The San Jose Mercury News should change its name to the San Jose Mercury Good News.
The Silicon Valley newspaper just reported that Assurance Wireless has just been approved to offer free cell phones in California. And that is good news, indeed, for low-income residents of the nation’s largest state.
We previously reported that ReachOut Wireless had been approved to offer Lifeline Assistance, the free government cell phone program, in the Golden State but we can now report that the state’s Public Utility Commission has also approved Assurance. That means California’s needy can now choose between two of the largest and fast growing companies competing in the free government cell phone arena.
Both companies offering free cell phones plus 250 voice minutes and 250 text messages per month. But remember, this program is open only to those who can prove that they are eligible.
“We are very excited by this,” the Mercury News quotes Bevan Dufty, the head of San Francisco’s homeless initiatives as saying. “It will help people move forward. It will empower them, and we in San Francisco are going to be a model city for this program.”
According to the United States Census Bureau, California has the nation’s highest poverty rate, with 23.5% of its residents living below Federal government poverty guidelines. It’s shocking to realize that the state is home to just 12% of the American population, but 34% of the nation’s welfare recipients.
The free government cell phone program is going to prove a godsend to these people.
For example, Romonica Grayson, a Sunnydale resident, says a free government cell phone will change her life in many positive ways.
“Everything will be different now,” Grayson said. “I can finally be sure I will be able to get ahold of people to do what I need to do in a timely fashion.”
Do you qualify for a free government cell phone? See the full list of qualifying programs on our California state page.
Wecome to California, Assurance. Now get out there and sign up all those needy Californians.
Source: Mercury News (link expired)
Charlie says
About your free phone for elderly
Free Government Cell Phones says
We don’t have any phones for anyone, Charlie. This is an independent informational website and is NOT affiliated with any Lifeline free government cell phone service provider. You can find all the companies that offer free government cell phones at this link:
https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states
Sue Smith says
March 29, 2017
RE: AGGRESSIVE, RUDE REPRESENTATIVES AND DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES OF ASSURANCE WIRELESS
To Whom It May Concern:
I shop at the 99 Cents Only Store in Mira Mesa (92126) on Camino Ruiz daily. Today, before noon, one of your representatives, the shorter, young female, approached customers in cash out lanes while they were checking out with the cashier and interrupted their communication and transaction, which caused longer check out lines, and very loudly asked them if they had EBT. Then she asked me that question. Not everyone who shops at 99 is on welfare and I don’t appreciate the implication. Why they are allowed to set up inside the store instead of outside is beyond me. They are a distraction to customers and to the employees who work there. She also stood at the entrance to the store and solicited customers who were just walking in to shop. Your employees need to stay at their table and leave the customers alone. The short one was eating her lunch standing up by the Assurance table while talking to customers of the store with her mouth full. Very unprofessional.
Also, your program is very discriminatory. The customer next to me (a very elderly man) told me he has fought in three wars, has his Social Security, and your company turned him down a few weeks ago, but meanwhile, you cater to the “refugees” and illegals who are committing welfare fraud. You discriminate against veterans and the working poor, who can’t qualify for government assistance BECAUSE THEY WORK AND PAY TAXES. SHAME ON YOU!
Consider yourself lucky that I don’t post my complaints on YELP. I don’t need a response-just do something, so we can get back to the business of shopping in peace. I will also be contacting the corporate office of the 99 Cents Only Store with my complaints.
My favorite time to shop there is when your representatives aren’t there!
A Pissed Off Shopper
Luis says
Karen go to sleep.
This program has been going on for decades wake up
Ron Bartoli says
I want to get a free cell phone? Tell me if this is a good company ti deal with
Rose says
I am on SSI and i do not have a telephone, and i need a phone i am a senior please leave me a reply on my email address.
mechelle Pasamonte says
hi I’m a single mom daughter is I am on and WIC and Afdc i need to have a phone at my location because my daughter is here in paired and I need to contact the physician if needed and right now I have no life I’m to the public to the public thank you.
sandra dehan says
I have a homeless friend with no family. That qualifies for a free phone but does not have a physical address. He cannot use my address beings that i am on disability. Is there another way he can pick up the phone
Yuru Zhang says
Dear officer, I have emailed you ,but I didn’t get an answer, now I send you my letter again.
I venture to write to you is about my free cellphone problem.
my name is Yuru Zhang, my address is ********,Thousand Oaks,CA 91360.
I applied for an Assurance Wireless cell phone,and was approved, but on last December 19,I got a letter from the company, it claimed that
CALIFORNIA LIFE LINE ADMINISTRATOR HAS DETERMINED THAT YOUR HOUSEHOLD DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR A FEDERAL LIFELINE DISCOUNT FROM ASSURANCE WIRELESS. Therefore,I called the Assurance lifeline company asking why,and was told that someone had used my address applied the free cellphone already,that means my address has been used by somebody else, not me, applied that phone.
I inquired the representative who used my address applied the phone and she said that should be asked to your agency. After calling your agency twice, and told them the issue in detail,then I was asked to leave my email address,and leave a message and promised to call back, but 5 and 7
days has passed,I didn’t get any answer.
I have lived in this apartment for more than 3 yrs, and my husband and I never applied the free cellphone before.I dare to say my household just has 2 people,and this one free cellphone.and I demand you have a check to find who used my address and got the free cellphone,and remove that account,return me the right to use this account for applying free cellphone.
Your help is very important to me, I thank you in advance. If you have any question please feel free to ask me.
Sincerely yours
Yuru Zhang
denise lopez says
How can i sign up online for a free cell phone im a single parent on afdc,wic program ,calfresh ,medical, and a single mom with 5 kids and i live in stockton,california.
Free Government Cell Phones says
https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states/california-government-cell-phone-providers
Get a job! says
More freebees for the freeloaders. Why do homeless people need phones? Do you really think they are actively looking for jobs???? Most are drug addicted or alcoholic.
The “funding”, money comes from yet another “surcharge/tax” on my utility bills.
Keeping the homeless and unemployed, homeless and unemployed is a billion $ industry for our government. Why would they want this cash cow to end?
TK says
II’m curious, exactly what do you do to contribute to your society? What is your job and how much have you paid in taxes? Iost likely you or should I say (your family) is in the bracket that pay’s less taxes than the working poor? SO, (yare amound
nikki says
Tell me why do you need to breath?? To the ignorant dushbag that made the homeless comments. Although I have a home and a masters. I feel compelled to open your ignorant mind… Since life as you know it can easily change in a moment everything as you know it to be can be suddenly taken. And when it does after you have endured your fight back then comment. Cause right now you sound so just simply retarded. For choice of better words. How pathetic
Confused says
Really free free free! Not free for those of us that have jobs and are paying for those taking advantage of the system.
Sue Smith says
you got that right!
Jeanie says
I need a free phone I get SNAP,my kids free lunch, & on Medi-cal.
Free Government Cell Phones says
https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states/california-government-cell-phone-providers
Jennie Jordan says
I need a free phone I’m on sec 8 and AFDC
Angela Campisi says
Dear, Mr,Mrs, om trying to get a free goverment camera cell phone. I dont know whe
re to spply.