Community Action announces free cell phones

[June 08, 2010]  Community Action Partnership has entered into a partnership with TracFone Wireless to promote its new program, SafeLink Wireless. SafeLink Wireless provides a free cell phone and airtime minutes each month to qualifying customers.

The SafeLink public assistance program ensures telephone service is available and affordable for low-income subscribers. Benefits of the program include a free cell phone and a limited amount of minutes each month. Only one phone is available per household.

Participants must meet eligibility guidelines, but generally individuals qualify if they participate in a public assistance program such as food stamps, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, national free school lunches or Section 8 federal housing assistance. If they do not receive any of these public assistance programs, they may also qualify based on total household gross monthly income.

"Even though eligible people receive a limited amount of free minutes monthly, this service can make a difference in their lives by allowing them to be available when prospective employers need a phone number, or be a lifesaver in emergency situations," said Kathy Shepherd, community service director.

Interested individuals can schedule an appointment by contacting their local Community Action office: Logan County, 217-732-2159; DeWitt County, 217-935-2455; Mason-Fulton County, 309-543-6988; Menard County, 217-632-3137; Piatt County, 217-762-2421.

SafeLink Wireless was created by TracFone Wireless Inc. when the Federal Communications Commission recently approved the company to offer Lifeline. SafeLink Wireless applies the Universal Service Fund subsidy to an allotment of free airtime minutes, and TracFone provides the wireless handset at the company's expense.

Community Action serves the low-income and senior populations of six counties in central Illinois. For more information, visit www.capcil.org.

[Text from file received from Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois]