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Lifeline Benefits
Lifeline Assistance is part of a program that was created by the government to provide discounted or free telephone service to income-eligible consumers. To help bring you this important benefit, SafeLink Wireless is proud to offer Lifeline Service. Through our Lifeline Service you will receive FREE cellular service, a FREE cell phone, and FREE Minutes every month! SafeLink Wireless Service does not cost anything – there are no contracts, no recurring fees and no monthly charges.

Any Minutes you do not use will roll-over. Features such as caller ID, call waiting and voicemail are all also included with your service. If you need additional Minutes, you can buy TracFone Airtime Cards at any TracFone retailer Walmart, Walgreens, Family Dollar, etc). SafeLink Airtime Cards will be available soon.

Your exact benefits, including the number of free Minutes you will receive, depend on the state you live in. Please enter your ZIP code to get the details for your state.

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Qualifying in Florida open↓ close↑ You qualify for Lifeline Service in your area if...

1.You already participate in one of the following assistance programs:

•Federal Public Housing Assistance / Section 8
•Food Stamps
•Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
•Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
•National School Lunch (free program only)
•Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
•Medicaid
•Bureau of Indian Affairs Programs (Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Head Start Subsidy, NSLP)

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Originally posted by Gator Rick:
Its non-stop comedy in DC. Cash for clunkers, appliance, Fido, golf carts and cell phones. Why does it not surprise me anymore?

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Originally posted by L-Boy:

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Originally posted by Gator Rick:
Its non-stop comedy in DC. Cash for clunkers, appliance, Fido, golf carts and cell phones. Why does it not surprise me anymore?

I know, it is out of control, and I am not sure where it all ends. I was supportive of the concept of stimulus, but this is getting ridiculous.

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Lifeline - Lifeline provides qualified consumers with a discount on monthly charges for their primary home phone line, even if it’s a cell phone.

Link-Up - Link-Up lowers the cost eligible consumers pay for setting up new phone service at their home, including cell phone service.

HOW MUCH CAN YOU SAVE?

Lifeline - If you qualify for this program, Lifeline can save you at least $10 a month on your phone bills, depending on what state you live in and which phone company in your area provides this program. Some states provide more discounts to make local telephone service even more affordable. To determine if your state offers these additional discounts, contact your state’s public utility commission, Link.

Link-Up - Link-Up pays up to $30.00 of a qualified consumer’s home phone startup fees (even if it’s a cell phone), not including the cost of the phone. Link-Up also lets consumers borrow up to $200 of set-up fees, interest-free, for up to one year.

Tribal Lands - Those living on tribal lands may qualify for additional discounts.

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Originally posted by ncargat1:
OK, first off, a couple of facts to set the record straight. The Lifeline and Link Up programs were started in 2005 by REPUBLICANS!! So, take the Obama bigotry somewhere else....HE DID NOT DO IT, BUSH AND THE PUBS DID.

Second, nothing is free. This is 50% reduction in hook up fee, and at least $10.50 off of local phone charges (which are mostly taxes and fees anyway, so really the gov is not paying anything, just cutting fees).

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Lifeline - Lifeline provides qualified consumers with a discount on monthly charges for their primary home phone line, even if it’s a cell phone.

Link-Up - Link-Up lowers the cost eligible consumers pay for setting up new phone service at their home, including cell phone service.

HOW MUCH CAN YOU SAVE?

Lifeline - If you qualify for this program, Lifeline can save you at least $10 a month on your phone bills, depending on what state you live in and which phone company in your area provides this program. Some states provide more discounts to make local telephone service even more affordable. To determine if your state offers these additional discounts, contact your state’s public utility commission, Link.

Link-Up - Link-Up pays up to $30.00 of a qualified consumer’s home phone startup fees (even if it’s a cell phone), not including the cost of the phone. Link-Up also lets consumers borrow up to $200 of set-up fees, interest-free, for up to one year.

Tribal Lands - Those living on tribal lands may qualify for additional discounts.

Finally, the original intent to was land line phones for people's homes. While this is partnership with the states, and some states are allowing the money to be put toward mobile phones, the majority of federal dollars was meant for land lines.

Now, none of the above makes this ok, and I understand SOME of the ire over programs like this in general. But, my GOD, the military pisses away more money than this in 1 week buying $500 hammers and $200 toilet seats!

So, get the targets for your outrage correct, ie the REPUBLICANS. Then, come down off your high horses and decide if $10/month for poor people to have a phone is really worth you getting fired up over in the grand scheme of things. If it is, call the FCC and complain. For me, it seems like we have much bigger fish to fry in trying to curb spending in DC then whatever this pittance of a program is costing.

Link to Lifeline Site

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Originally posted by ArmyGator:
I didn't see anyone singling out democrats in this thread. It seems to me that everyone agrees the government is out of control on wateful spending.

If all of this happened on Bush's watch what happened to change we can believe in? Not much more of the same.

The money that the military pisses away is not being spent at the Soldier level. SGT Snuffy doesn't go out and buy the $500 hammer.

Soldiers on deployments get pissed off when they see the money that is being wasted by contractors like KBR. They get paid outrageous sums of money for every plate of food they serve. They have civilians over there getting paid over $100,000 (mostly tax free) a year to sign out towels and basketballs in the gym.

There are lots of big fish to fry in DC. Like that Cash for Clunkers fiasco that cost the tax payers $24,000 per vehicle. That was brilliant.

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Originally posted by ncargat1:
OK, first off, a couple of facts to set the record straight. The Lifeline and Link Up programs were started in 2005 by REPUBLICANS!! So, take the Obama bigotry somewhere else....HE DID NOT DO IT, BUSH AND THE PUBS DID.

Second, nothing is free. This is 50% reduction in hook up fee, and at least $10.50 off of local phone charges (which are mostly taxes and fees anyway, so really the gov is not paying anything, just cutting fees).

quote:

Lifeline - Lifeline provides qualified consumers with a discount on monthly charges for their primary home phone line, even if it’s a cell phone.

Link-Up - Link-Up lowers the cost eligible consumers pay for setting up new phone service at their home, including cell phone service.

HOW MUCH CAN YOU SAVE?

Lifeline - If you qualify for this program, Lifeline can save you at least $10 a month on your phone bills, depending on what state you live in and which phone company in your area provides this program. Some states provide more discounts to make local telephone service even more affordable. To determine if your state offers these additional discounts, contact your state’s public utility commission, Link.

Link-Up - Link-Up pays up to $30.00 of a qualified consumer’s home phone startup fees (even if it’s a cell phone), not including the cost of the phone. Link-Up also lets consumers borrow up to $200 of set-up fees, interest-free, for up to one year.

Tribal Lands - Those living on tribal lands may qualify for additional discounts.

Finally, the original intent to was land line phones for people's homes. While this is partnership with the states, and some states are allowing the money to be put toward mobile phones, the majority of federal dollars was meant for land lines.

Now, none of the above makes this ok, and I understand SOME of the ire over programs like this in general. But, my GOD, the military pisses away more money than this in 1 week buying $500 hammers and $200 toilet seats!

So, get the targets for your outrage correct, ie the REPUBLICANS. Then, come down off your high horses and decide if $10/month for poor people to have a phone is really worth you getting fired up over in the grand scheme of things. If it is, call the FCC and complain. For me, it seems like we have much bigger fish to fry in trying to curb spending in DC then whatever this pittance of a program is costing.

Link to Lifeline Site

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Originally posted by Gator Rick:
I'm not sure I understand who is paying for these discounts? It may not be a free cell phone, but its still heavily discounted...is the government subsidizing it?

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Originally posted by spurdog:
The question should be why we are getting hammered with all those taxes in the first place. What is the criteria to meet the "poor" tax break and how is it being reviewed? Are they bringing in W2 or pay stubs? Is it too much to ask that people priortize their lives a little and budget for things as opposed to just waiting for the govt to make it possible to afford them.....temporarily! Isnt that what got us into the financial mess we are in now to some extent.

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Originally posted by ncargat1:

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Originally posted by spurdog:
The question should be why we are getting hammered with all those taxes in the first place. What is the criteria to meet the "poor" tax break and how is it being reviewed? Are they bringing in W2 or pay stubs? Is it too much to ask that people priortize their lives a little and budget for things as opposed to just waiting for the govt to make it possible to afford them.....temporarily! Isnt that what got us into the financial mess we are in now to some extent.

Not really disagreeing, simply trying to find the facts and derail what was sure to be the next round of Anti-Obama rhetoric. Funny too, that guy has screwed up enough since taking office that you would think people would not need to make up reasons to be upset at him.

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Originally posted by Gator Rick:
Dont disagree with you Spur. But also agree with NC...its not just obama admin, its the bush admin, its republicans in congress, its democrats in congress...its state level politicians...all parties. We need a mini-revolution in this country- not overthrowing the government but overthrowing the current ruling class.

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Originally posted by OPGator:

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Originally posted by Gator Rick:
Dont disagree with you Spur. But also agree with NC...its not just obama admin, its the bush admin, its republicans in congress, its democrats in congress...its state level politicians...all parties. We need a mini-revolution in this country- not overthrowing the government but overthrowing the current ruling class.

Who is the current ruling class and how do we find them and overthrow them? I would assume you don't want to use handguns in your revolution.Will they be better armed than we are?

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Originally posted by Gator Rick:

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Originally posted by OPGator:

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Originally posted by Gator Rick:
Dont disagree with you Spur. But also agree with NC...its not just obama admin, its the bush admin, its republicans in congress, its democrats in congress...its state level politicians...all parties. We need a mini-revolution in this country- not overthrowing the government but overthrowing the current ruling class.

Who is the current ruling class and how do we find them and overthrow them? I would assume you don't want to use handguns in your revolution.Will they be better armed than we are?

Incumbents OP, Incumbents. And they have something better than guns, they've got the money. Next year, i'm voting against every single incumbent. I know that may sound silly but i've had it with these people. Just look how many have been in congress with more than 20 years experience. Dodd, Rangel, McConnell, Byrd, Frank...just off the top of my head and there are PLENTY more. Get them the heck out of there.