Help with Telephone Bills for African Americans

Most people in the country have a phone, with it usually being a cell phone. Gone are the days of every home having a landline in it. With this new technology that everyone is using comes bigger monthly phone bills. It is estimated that the average monthly phone bill is around $150. For many people, it can be challenging to keep up with paying that. The good news is that there is help with paying telephone bills for African Americans and others who are experiencing financial challenges.

There are programs in place and options you can consider that will help with your telephone bill. Some of the programs will help make it more affordable, while others will help you pay the bill each month. Either route you take will lead to it being easier to afford having your telephone. You may want to explore all the options to find the one that will work best for your situation.

Options to Lower Telephone Bills

Having a telephone bill can add up to quite a bit throughout the year, especially if it is a cell phone bill. Having a landline phone will only cost $20 to $40 per month, which is much more affordable than a cell phone. However, most people choose to not have them, because they found they were not using them. If all of your calls are going to take place on the cell phone, then it’s better to not have a landline and just put the money toward the cell phone bill.

If you have a family it is a good idea to call around to different phone carriers to see what type of family plans they are offering. Throughout the year, many of them offer special discounted rates for family plans. You may be able to get a new family plan with a different carrier for less than you are paying now for just your cell phone. You won’t know unless you contact the other providers to see what type of specials they offer.

If you are offered a special discounted rate by one carrier for an individual or for a family plan, you can also call your current carrier to see if they will match the price. Sometimes they will match the price to keep you as a customer. Often times, people stay long term with a cell phone provider and their rate keeps going up, while new customers pay a lot less with specials.

Keep in mind that if you do switch carriers to save money you will still be able to keep your same phone number. According to the Federal Trade Commission, if you are switching carriers and staying in the same geographic area then you are allowed to keep your number. If you don’t want to then there is nothing to worry about, but many people do not want to change their number to lower their bill, and they do not have to.

Another option to help pay for the bill is to get help with something else, such as obtaining free food from the pantries, so your grocery money can pay the phone bill.

Programs to Help Pay for Telephone Bills

For African Americans and others, keeping up with paying telephone bills can be difficult. This is especially true in our current economic climate, where inflation has made the prices of everything go up. There are programs and organizations you can turn to for help to keep the bill paid current and in good standing. Reach out to the programs below to see which ones you can get help from to pay for your telephone bill.

Lifeline Program – This is the most popular phone for getting help paying for your phone bill. This program is funded through the federal government and is available around the country. They will help those who have a low income. If you qualify for the program the government will pay for most of your phone bill. You will only have to pay a small portion of it each month. The portion you would pay each month is around $10. That monthly fee provides you with 1,000 minutes per month. This is a helpful program for anyone who needs to have a phone in the home, for whatever reason, and struggles to pay for one. It is a good idea to have a phone in the house if only for emergency purposes. This program can help people do that, even if they have a low income. To get more information or apply for the Lifeline Program, click here.

Safelink – This is a consumer program that will offer a certain amount of free talk, text, and data per month. You can find out online if you qualify for the program. If your finances improve down the road they do offer options to upgrade your account. To get more information about the program or apply, click here.

211 – This organization offers a free referral service. They can help you find financial help for whatever it is that you are need. If you call them at 211 or visit their website, you can tell them you need help paying the phone bill, and they can find programs to refer you to. They have access to programs that are around the country and local to your area. Their referral service is free and open to anyone who needs help. They will also help with other issues, such as paying bills, obtaining free food, and more. To get more information about the service, click here.

Catholic Charities – This organization helps many people with a variety of financial issues, including providing food, shelter, counseling, and at times helping people with paying their bills. Contact a location near you to see if they can help with your telephone bills. To get more information and find a location near you, click here.

Salvation Army – This organization is similar to Catholic Charities. They have locations around the country and will provide helpful services to those in the community who need it. They may help with paying small bills for those who are financially struggling. To get more information and find a location near you, click here.

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