I am unable to work until mid-August because I am completing intensive mental health treatment and have been since the end of March. My phone bill is past due. Any guidance?

I’m a young adult who has no family (it’s safer I don’t talk to them) and I don’t have any friends who are able to support me at this time (which I understand, we’re all in our early 20s).

I am doing intensive mental health treatment and have been for the last few months. I am set to finish it at the end of July. I’ve made a lot of progress and feel like I’ll be able to work the job I have lined up to start in mid-August after the work I’ve done.

I have $8, food stamps, and Medicaid to survive the rest of summer. I have stable housing with my university so no issues there. However, I have a past due bill with AT&T for $190. Before I lost my job in April part way through intensive mental health treatment, I was paying my bills on time previously. I know my normal phone bill is very high and once I get out of this mess, I’m going for a much cheaper phone plan if possible. Part of what I worked on in treatment is not impulsively doing things I can’t afford like an almost $200 phone bill.

Anyways, my last bill with AT&T was due June 1st. I opened my bill today as I needed to submit it for my foodshare benefits and it noted that if I do not pay immediately, my phone service would be shut off soon. I owe another $190 to AT&T on July 1st.

I realistically cannot put any money on the bill until the first week of September when I get my financial aid and funds from my job. I’m perplexed of how to handle my phone bill. Part of the reason why my phone bill is so expensive is my last phone unexpectedly broke in mid-April and I had to upgrade it early. I have a newer iPhone in very good condition. Should I sell my phone and get a cheaper one while using what I get from that to pay AT&T? Would it be wise to call AT&T and let them know I cannot pay them anything until September and accept my service will be suspended with them and my credit score will take a hit? I don’t have anyone in my personal life to ask about this, so I apologize if this question would be better directed to post on another subreddit.