Age can be a crucial determinant for people regardless of gender or class because it can restrict people to enjoy normal things in life. However, the technological advancement and effective government initiatives have proved that age is just a number, not a risk factor. Cell phone, whether free or paid prove to be helpful for the senior citizens.

Lifeline Assistance program

The government-sponsored program, lifeline assistance has been developed to provide free landlines to the families with low income.

However, with the course of time, the US government has developed the program to cater to the needs of the senior citizens providing them with free cell phones. In addition to the context, it is to note that popularity of the government benefit program has reached out to the fifty states of North America where the tribal residents are also included.

Why do the golden agers even need Lifeline Assurance?

As the name suggests, the sole purpose of this federal program is to help the seniors with important services that initiate with a call or text. After a certain age, the elderly people are susceptible to undergo critical health conditions that lead them to become isolated from their close ones living outside their periphery of homes.

• Living alone increases risks factors in life. The seniors are often deprived of getting proper help at the stage of life
• The senior citizens need to feel loved and accompanied by their close ones even it is followed by means of virtual life
• They are in need of constant assistance where the people can use the access of a cell phone to call emergency helplines, family, and friends to get help
• The risk of hurting themselves is lowered if the senior citizens are given the chance of calling medical assistance when it feels right with their free cell phones
• The reliable service of Lifeline Assistance ensures that the retired people are given personal safety in an efficient manner
• Through using this service, they are able to expand their network virtually including reconciling old friendships

How can you qualify yourself for Lifeline Assistance?

People living under the poverty line can use the service to meet the needs of everyday life. If your annual income is below 135%, you can avail the service of a cell phone. Apart from this criterion, if anyone participated in any of these following programs, he/she can get the benefits,

• Federal Public Housing Or Section 8
• National Free School Lunch Program
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
• Supplemental Security Income
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Food Stamps
• Medicaid

The people with temporary address fulfilling the eligibility criteria can be offered the service. However, you need to keep in mind that service is only provided to one family member in the household. In addition to the context, if an elderly person dwells in care homes or nursing home, you can avail the service.

Service providers for this service

There are several renowned service providers that offer excellent service to the seniors including giving away free cell phones. SafeLink Wireless, US Cellular, ReachOut and Assurance Wireless are few of the names of the service providers that offer monthly plans and offers that start at around $1. Additionally, if out of the free talk time, you can recharge the plans with top-ups. Free cell phones can be of great use for senior citizen.

How to apply for Lifeline Assistance?

If you are inclined to get yourself a free cell phone service, then you may visit the official web pages of the service providers. There you will have to fill up personal details regarding your email and ZIP code. By knowing the ZIP code, your address can be tracked down and the authority can understand whether the service is available in your area.

You need to provide official documents including veteran, social security office, unemployment advantages, divorce documents and child support documents. Additionally, the documents related to the government assistance programs. Henceforth, the senior citizens need to protect all the vital documents to provide at the time of the procedure.