A lot of low income families have a need for cell phones. Most American families have cell phones and they can be particularly useful. However, the high cost of cell phone plans can be prohibitively expensive for many low income families.

Not anyone can get low income cell phones. You have to meet the criteria for low income before you can get the cell phones. If you are already getting subsidized rent or food stamps then you can probably apply for low income cell phones too.

The government helps pay for the cell phones that you can a certain amount of use each month. These cell phones are used for emergency purposes and are typically not for chatting with your friends.

Currently, carriers of low income cell phones are limited. Not all states have such programs. You should check to see if your state has these carriers.

These cell phones are limited in their minutes that can be used each month. Typical number of minutes that are allowed could be only 60 minutes each month. If you want to use more than the allotted amount of time, then you would have to purchase more minutes.

You also have to meet the eligibility for low income cell phones every year when you renew your contract. If you lose eligibility, then you would become a regular user and be expected to pay for usage.

The reason for giving cell phones to low income families is so that they can make emergency calls to the police or fire department. Sometimes they need phones to find new jobs.

Try to keep the use of low income cell phones to important matters. Since the minutes are limited, you should try to save as much minutes each month.

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