WARREN, N.J. (BUSINESS WIRE), July 05, 2012 – Every July our country comes together to celebrate its independence, honoring those who currently serve our country and the veterans who proudly served in years past. Unfortunately, far too many veterans and military families find themselves fighting a different battle here at home, one which threatens their financial independence.
According to a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics1, the unemployment rate for veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces at any time since September 2001–a group referred to as Gulf War-era II veterans–was 12.1 percent in 2011. The jobless rate for all veterans was 8.3 percent. The unemployment rate for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan is about 11.6 percent; this is about 3 points higher than the unemployment rate for the general population and one of every 10 veterans is living in poverty. For veterans going through tough financial times, or struggling to find a job in several states, Assurance Wireless is a smart, free way to increase the odds of securing employment. Customers may also choose to pay for additional services as needed.
Assurance Wireless is a Lifeline Assistance program supported by the federal Universal Service Fund and now offers the best value in calling plans among major Lifeline Assistance programs.2 With no annual contract, a free wireless phone, 250 free monthly minutes of national local and long-distance service and 250 free monthly text messages for eligible customers, Assurance Wireless gives veterans the ability to provide a contact number and return calls to prospective employers which, studies show, can improve the chances of securing employment.
Meanwhile, with the challenges of frequent moves, deployment and a fixed income, many military families and younger military members find themselves surviving on a tight budget. Assurance Wireless enables military eligible families to stay in touch and provides a valuable no-cost tool for staying connected to schools, care-givers and jobs. Assurance Wireless provides the ability for customers to keep their current home or cell phone number if changing carriers.
Who’s Eligible?
The Lifeline Assistance program is available for only one wireline or wireless account per household. Enrollment in this government benefit program is available to consumers who meet federal or state-specific eligibility criteria. Residents may qualify for Assurance Wireless if they are on certain public assistance programs, such as Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or food stamps), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA or Section 8), Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) or the National School Lunch Program’s Free Lunch Program, or in other specific public assistance programs. Residents may also qualify based on household income. Applicants must provide proof of program participation or proof of income. Eligibility for Assurance Wireless varies by state.
Assurance Wireless is currently available in 34 states including Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Washington D.C., Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin. This list of states continues to expand and can be found on the Assurance website.
To learn more about Assurance Wireless, including eligibility requirements, please call 800-395-2171 or visit www.assurancewireless.com. Information is available in English and Spanish. Prospective low income customers who find they are not eligible for Assurance Wireless may learn more about Virgin Mobile’s no contract payLo Plan options by visiting http://www.virginmobileusa.com/cell-phone-plans/paylo-plans.jsp#.
Sprint has the distinction of a strong corporate reputation with various branches of the armed services. Sprint takes pride in its military recruitment program that focuses on hiring veterans, members of the Reserve and National Guard, as well as transitioning active military and their spouses or other family members. Sprint has been widely recognized for this strong commitment to the military with multiple awards for being a military-friendly employer.
About Assurance Wireless
Assurance Wireless, one of Sprint’s no-contract brands, is supported by the Lifeline Assistance program, part of the Low Income Program of the federal Universal Service Fund (USF), which is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). Assurance Wireless provides service on the Nationwide Sprint Network, which reaches more than 280 million people.
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Offer limited to eligible customers (varies by state) residing in selected geographic areas and is non-transferable. Consumers who willfully make false statements in order to obtain the benefit can be punished by fine or imprisonment or can be barred from the program. Phone model’s based on availability and may vary depending on inventory. Voicemail draws from plan minutes. Add’l voice: 10c/min. Domestic text: 10c/msg (sent or received). Int’l & Data services may be extra per plan. Airtime charges apply when accessing voicemail via an Assurance Wireless phone once free minutes have been depleted. Account may expire 150 days after you receive notice of ineligibility for Assurance Wireless service and account balance may be forfeited. State and local sales taxes and fees may apply. $5 Plan: Minimum Top-Up of $10 may be required. Nationwide coverage area reaches more than 280 million people. Virgin Mobile USA network services are provided on the Nationwide Sprint® Network. Visit virginmobileusa.com to check coverage in your area. Assurance Wireless is subject to the Terms of Service (includes plan details) found on www.assurancewireless.com.
1 http://www.bls.gov/news.release/vet.nr0.htm
2 Based on published price plans as of 5/23/2012 of major Lifeline carriers with more than 1M subscribers who provide service in more than 20 states.
Contact(s):
| Assurance Wireless Jack Pflanz, 315-374-0693 Jack.Pflanz@Sprint.com
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