverty level.
Assurance Wireless, a company of Virgin Mobile, joins competitor Safelink Wireless as the two major companies who participate in the federal government’s Lifeline and Link-Up programs in Kentucky. Lifeline/Link-Up provide funding to telephone companies who provide the complimentary phone and minutes to those who qualify.
In Kentucky, someone qualifies if their total household income is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Additionally, being on one of the following public assistance programs automatically qualifies someone:
- Medicaid
- Federal Public Housing Assistance/Section 8 Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- National School Lunch Program (NSL)
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
Qualifying customers will receive a modern mobile phone, with standard features such as voice-mail, caller ID, and call waiting, along with 250 minutes of free airtime each month. If you need additional services they’re available at very reasonable prices. For example, for just $5 per month you will receive: 500 total voice minutes per month. And for just $20 per month you will receive 1,000 total voice minutes per month plus 1,000 texts per month.
Assurance Wireless is now available in 24 states, plus Washington D.C. The states include: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia.
While Safelink Wireless is the largest Lifeline cell phone provider in the United States, number two Assurance Wireless is growing much more quickly. This is detailed with specific numbers in our article, Assurance Wireless gaining on Safelink.
Ronald Sexton says
What locations would be doing free Government phone and service in Stanford Ky. Soon.
Free Government Cell Phones says
We strongly urge our readers NOT to enroll at street events because they have been the scenes of too much fraud and abuse. Please enroll online or by phone, Ronald.
Clint says
How do we find out who picked up service as mine was re-assigned without notice from Budget..
Free Government Cell Phones says
Call 6-1-1 on your free government cell phone and your service provider will answer the phone.
joann neeley says
i I HAD A BUDGET FREE PHONE….THEY WENT OUT OF BUSINESS….SO I NEED A NEW SERVICE AND PHONE….BUT WHERE I HAD BUDGET I HAVE TALKING TO A COUPLE MORE FREE PHONES SERVICE,,,,THEY TELL ME THAT I CAN NOT GET ONE BECAUSE I HAVE BUDGET…SO WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO GET A NEW ONE
Free Government Cell Phones says
The customer service agent you spoke to gave you an incorrect answer, Joann. Call in again and explain that you were a Budget customer but now have no service since Budget went out of business. If need be, ask to speak to a supervisor.
Thomas says
Other companies have plans that cost about the same thing but are vastly different. Spectrum customers can get unlimited talk unlimited text and one gig of high-speed data on a smart phone for $14 a month. Boost mobile has unlimited talk unlimited text and one gig of data for $10 a month. I think the Obama phone plan is getting outbid by the regular phone companies to wear you’d have to be stupid to get an access lifeline phone plan.
Amethyst Payne says
What are the upcoming locations you will be giving gov. phones away in owensboro ky.? And what dates please?
Thank you; Amethyst Payne
I do not have an email address, so I am using my friends email as a way to contact me.
Free Government Cell Phones says
We urge our readers NOT to enroll at street events because they have been the source of so much fraud and abuse. It’s much safer to enroll online or by phone.
Mario Navia says
My assurance phone was cut . Before that it happen . I received a letter that I would get a phone in 10 days and I am still waiting for it. What`s the problem? I went to the government food stamps agency . And they told me that I would get a new one . Why they cut me in the first place?? Is somebody else using my phone?? If so what can I do to prove that I have not received the phone nor the service promised???
Sheila brown says
I am in your phone service and received a free phone with service but my phone was left in the rain a now u are telling me that I cant get another phone then I’m without a phone but I have a plan I can’t believe you would do this when the is a government help now what do I do
Free Government Cell Phones says
If we were you we would attempt to switch over to a different service provider, Sheila.
bettye ramona zwosta says
my phone has been broken, how do I replace it?
FreeGovernmentCellPhones.net says
Call your cell phone provider.
James says
My name is James Bass. I have four children. Their names are Jon Jocie Josalynn and James Kendrick. I developed a growth in my inner ear on the eardrum. It has been removed but left me with basicly no hearing in that ear. As life always seems to get betterI also developed a condition that makes me off ballance and unable to work. My income is under 1000.a.thousand amonth.I aford aphone even for emergancys. We need to talk just in case what if somthing god forbid happened and I couldnt be reached. They could say Im not lookin out fot my children properly. Please helpus. Thanku.
Timothy Souder says
Dear Sir
I was wondering when you are going to add Missouri to list for a Free Government assisted phone
Free Government Cell Phones says
Missouri is only served by Safelink Wireless and ReachOut Wireless at this time:
https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states/missouri-government-cell-phone-providers
Estee says
I praise Assurance Wireless and Tracfone for the good that they are doing and they probably are benefiting from the publicity but that’s fine the main thing is that they are giving back to society in some way.
I do think that everyone needs a cell phone for emergencies, from the single mother with a baby to an old lonely frail man living on his own in a little apartment.
People who are cash strapped who don’t have the support of the state also need cheap cellphones for an emergency which is why again Tracfone is in my mind the hero as they offer a phone for seniors that is the cheapest I’ve seen on the market, the Samsung T155G as well as the cheapest plan I’ve ever come across which only costs $6.66/month for service.
A lot of us don’t know what it is like to not be able to make ends meet and to feel helpless when you need aid in an emergency, lets start giving a helping hand and be thankful for what you have.