Free cell phone service available for eligible low-income residents

The cell phone program is a spinoff of a more commonly known landline program called Lifeline. Lifeline reduces eligible low-income consumers’ monthly charges for basic landline telephone service. And now, with the SafeLink program, created by TracFone Wireless, Lifeline support is now available for wireless projects. The service has been approved by the Federal Communications Commission.

The program will be administered through the Community Services division of HAPCAP. Community Services is currently providing brochures and applications for the program. A press release stated that the service will help eligible low-income families stay connected with current or potential employers, children, relatives, health-care specialists and vital emergency responders.

“We have already sent out or distributed 1,000 brochures,” said Krisa Spangler, a career developer at HAPCAP who is working on the program. She said another 7,000 brochures are on order and will be distributed in the coming weeks.

Spangler said that those looking to apply to SafeLink either have to be currently participating in other programs designed to help low-income residents – such as Section 8 housing, Medicaid, food stamps or other similar programs – or their household income can be no higher than 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.

“(Interested people) can either go online and fill out their application, or they can call (HAPCAP) and we’ll mail them a paper application,” she said.

Spangler said that her organization isn’t looking to meet any quotas and doesn’t have any goals for participation.

“People will use it,” she said. “We’ve gotten many phone calls and mailed applications out.”

Spangler said applications will also be distributed through commodity boxes given out by the regional food center.

“We’re just hoping that word of mouth will help us to spread the word so we can help as many people as possible,” she said.

SafeLink provides several plan options in order to give families the freedom to choose which is best suited for their needs.

The first of the three monthly plans provides 250 free monthly non-carryover minutes, one text per each minute, and a free cellular handset. The second is for 125 free monthly carryover minutes, one text per each minute, and a free cellular handset. The third is for 68 free monthly carryover minutes, three texts per each minute, international long distance to over 100 destinations, and a free cellular handset.

The press release states that in addition to the free monthly airtime minutes, SafeLink offers superior coverage throughout the U.S. The cell phones themselves are made by LG, Motorola and Samsung. Those participating also have access to 411 at no cost, unlimited access to 911, and features such as voicemail, call waiting and caller ID.

“The prepaid feature gives customers the freedom to control the cost of their monthly telephone expense without any surprises,” the release states.

Customers wishing to use additional minutes beyond their free allotment can add minutes by purchasing TracFone airtime cards at local retailers.

“As an exclusive benefit for SafeLink customers, SafeLink phones will automatically add bonus minutes to TracFone’s 60-, 90- and 120-minute airtime cards,” the release adds. “However, there is no requirement to purchase additional minutes and no pressure applied to applicants to do so at any time.”

Other programs that would make applicants eligible for SafeLink include the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, the Supplemental Security Income program, the free National School Lunch program and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.

For more information, those interested are encouraged to contact Krisa Spangler or Vicki Gilliam at 740-767-4500 or 1-800-686-1093 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Applications can also be filed online at www.safelink.com, and HAPCAP provided a promo code of COH0026000.