In Californy you are in poverty if just at minimum wage.On July last year our Golden State went crazy with the free phone thing.
http://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/california-unlimited-talk-textManny still don't know about this. In recent years I have comedown to the poverty level after a few bad things. Before that, I did not know what poverty was. Now I get it. You have to get the government to give you the things you want.
Now I have a free Smart Phone that lets me get into the Internet.
Really. The link above gives information on what is available.
Notice the 'free phone' thing varies state-by-state.