Assurance Wireless, offers low-income residents with a free cell phones. It has announced its one year anniversary of providing services to Kentucky residents. Assurance Wireless is a Lifeline Assistance program supported by the federal Universal Service Fund that offers 250 free minutes of wireless voice service and 250 free text messages monthly.
The program includes a voice mail account and call waiting, caller ID and access to 911 in case of emergency. Beyond the 250 free voice minutes each month, customers can choose from other low cost options to pay for additional minutes, texting, international calling and more at competitive rates.
Over 171,000 Kentucky residents are without a job and more than 29 percent are living below the federal poverty line. These low-income people can use Assurance Wireless to provide a contact number to and receive calls from a prospective employer, which, studies show, can improve the chances of securing employment.
To learn more about Assurance Wireless, including eligibility requirements, please call 1-800-395-2171 or visit ww.assurancewireless.com.
“I was unemployed for an extended amount of time because of layoffs,” stated Evan M., 37, an Assurance Wireless customer. “The phone and service I received from Assurance Wireless were invaluable to my finding new employment and to my efforts to recover from this recession. It allowed me to contact potential employers, provide a way for them to respond to me, and helped me save money. Assurance also gave me peace of mind that I had a way to stay connected to my kids while away from home.”
Assurance Wireless is a Lifeline Assistance program supported by the low-income program of the federal Universal Service Fund.
Assurance Wireless is available in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Washington, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin. This list of states continues to expand and can be found on the Assurance website.
According to the FCC, the qualifying income in all federal default states, except Alaska and Hawaii, ranges from a maximum of $14,702 for a family of one to a maximum of $50,801 for a family of eight. You will have to re-qualify every 12 months.
To learn about all free cell phones and service for low-income residents read our how-to article. Safelink serves some states that Assurance Wirelesssdoes not.