Free Government Cell Phones In Pa

Minimum Service Standards & Support Amounts

* Minimum service standards and support amounts will be implemented on the later of December 1, 2016 or 60 days after PRA approval.*** Fixed broadband providers that do not offer a product meeting the minimum service standards to a particular customers residence may receive the $9.25 benefit if that customer purchases a fixed broadband offering that meets or exceeds 4 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload.

Lifeline Free Government Smartphones/cell Phones Program In Pennsylvania

Wherever you live in Keystone state, there are a few companies that you can consider getting your free government smartphone from. These wireless carriers offer individual plans for Pennsylvania Lifeline subscribers. Seeing that there are differences in the features like minute numbers and data included. Make sure you read about all the free government cell phone companies in Pennsylvania before applying for a free phone.

Free Government Cell Phones: Which Phones You Can Get

The various carriers that participate in the Lifeline Assistance program do a pretty good job of giving their customers some great options in terms of cheap or free phones. The available models are typically older devices that have reached their age of “maturity”they’re still excellent devices that can keep you connected, but are no longer as popular as newer devices, meaning the manufacturers are more willing to take on the financial hit of discounting the phone for free.

Note that regardless of which Lifeline carrier you choose, it’s rare to find a free government iPhone. Most carriers discount Android devices, so if you do find a government iPhone for free, jump on it before it’s gone!

Some free phone carriers aren’t very forthcoming with their phone lineups until after you go through the qualification process. However, doing so will help you determine what kind of stipend you’re working with for your free or cheap government phone.

Of course, if you want a smartphone that’s slightly newer than those available through the Lifeline Assistance program, you can always see which current models have associated with them at the moment. Here are a few free phones on sale from standard cell phone carriers.

Recommended Reading: Government Support For Single Mothers

How To Locate Free Government Phone Providers Nearby:

Are you looking for an ACP provider near you? Is it hard for you to find one operator that supports the Affordable Connectivity Program .

Here are steps taking you through the ACP providers list –

• Open the official page of the Affordable Connectivity Government site. You can click on this link to directly go to Locate me section. You can view this on your mobile, desktop, or laptop.
• Now you will have to enter any of the following to find free government phone companies in your area –
• City or State Name
• You will get a list of various network operators within your vicinity along with their phone number, and the type of service that it offers .
• The list can be printed or downloaded in digital format like CSV, XLS, or PDF.

Note down those operators in your area or city and contact them to locate a store nearby. Most of the services have become so advanced that you needn’t have to visit their store infact you can get them sitting at home online.

It’s a hassle-free process and if you are stuck anywhere, you are a just call away.

We should praise how the data is managed by the US government in keeping up with those lists.

What Is Acp Program:

US Fed ran an Affordable Connectivity program that entitles you to get free phone service with voice and data per month. The individual has to meet the specific eligibility criteria to get a free government phone. Make sure that this is limited to one per household and offers atleast a $30 discount on phone billing and goes up to a $75 monthly discount for tribal lands.

The easiest way to get your hands on a free phone under the ACP program is to search for “free government phone stand near me” in search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo or visit the official website for more details. But the internet is full of various helpful pages which may be outdated or there isn’t correct information. Here we have provided full details on how to find free government phone stands near me now or nearby your location.

A free government phone provider will help you to get a free phone along with monthly voice and data benefits. They will also tell you about the eligibility and the procedure to apply to get such free benefits. Assurance Wireless, Cintex Wireless, and SFone Wireless do that and every other approved Lifeline provider should do that.

Also Check: Government Funding For Cdl Training

How To Obtain For A Free Iphone Government Phone

Lifeline, an old FCC government aid program, was designed to make telecommunications services more affordable to low-income customers. The initiative usually has a limited budget. While Lifeline does compensate for some basic expenses, like free phone service and free basic mobile phones, it rarely has enough money to finance iPhones. As a result, even though Lifeline was the only available assistance program, providers could not afford to give away free iPhones.

Nonetheless, when the EBB was formed in response to the COVID pandemic, several Lifeline providers who had also enrolled for the Emergency Broadband Benefit program were immediately given enough cash to provide more advanced devices and services, including iPhones.

The EBB initiative was a one-time benefit that expired on 31st December 2021. Nonetheless, the EBB program was merely replaced by a new assistance program known as the ACP . The ACP, like the EBB, is an FCC program made to assist households in affording the internet connection they require for healthcare, school, work, and other purposes.

The Affordable Connectivity Program providers provide monthly broadband internet discounts and one-time bonuses on connected devices. While most ACP providers that give discounted phones offer desktop computers, tablets, or laptops, some ACP providers have discovered a clever means to integrate their ACP and Lifeline programs and instead provide unlimited data and more enhanced smartphones.

Pennsylvania: Free Cell Phones From The Government

Pennsylvanias oil industry has seen better days. The states steel industry has seen better days. And the states coal industry has seen better days, too. The Keystone State has been through a lot of ups and downs in its time and always bounces back and were confident it will bounce back again.

But the fact is, a lot of Pennsylvania residents could use a little help right now. As of May 2011 the unemployment rate is a disappointing 7.4%. The fact that that is lower than the national average is of little solace to those Keystone Staters who find themselves without a steady income.

Fear not, Pennsylvanians. The Lifeline phone service program can help you get a free cell phone and free monthly minutes, from the government. At least that is one less bill to pay.

Read Also: Free Government Benefits For Seniors

How To Participate And Get A Free Cell Phone

Interesting in finding out more about free phone service? There are two ways to qualify for free Internet and cell phone coverage in Pennsylvania. One is through your household income, and one is through participation in a government program.

To qualify using income, your household income has to be equal to or less than the Qualifying Household Income Level. A husband and wife would be a two member household and need to make less than $36,620 per year. A single mom with two kids would be a three member household and would need to make less than $46,060 per year. See the chart below. You will need to be able to provide proof of income.

Alternatively, if you already participate in one of the federal programs below, you also meet the qualification requirements for the ACP program and can sign up for service.

Those programs are:

• National School Lunch Program
• Pell Grant Awards
• Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit

Join More Than 2 Million Customers

‘One of my kids has juvenile diabetes and I have to be able call the ambulance if his sugar is out control. So thank you Q Link for being there to help me do that.’

LAURA H

‘With the help of my phone I was able to go back to school after 7 years and receive my high school diploma. Thank you so much Q Link.’

CRIIS D

‘I wanted to be independent and on my own!! And so when I got my Q Link Wireless phone I became very successful and independent.’

KAYDEN S

‘If it wasnât for my Q-Link phone, I wouldnât have been able to call potential employers or receive call backs for interviews. Now, I have a full time job.’

CHERYL F

‘I was able to use my Q Link service to find a job in my town where jobs are virtually non existent. I couldnât have done it without you Q Link! Thank you very much.’

KRIS M

‘When my grandson was born, it was hard to keep in touch. I didnât have a cell phone OR landline. Now, I can keep in touch anytime. Thank you QLINK!’

JO ANNE R

‘My Q Link phone has helped me a lot. I have many doctorâs appointments and calls I need to make. I donât know if I would be able to afford a regular bill.’

TRINA P

‘I live where there is not great cell reception, but my Q link phone seems to always have a signal. My sonâs doctors, teachers, and school can always reach me!’

NICOLE B

‘My Q Link phone is helpful in many ways but the first success was getting a job! I was able to get a call back from an interview only because I had a Q Link phone.’

BRENDA NSHAYNE STERI C

Don’t Miss: Free Money Through Government Programs

How Do You Qualify For A Free Government Cell Phone

To find out if you qualify for a free government phone, youll need to make sure that your household income is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Youll need to prove your household income with pay stubs, a W-2 form, or a letter from the government agency that you’re enrolled in.

You can start by entering your ZIP code here to see what free government service options are available in your area.

How To Receive A Free Smartphone From Airtalk

Although the U.S. government initiated and funded the Lifeline and ACP programs, these programs only provide discounts on monthly wireless services, not the devices. AirTalk provides free 4G/5G smartphones with free shipping at their cost because they understand the importance of staying connected.

As part of the Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Program, AirTalk Wireless offers its qualifying customers FREE unlimited data, talk, and text and a FREE 4G/5G device from iconic brands such as Apple, Samsung, Motorola, and more.

Read more: How to Get a Free Phone

Also Check: Best Government Agencies To Work For

Get The Best Government Phone Service Today

Now that you know which free government phone is the best dont hesitate to receive this wonderful option. Everything from SNAP, Veterans Pension, Medicaid, and receiving benefits via Direct Express is all the qualification you need.

If you found this article about Lifeline service helpful, you may qualify for the program. Click here to apply.

What Is The Lifeline Assistance Program

Lifeline Assistance is the Federal Communication Commission’s long-running program designed to provide equal access to phone service for all Americans. It specifically caters to low-income residents who may not otherwise be able to afford a cell phone device or plan. The program entitles those who are eligible to wireless service for $9.25/month. It also applies to internet service, also priced at $9.25/month.

You can read more about the Lifeline program here.

Don’t Miss: Government Paying Cell Phone Bill

How To Get A Free Phone From The Us Government

We are committed to sharing unbiased reviews. Some of the links on our site are from our partners who compensate us. Read our disclosure policies to learn more.

The US government offers a program called Lifeline Assistance that can reduce the cost of phone and internet services, if you qualify.

Sadly, Lifeline Assistance no longer provides free cell phones alongside their discounted services. But you may find that some of the wireless providers offering free plans through the Lifeline program still offer a free cell phone or free SIM kit. Scroll down to see a list of those providers below.

Most cell phone providers participating in the Lifeline program also participate in the Affordable Connectivity Program, which can get you a cell phone or tablet at a discounted price of about $10.

To qualify for Lifeline Assistance, you either have to have an income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or be currently enrolled in any of the following government programs:

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
• Supplemental Security Income
• Tribal-specific programs: Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribally-Administered Temporary
• Assistance for Needy Families , Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations , Head Start
• Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit

If any of the above relates to you, then you deserve a free cell phone and a cheap cell phone plan to go with it.

Alternatives To Free Government Phones

If you don’t qualify for any free phones from the government, you’ve still got some cheap cell phone options and cheap cell phone plans to choose from.

And you can check out the FreedomPop Free plan, which offers 10 minutes of talk, 10 text messages, and 25 MB of data every 30 days. All you need to pay is $10 for the SIM kitthat’s it.

Read Also: Homes For Sale Government Hill San Antonio

Cheap Cell Phone Plans

If you dont quite qualify for the Lifeline Assistance program, there are tons of cheap cell phone plans as a backup. Here are some of the cheapest cell phone plans available right now.

Gen Mobile

Gen Mobile is a smaller wireless carrier that runs on Sprint’s network. Plans start at $6/month and top out at $25/month, with varying amounts of talk, text and data. The cheapest plan gets you 300 minutes of talk, unlimited text, and 1GB of data for $6 /month.

Whats the deal with Sprints network after the T-Mobile merger?

Sprint was officially acquired by T-Mobile, and the truth is, we still dont know whats going to happen with MVNOs that use Sprints network. Check out our Sprint and T-Mobile merger coverage to see the latest on any network updates.

Twigby

Twigby is a Nashville-based prepaid mobile virtual network operator that runs on . The plan were highlighting below costs a few dollars more than Gen Mobile, but you get an extra 200 minutes of talk per month.

Twigby sells tons of cheap phones, the least expensive of which is the Alcatel Cinch at $15 outright. If you want a device that more closely resembles today’s smartphones, the Unimax Express is $34.

US Mobile

US Mobile

All the best money saving tips in one newsletter.

Please complete all fields to subscribe.

An error has occurred. Please try again.

Success! Look out for a confirmation email to start receiving our newsletters.

What Kind Of Phones Can I Get

You usually won’t know what kind of phone you can get until you go through the approval process, though most of the Lifeline Assistance-eligible carriers do a decent job offering a variety of phones. Sadly, you likely won’t find the iPhone 11, iPhone SE, or a new Android phone with these carriers, but there are still plenty of smartphones out there that you can get for super cheap or even free. Yup, thats right: a potential free smartphone.

To give you an idea of what to expect, Assurance Wireless has its cell phone lineup public. You can find smartphones like the Alcatel Dawn and the Kyocera Hydro REACH.

You can also find other smartphones like the Coolpad Haylo, REVVL 4, and ZTE Prestige 2.

Also Check: How Do I Get A Free Government Phone In California

How To Qualify For A Free Government Cell Phone

You must first determine if you are eligible for a free government cell phone through the United States Poverty Guidelines before signing up. You are probably asking, What is the poverty guideline and where does it feature in receiving a free cell phone? Well, Lifeline Assistance is a government initiative that establishes one of the eligibility criteria via a households gross family income.

The program considers persons living in the same dwelling to be a household. It means you do not have to be family members to qualify as a household. The total household income should not exceed the federal financial requirements by 135% to be eligible for the plan. Note that your state and household size may also determine your eligibility. If you plan to qualify for this scheme financially, you must provide income evidence.

Heres a breakdown of FCC income guidelines:

• $14702 per year per individual
• $19859 per year for a two-member household
• $25016 per year for a three-member household
• $30173 per year for a four-member household

Note that the gross family income increases by $5157 for each additional household member. For example, a five member household should not have an annual income of more than $35330 to qualify for this program. Furthermore, you will need to show proof of residence in the United States before getting Lifeline approval for a free government cell phone with free monthly service.

Us Mobile Unlimited Talk And Text Plan

The only way to bring your bill lower than $10 a month is to throw out your data plan altogether. If you know you don’t want to pay for any wireless data, the US Mobile Unlimited Talk and Text plan at $3 a month is your best bet. Bonus, US Mobile operates on both T-Mobile and Verizon networks, which offer excellent coverage.

You May Like: Loudoun County Va Government Jobs