Low-income Michigan families can apply for free cell phones

A new program through Assurance wireless is offering free phones and up to 200 minutes a month for low-income Michigan families who qualify. This could be a very effective idea, as it will make it a lot easier for unemployed/underemployed families and individuals to both apply for jobs and access services. Imagine the challenges of applying for a job if you do you not have a steady phone line of which to receive calls from. From the Kalamazoo Gazette:

Many low income families in Michigan can now qualify for a free phone with 200 free minutes per month through a program run by one of Sprint's prepaid plans, Virgin Mobile.

More than 835,600 families who qualify for a variety of social services, including Medicaid and the free lunch program, will qualify for the Assurance Wireless program.

The program, which began in December 1999, is available in Michigan for the first time. It also is offered in North Carolina, New York, Tennessee and Virginia, and plans call for expanding it.

Families that make an income of 150 percent of the poverty guidelines or below qualify for the service -- the levels vary for different-sized households.

The service provides a phone, free voice mail, call waiting and caller ID, along with the 200 free minutes.

It is supported by the Universal Service Administrative Company, an arm of the Federal Communications Commission which stipulates that low-income customers be able to have access to communication devices.

For more information or to apply, visit www.assurancewireless.com or call 1-888-898-4888.

Article Found at: http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2010/04/low-income_michigan_families_c.html