Jeannette Jones suffers from seizures. She was always afraid to go out by herself until she got her free cell phone.

“It’s a lifesaver for me,” she said. “I don't feel I have to have someone with me at all times.”

With her daughter's help, Jones applied online for her phone from Safelinkwireless.com. Safelink is a government-supported program that provides a free cell phone and airtime for low-income customers.

Three days after she applied, Jones got her phone in the mail.

“It was very easy,” she said.

But it wasn't as easy for Robert Keilback. He's been waiting almost two months for an application.

“I called and I've just been getting the runaround ever since,” he said.

Keilback has arthritis and uses two canes so just walking can be dangerous for him.

“I’ve fallen a few times. It hurts,” he said.

He said a cell phone could be a lifesaver, but because he doesn't have a computer, he had to call Safelink's 800 number. A few of the questions that the representative asked concerned him.

“She wanted my bank numbers,” he said. “I said, ‘If you send me an application, I'll put the numbers on the application.’”

Keilback said he also wondered if he really needed to answer those questions. Safelink said a Social Security number is required, but bank account information is not.

But Keilback said he never got his application and decided to call back. He gave his address repeatedly and then he got disconnected.

It took several more calls and 20 more minutes, but he finally got a promise that an application would be mailed.

But applying online is much faster.

If you don't have a computer, see if someone who does can help you.

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Safelink Wireless is a government-supported program to provide free cell phones and minutes for low-income customers who qualify. North Carolina is one of the states participating. South Carolina is not.

North Carolina residents who qualify can receive a free Safelink Wireless phone and a free cellular plan with 68 minutes of airtime per month.

North Carolina residents qualify if:

1. They already participate in one of the following assistance programs:

• Federal Public Housing Assistance / Section 8
• Food Stamps
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Medicaid
• Crisis Intervention Program
• Work First

2. No one in the household currently receives Lifeline Assistance through another phone carrier. If someone in the household is receiving Lifeline Assistance they must cancel the service before applying for Lifeline Service through SafeLink Wireless.

3. They have a valid United States postal address. They must live at a residence that can receive mail from the US Post Office. P.O. box addresses cannot be accepted.

For more information, visit www.safelinkwireless.com.