Toll Free Numbers Play Important Role in Recent Events

Over the past few months, several 800 toll free numbers have served various communities. The populations that have been served include senior recipients of social security, those located along the gulf recovering from hurricane damage, and those in need of obtaining photo identification for voting due to newly passed state voting laws. For assistance and resolutions, a handful of 800 toll free services have come to the rescue in the wake of recent events and changes.

Social Security: With social security payments transitioning from a paper check by mail system to a paperless electronic direct deposit, recipients have to be more precautious with giving out their information. If you receive a call informing you of winning a contest, do not give out your social security number under any circumstances. The Social Security Association will never call you to ask for your social security number, or say you won a contest either. When in doubt, call them toll free at 800-772-1213.

Hurricane Isaac in the Gulf:For three separate parishes, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana and West Feliciana, a toll free number has been established to assist hurricane victims for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This assistance includes grants for temporary housing and home repairs, serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance, and low interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Association. Applicants can register online at www.disasterassitance.gov, via smartphone at m.fema.gov or via an 800 toll free line at 1-800-621-3362 or 1-800-462-7585. The toll-free number service is available from 7 AM to 10 PM Eastern Time, seven days a week.

Voter ID: Voter identification laws require that a voter must show a government-issued and accepted form of identification in order to cast a ballot. Forms of identification include a driver’s license, passport, government employee ID, military ID, or an ID issued by a university or educational institution can also count as government-issued. For questions regarding how to obtain a voter ID or what constitutes as sufficient identification, voters are asked to contact their state’s Voter Registration Office via their toll free numbers.