A cell phone is a must have possession for the modern world. You never know when you are going to need the help of emergency services like 911. Anything can happen at any time and you can’t stay always prepared. In these situations cellphones are of great help. You just need to dial the number of an emergency service and they will rush to you in order to help you.

Unfortunately, people with low income can’t always afford a cellphone and pay the bills. Besides, the daily expenses are going up after the recession. Therefore, poor people don’t have enough money to afford a cellphone after paying for all other expenses. What if we told you that there are free government cell phones for low income individuals?

Free government cell phones for low income

Fortunately, the Federal and State government has a program called Lifeline to provide uninterrupted telecom service to financially disabled people. But there are certain requirements that should be fulfilled to get selected for the program. Not everyone can get qualified, but people with low-income can. Currently the program is available in most states and the requirements might vary slightly from state to state. The amount of free minutes you will receive along with your free cellphone depends on the area you reside.

Requirements to be eligible for this program might differ as well. Your household income should be at or below 150 percent (for Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island and Texas) and 135 percent for rest of the states in order to get qualified and avail the service of this program.

While using the free minutes of your cellphone, try to be efficient and save it for emergencies. The minutes you save each month rolls over and accumulate with the next month. Another interesting thing about this program is that you can keep the phone even if you cancel your participation from the ‘cellphone for low-income people’ program.

Save money on food and groceries

Good nutrition ensures stellar immunity. Without it, you may have trouble concentrating or your child’s growth and learning may be stunted. Check out these government assistance programs to help you save money on food for your family

Government assistance programs

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps buy groceries. Some stores allow you to save even more money on food and groceries because they give extra discounts when buying vegetables and fruits using your SNAP benefits.

WIC

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Woman, Infants and Children, or WIC, is a government assistance program that gives a benefit card to low-income women who have infants and children under five years of age.  

 Buy in bulk

In order to save money on food, purchase a membership at Sam’s Club, BJ’s Wholesale or Costco. Big and small families can spend quite a bit on simple food staples. Savings on these areas may offset the cost of the membership. Make sure that you have enough room to freeze meats and vegetables. You may not be able to enjoy a variety of foods.

Visit local food banks

Most urban areas have a community food bank for rice, canned fish, vegetables, fruits, beans and pasta to help families. These are funded by national government sources, churches or private donations. Pick up a box or fill up the box at the center.

Head Start

Head Start is a local government-based program for kids that cannot go to school yet but need to be prepared. Students are given a free breakfast and lunch that follow guidelines established by the USDA.

National School Breakfast program

The National School Breakfast Program is a federally assisted meal program created to distribute breakfast reimbursement funds to public and non-profit private schools.

National School Lunch program

The National School Lunch Program is very similar to the national School Breakfast Program. It is also a federally-assisted meal program that distributes reimbursement funds to public and non-profit private schools. Students receive a healthy lunch at no cost.

After School Meal program

The After School Meal Program provides a free or low-cost meal or snack to those who participate in an after school program. While being supervised as their parents work, kids can feel safe and have food.

Summer Food Service program

The Summer Food Service Program is another federally funded, state-administered program. When school isn’t in session, kids can be the most vulnerable to having poor nutrition. Ensure your kid receives healthy meals and snacks with this program. The Summer Food Service Program gives reimbursements to summer school program operators. You can find information about the program in your neighborhood by visiting your community center, or visit the USDA Food and Nutrition Service’s website.

The BackPack program

According to Feeding America, more than 22 million children across America receive free or reduced price meals and snacks through the various school food programs. Administered by Feeding America, the program helps your children get healthy food on the weekends.

Milk program

If your child already meets the requirements for any of the national school breakfast, lunch programs, or the summer food service programs, then they could get free milk through the Special Milk Program. This program provides milk to low-income children in schools and other places that may not participate in other meal service programs, such as half-day kindergarten and pre-kindergarten programs. This program provides a reimbursement to schools and other institutions like childcare for any milk served while your child is in attendance. You may contact your state agency to learn more about the program, or visit the Food and Nutrition Service’s contact page.

Programs for seniors

The Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, SFMNP, is a federally funded government benefit program that gives food-based grants on a state level. These grants are then distributed as coupons that are given to low-income or seniors at risk for poor nutrition. The Home-Delivered Nutrition Services is a federally funded government benefit program that provides grants to states to provide nutritious meals for low-income seniors. Sometimes the meals are served to the seniors’ spouses, caregivers, and other persons who may have disabilities. Visit the Administration for Community Living website for eligibility requirements.

Being able to provide meals and food to your family can be one of the most worrisome things for millions of Americans. Take advantage of one or more of the above programs, or look into other government assistance to help free up some extra money so you can ensure your family’s next meal.