Got Food Stamps? Here’s Your Free Cell Phone! (VIDEO)

msunderestimated.com ^ | Feb. 12, 2009 | MsUnderestimated

[Free ThinkerNY]

This is a commercial that has been running in Georgia over the past week or so. I am absolutely stunned.

How in the hell did we get to this point? A free cell phone, given to you by the government? WTF? I bet this stuck in the spendiferous package somewhere.

[GeronL]

I am not surprised.

sigh.

wish I was.

Georgia might be first but it won’t be last.

[Tarpon]

Any old not subscribed cell phone should be able to contact 9/11. You can get them for under $10 at Walmart and sometimes at the thrift stores for a $1. All it has to do is work. Our local 9/11 is used to calls to check if it works, when I did it, they said "I understand".

I got one of the $10 ones for a relative for just that reason.

[leapfrog0202]

What the heck? What about everyone else that chooses not to spend their $$ on a cell phone? They get one free too? They should because what if they have an emergency outside their house like this lady says in the video. How could they call for help?

This is the craziest thing I ever heard! People lived for thousands of years without cell phones and coped with life. Heck I bet there’s people in this country that can’t even afford a land line, much less a cell phone!

[Liberty Valance]

[yarddog]

My Nephew who is in the business told me the same thing. I bought one for a buck at Goodwill. It plugs into the cigarette lighter. I keep it in the car just for an emergency.

[wombtotomb]

This ad has been running in Florida for some time. What a crock! we survived w/o cell phones in this country for a very long time.

I WANT PIE strikes again.

[Tarpon]

Yep, I did the same, got a few spares, as long as it's a modern phone, can work with updated cell band plans, they are all mandated by law that they must work to call 9/11, which is really all you need.

Another good thing to have is the small AA battery carriers for emergency use. The AA Lithium batteries, while costly, will last for 10 years in a box.

[jwparkerjr]

I saw one of these here in Florida. I wasn’t paying any attention but sort of heard it out of the corner of my ear. When it was over I asked my wife if she had heard what I thought I had heard. We decided that yes, we had heard a commercial for a cell phone directed at those on welfare.

Now I know why it is that I see obviously unemployed young people standing at a bus stop or riding their bike and talking on a cell phone.

It bothers me that this new stimulus bill includes measures that would reverse the changes made to welfare over the last 10 years, not to mention putting government into an even more-controlling health care role.

[BobbyT]

Obamma say I ain’t gotsta pay fo’ mah texts!

Now Ah can get mo’ minutes on tha first an fifteenth!

[scottteng]

It is a prepaid type of phone here in Florida and they give you a generous allotment of 68 minutes per month for free. Extra minutes are available by buying trac-phone cards. Its not enough minutes to stand at the bus stop chatting and might be enough to make ones dr’s appointments etc. The phones are given to anyone on food stamps, medicaid,or SSI. The other option they have is to get a land line for half price $8-10 per month the problem with land lines is a lot of common calls such as to a doctor’s office or hospital are out of area and cost extra money. This is all funded by the access tax on every phone line cell or land. The cell option may be for the best as the people getting them will not run up large un-payable bills to the local phone company raising everyone’s rates. The cell phone company probably gets $10 bucks per month for the phone and 68 minutes and makes money as the customers buy cards for extra minutes.

[King Moonracer]

BTTT. Just started seeing this ad in MA.

A cell phone is now a necessity. Un-frickin-believable.

Funding for the program is provided by the Federal Communications Commission from universal services funds, which are charged on phone bills and also pay for Internet access to schools and libraries and rural health care providers. Wireless carriers and pay-telephone providers also contribute to the fund, according to the Tennessee Regulatory Authority.

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/sep/16/chattanooga-cell-phones-free-who-pays-911-fee/?local

How to Qualify

The process to qualify for Lifeline Service depends on the State you live in. In general, you may qualify if...

1. You already participate in other State or Federal assistance program such as Federal Public Housing Assistance, Food Stamps and Medicaid. OR

2. Your total household income is at or below 135% of the poverty guidelines set by your State and/or the Federal Government.

AND 3. No one in your household currently receives Lifeline Service through another phone carrier.

4. You have a valid United States Postal Address. In order for us to ship you your free phone you must live at a residence that can receive mail from the US Post Office. Sorry, but P.O. Boxes cannot be accepted.

In addition to meeting the guidelines above you will also be required to provide proof of your participation in an assistance program, or proof of your income level.

[King Moonracer]

2. Your total household income is at or below 135% of the poverty guidelines set by your State and/or the Federal Government.

Then what the hell good is a poverty guideline if we just make up some damn factor on top of it. Why don't they just say all Dumbocrats and idiots who want to be on the plantation.