What Is Visible's Connection Protection Program?

Alissa Bird Staff Writer

Updated 02 April 2025

Contents

In this guide:

Visible Connection Protection explained
Eligibility requirements
How to apply
Our take
More ways to save on your phone bill

After losing your job, the last thing you want is to lose your cell service. That's where Visible’s Connection Protection Program comes in. This reimbursement program keeps members wirelessly connected and eases the financial burden of job loss by offering three months of low-cost wireless service to those experiencing employment hardships.

As a prepaid wireless carrier under Verizon's umbrella, Visible understands the critical role wireless service plays in accessing the job market. Whether you're updating your LinkedIn profile or browsing through job listings on Indeed, Visible aims to keep you connected when it matters most.

We all go through rough patches. Visible’s Connection Protection Program is here to help. Read on to see if you are eligible and how to apply.

What is Visible’s Connection Protection Program?

In addition to Visible’s low-commitment, low-cost phone plans, this mobile virtual network operator (or MVNO) boasts even nobler pursuits. In February 2023, Visible added to its Visible Impacts social impact campaign by introducing the Connection Protection Program, a wireless support service for those experiencing employment hardship.

The Connection Protection Program is a reimbursement program that stems from a partnership between Visible and Empower Work, a national nonprofit that provides employment support to those experiencing job loss. Through the program, Visible members experiencing unemployment can pay as low as $5 for three months of free wireless service after reimbursements and access to Empower Work’s employment support counselors via a free text line. Whether you want to process your recent job loss or need help making a game plan, Empower’s counselors can hold your hand through the unemployment process.

Becoming a member of the Connection Protection Program is as simple as meeting the criteria and submitting an application. Enrollment remains open as of this writing but will close after 4,000 members are accepted.

Visible Connection Protection Program eligibility requirements

To be eligible for Visible’s Connection Protection Program, you must meet the following criteria and submit an online application (more on this later):

You’ve been a Visible member for at least one month with service on any plan.
You’ve recently been laid off, had hours cut, or are unemployed and actively seeking employment.
You have not already received Connection Protection support in the last three years.

Meeting these criteria is step one, but acceptance into the program will be determined when you apply.

How to apply to Visible’s Connection Protection Program

To receive Connection Protection benefits, you must fit the eligiblity criteria and apply through Empower Work’s website. The application will ask what type of employment hardship you are facing and how it has impacted your life. The whole process, from start to finish, should take only three minutes, and you will know the status of your application within three business days.

If you are not accepted, Empower Work will still connect you with free employment support resources. We recommend trying their free text line for immediate emotional and technical support.

Will Visible actually pay my phone bill?

In so many words, yes. After being approved into the Connection Protection Program, you will receive a one-time-use promo code to apply to your Visible account—this is your ticket to three months of free wireless service.

That said, your monthly reimbursement will depend on your Visible plan. Three months of truly free service is only available to those on Visible’s base unlimited plan. Normally, this plan costs $25/month, but for the purposes of this program, the actual price is $5/month. Qualifying Connection Protection members will make three monthly payments of $5/month and receive a subsequent reimbursement in the form of a $15 digital gift card from BlackHawk Rewards to cover the total expenses paid.

For Connection Protection Program members enrolled on Visible's $35/month Visible+ plan or $45/month Visible+ Pro plan, the reimbursement process will work a bit differently. These members will receive a $25/month BlackHawk gift card for each month throughout the three-month program. However, they will need to cover the remaining balance of their monthly phone bill, which amounts to $20/month.

Once the three months are up, Connection Protection members will resume paying their normal monthly amount, regardless of their employment status. They will be eligible to apply again after three years.

Visible’s Connection Protection Program: Our take

There’s nothing wrong with free cell service, at least in Visible’s case. If you are experiencing an employment hardship and are a Visible member, there is no reason not to apply for the Connection Protection Program. Participation in the program is confidential and can save you up to $75 over three months. While that might not sound like a whole lot, every little bit counts when your next paycheck is not guaranteed.

Our only advice is that if you’re currently a Visible+ or Visible+ Pro subscriber, and you want to maximize your budget savings with this program, you should temporarily switch to Visible’s $25/month unlimited base plan. While Visible+ and +Pro offer unlimited premium data and access to Verizon’s (faster) 5G Ultra Wideband network, the Visible base plan has what most people need: unlimited talk, text, and data on Verizon’s 5G and 4G LTE networks. You should be fine with basic service for three months—and you might even find that you prefer this plan for the long-term. For a more comprehensive comparison, check out our guide on Visible plans.

#1	Visible	Visible $25 Visible Plan Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data Verizon 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices Unlimited mobile hotspot data $25.00/mo Taxes & Fees included View Plan	$25.00/mo Taxes & Fees included	View Plan
#2	Visible	Visible $35 Visible+ Plan Unlimited 5G Ultra Wideband and 4G LTE/ 5G speeds Verizon 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices Unlimited mobile hotspot data $35.00/mo Taxes & Fees included View Plan	$35.00/mo Taxes & Fees included	View Plan
#3	Visible	Visible $45 Visible+ Pro Plan Unlimited 5G Ultra Wideband and 4G LTE/ 5G speeds Verizon 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices Unlimited mobile hotspot data $45.00/mo Taxes & Fees included View Plan	$45.00/mo Taxes & Fees included	View Plan

Need more help paying your phone bill?

Unemployed or not, it always helps to lower your monthly phone bill. Below are some suggestions for additional savings:

Take advantage of Visible’s Payback Program, which offers 12-24 months of free cell service if you buy an eligible Visible phone when your current phone is incompatible.
See if you qualify for the federal government's Lifeline program, which provides discounted wireless service to eligible low-income individuals and families. To apply for the program and check eligibility, visit Lifeline's website.
Save on your monthly bill with AutoPay. Many carriers, big and small, offer savings when signing up for their autopay program. (Hint: for even more ways to save extra cash, check out our top tips for saving on your cell phone bill.)

Alissa Bird

Staff Writer

Alissa is an essayist turned tech writer committed to translating the wireless world for the everyday reader. When she’s not researching cell phone plans, Alissa enjoys reading, playing with her toddler, and visiting the best restaurants around San Diego.

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