Being unemployed, poor and unable to afford a cell phone can make job searches tough. A cell phone can give an potential employer a contact number, which can lead to a job. Assurance Wireless, a prepaid cell phone service from Virgin Mobile, is offering the state’s low-income residents a free cellphone with 200 free minutes a month.
Customers who are eligible for Assurance Wireless’ program include those on Medicaid, Food Stamps, Supplementary Security Income, Federal Public Housing Assistance, also known as Section 8, Low Income Home Energy Assistance and those with low household income.
More than 430,000 NJ residents are out of work and more than 13 percent are living below the federal poverty line.
“With unemployment in New Jersey currently so high, people need to be connected if for no other reason than to be able to apply for and obtain a new job,” said Grace Boehm, director for Assurance Wireless in a statement. “Studies have shown that nearly a third of those working say their cell phone has helped them make money, get new work or new customers.” Read more in APP.
Ow great another free product for me to have no incentive to go to work
I have to agree….
Called them! Its not available to lakewood zip code
Just called them. It IS available to Lakewood! (I’m wondering if #3 knows what Lakewood’s zip code is.)
Stop freeloading on my taxes,
Two hundred units for the month. I got a TracFone with 400 units for the year for < $110. I am such a fool.
SEND LETTERS THE POST OFFICE CAN USE THE MONEY
Gr8! Now another incentive to be low income. I can barely make a mortgage payment, let alone tuition, and JoeShmoe, who is gets every govt. assistance program gets a CELL PHONE?! For what? So they can be “reached” if a job comes up? Why should they want to work? You can get all the benefits of us hard working middle class people for nothing! What is this country coming to? It’s not enough to get govt. funded housing and food, BUT A CELL PHONE? If you need that much assistance with daily living, who cares about a stupid phone???
If they are not employed, why can’t they be reached at home? They are NOT working!!!!! What a crock!
I don’t understand we already have obamas free cellphone program called safelink wireless why do we need another? I bet you this is just a gimic if u give free 200 minutes and the next 100 extra cost $10 they just made $ same is with safelink its all a joke in a good marketing bag!
I have been unemployed for the past seven months (ow!) and even I agree this program is an outrageous waste of money and just another incentive for people not to go work. If you are REALLY. looking for work you can work around the cellphone issue.Assuming you need a cell phone for your job search use a prepaid for $10 a month at most.