Assurance Wireless, a cell phone service from Virgin Mobile that provides a
free wireless phone and 250 free minutes of wireless voice service
monthly to eligible customers, launched in Mississippi.
In addition to a free cell phone, they offer free voice mail, call waiting, caller ID and access to 911 in case of emergency.
Beyond the free 250 voice minutes, customers can pay for additional
10-cent-per-minute domestic calling, 10-cent text, email or instant
messages, international calling at competitive rates, and more.
Customers eligible for Assurance Wireless include those who participate
in Medicaid, Food Stamps/SNAP, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families
(TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Federal Public Housing
Assistance (Section 8), Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
(LIHEAP), or National School Lunch Program's Free Lunch Program.
Customers may also qualify based on low household income.
To learn more about Assurance Wireless, including eligibility requirements, please call 1-888-898-4888 or visit www.assurancewireless.com. Information is available in English and Spanish.
More than 129,000 Mississippi residents are currently without a job, and
more than 21.9 percent are living below the federal poverty line.
Assurance Wireless gives eligible customers the ability to provide a
contact number and return calls to a prospective employer, which studies show, can improve the chances of securing employment as well as
provide a simple way to stay connected to family in case of emergencies.
"With unemployment in Mississippi at 10 percent, people need to be
connected if for no other reason than to be able to apply for and obtain
a new job," said Grace Boehm, director for Assurance Wireless. "Studies
have shown that nearly a third of those working say their cell phone has
helped them make money, get new work or new customers."
According to a recent nationwide survey from Assurance Wireless, "adults
with an income of less than $25,000 are as likely to use their mobile
phone for employment searches as those with higher incomes."