Safelink

[stilllove]

Probably this has already been posted here, but I'm sure it's worth repeating. If you are receiving any social services benefits, in some states, you can also get a free cell phone with 68 minutes per month on it. Perfect for emergencies and keeping in touch with potential employers. I just applied. They approved me instantly and said I'd get

Comments

[luvlyssa]

energy assistance for our electric (water done via town doesn't GIVE any help unless you're a not for profit company. bastards)

medicaid

food stamps *cough* aka nutrition assistance *cough*

as for that company, looks like they've added a couple states since I looked a few months back but still not where I'm at. :(

[uppity_heathen]

how do you get energy assistance? I will google it but just in case...

[luvlyssa]

on our website it was REALLY hidden. basically we were || that close to getting ours turned off (dear boyfriend who does the bills didn't bother to tell me this so I learned all this in the last hmm 5 days?)

I found out that if you're having trouble paying BOTH the united way and salvation army will provide "temporary" help. ie pay one bill so it's not shut off.

But for us I googled APD discount (aps is our electric company) and got the page on their website

if you want to share who YOUR company is give me their name, after I spent like 2 hours trying to find something.. I found it

and honestly? the discount is awesome and our paperwork was VERY easy to fill out. name, account number, how many in house, gross monthly income.

http://www.aps.com/main/services/residential/assistance/assist_2.html

[uppity_heathen]

I just found the one for my state! I do need a social security card though. Not sure where it is as I just moved but hopefully I can find it. The paperwork is just one page. I am going to try for it. The heat in my apartment does not work in the bedroom so it is freezing in there and I have to turn up the heat and use a space heater. I also think my landlord does not clean the vents or filters ever (just like he did not mow the lawn for the past 4 months) so it costs several hundred a month to heat my tiny apartment and it is still cold in here. Gah.

[attilathehoney]

We have the safelink and I love it, no complaints at all. I really only keep a cell for emergencies and to text occasionally, so I never run out of minutes.

[theladylies]

I've had mine since March with no complaints. It actually arrived on my birthday, which was cool. I only use it for emergencies, and to check on my daughter sometimes. The minutes carry over, which is great. I tent to have around 200 minutes on the phone. You can also buy more minutes anywhere that sells Tracphone minutes.

[rita0373]

But technically you have a street address, no? The address you'd give the police or you'd tell me if I was visitng. My guess is the reason it won't accept the PO Box is because it is being shipped via UPS and leagally only USPS can deliver to a PO Box. My in-laws live in a rural area so the mail is a PO box but UPS and FedEx still deliver straight to their house.

[seekingzen]

If the Safelink service is anything like the application process, I'm beyond sold. I think that was the least embarrassing/degrading form for free assistance I've ever filled out.

[peazgrl1545]

In Michigan, they is assistance for travel while applying for work (gas money, bus money). Also, there is assistance with child care while looking for work (and I believe there is help with work appropriate clothing). It is necessary to prove to your case manager that you have been job hunting.