Getting A Free Cell Phone From The Government
The other route for getting a is from the Lifeline Assistance government program. Along with a free cell phone, you also get a cheaper cell phone plan. Dont expect to get the latest Apple or Android devices with this government assistance program, but you can still get a brand new phone for free.
First things first, youll need to make sure that you qualify for a free phone from the government.
Who Qualifies For A Free Cell Phone
There are a few rules and restrictions to the Lifeline phone service, and while not everyone qualifies for this free phone from the government, if youve got financial problems you most likely are eligible.
Do you qualify for your own free mobile phone and up to 250-1,000 an even unlimited voice minutes and unlimited texting each and every month? Its very quick and simple to find out. And like we said, if you do quality, theres absolutely no cost to you for the phone or the service.
Although its the cell phone companies that verify your information, send out the phone, and manage your account, this is a federal government-sponsored and regulated program, so the eligibility requirements are very similar no matter where you live and who you choose to get your phone from.
Be aware that there may be small differences depending on the state in which you live, but those differences are pretty minor. Generally, you will qualify if you participate in any of the following federal benefit programs:
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- Federal Public Housing Assistance
- Veterans Pension and Survivor’s Benefit.
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Tribally Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
- Tribal Head Start
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
With that in mind, there are two ways to qualify for a free cell phone from the government:
Tag Mobile: Free Cell Phone And Plan
TAG Mobile participates with Lifeline and ACP and leverages Verizon wireless and T-Mobile networks. Its available in 19 states and 11 cities in California.
In California, you can get a free smartphone with unlimited talk and text and up to 8GB of data each month. In other states, TAG Mobile provides a free monthly plan with unlimited voice, text, and 8.5GB of data.
The program allows participants to bring your own compatible phone, transfer your number, choose prepaid or monthly plans, and shop for phones all online. Enroll with TAG Mobile and get your benefits.
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Free Government Cell Phones For Low Income
Ever get fed up with the high cost of wireless service? We do too.
Even if you cut costs by avoiding expensive unlimited plans you may still need a more affordable option. How does free sound?
If you fall within certain low-income guidelines, you may qualify for a free government cell phone and service through a government program called Lifeline.
This option is a great solution if:
- You don’t need tons of data
- You’re a senior citizen
- You need a phone for work or job searching
- You need a phone in case of things like car problems or medical emergencies
In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about this free cell phone program and how to get started.
Free Government Phones: Plans Devices How To Apply
Thanks to the governments Lifeline Assistance program, you can qualify for .
For those who struggle to pay their cell phone bill every month, this government program was made for you. In this article, we’ll explain how you can qualify for the Lifeline program, as well as run through the carriers that offer free government cell phones. Finally, we’ll present some low-cost cell phone plan alternatives to this free program.
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Federal Veterans Affairs Veterans & Survivors Pension Benefit
Pension Grant Letter, should contain the following basic information:
- Participants name
- A decision about the participants monthly entitlement amount
- Payment start date
Qualify by income and provide one of the following as proof.
- Prior Years State, Federal or Tribal Tax Return
- Unemployment/Workers’ Compensation Benefits Statement
- Divorce Decree or Child Support Documents
- Veterans Administration Benefits Statement
- Current Income Statement from Employer or Paycheck Stubs
- Retirement/Pension Benefits Statement
- Social Security Benefits Statement
How To Get Free 5g Government Phones: A Complete Guide
This information is current as of June 12, 2022.
Do you participate in SNAP, Public Housing, Medicaid, or another government-assistance program? Or are you a low-income American? You might qualify for a free 5G government phone!
How to get free 5G government phones
You can get one of these 5G government phones by being eligible for and applying for the Affordable Connectivity Program or Lifeline. Then, youll have to choose a company that offers a free phone with their ACP/Lifeline plan. Voila youve now got a free 5G phone and monthly plan covered by the government.
Lets dive into each step so you can get your new phone today.
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How Can A Senior Check If They Qualify For Lifeline Of Acp
The easiest way to check if you qualify is through a Lifeline Provider in your area. They will have a sign-up form that all you need to do is:
Their system will then check to determine if they are able to help you. You should get an answer in just a few seconds as their system will check on your behalf in the national database.
If you qualify with a Lifeline provider, many of the steps in the application process will be automated and you also can contact their customer support if you have questions during the signup.
They will also follow up with you to help complete the application if any steps were missed.
Helpful Tip:
Seniors applying for Lifeline in Kentucky, Oklahoma, Missouri, or Arkansas can check if they qualify for Lifeline through Easy Wireless.
Just click the “Sign Up Now” button below.
How To Get A Free Phone Online From T
T-Mobile offers both Apple iPhone and Android . Its a similar story to AT& T in how you qualify to get a free phone:
Follow the steps above and youll get up to $800 worth of bill credit for a new , or $830 off a new Apple iPhone. When it comes to cell phone deals, T-Mobile currently beats out AT& T in raw savings. That extra credit can make the difference between getting a basic model of a phone and getting a more premium phone for free.
As usual, your credit will apply to your bill over the course of two years. At the end of your two years, youll own your phone outright and can change networks without incurring any fees. You can also look for cheap phones through T-Mobile’s smaller owned MVNO, Metro by T-Mobilejust note that the best phone deals through Metro are only available in store and are for customers switching to Metro. You can still see discounted phones online, but you’ll need to head to a brick-and-mortar to seal the proverbial deal.
Check out the most and the .
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Acp Only Qualifying Programs
If you are eligible for Lifeline, you automatically qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program. But what if you don’t meet any of the criteria listed above?
You may still be eligible for FREE Talk, Text & Data plus a FREE Smartphone. The ACP benefit has additional programs that you can use to qualify.
- National School Lunch Program
- Community Eligibility Provision
- Women, Infant, and Children
You may also qualify for ACP if your income is below the amounts on these charts.
What Is The Lifeline Program
Lifeline is a government program that gives low-income adults free phone and phone services. This service is available to consumers who qualify financially. Lifeline is dedicated to helping low-income, elderly, and disabled get affordable phone service, cheap Internet, and computers.
Lifeline also covers previously recognized reservations in Oklahoma, Alaska, and Hawaiian Homelands. Also, disadvantaged consumers living on an Indian Tribes reservation, pueblo, or colonies recognized by the federal government qualify.
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Save Money On Your Wireless Phone Service
Are you looking for assistance with your wireless phone service? Did you know that if you qualify for programs like SNAP, you may also be eligible for Lifeline or the Affordable Connectivity Program ? Both Lifeline and ACP are government programs that help low-income consumers receive free or heavily discounted communication services.
Click here to find out more and apply for this valuable benefit.
Do I Qualify For A Free Government Phone With The Lifeline Program
For starters, if youre already enrolled in a government aid program, you could automatically qualify for a free government phone. Those already enrolled in any of the following programs are eligible:
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- Supplemental Security Income
- Federal Public Housing Assistance
- Tribal-specific programs: Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribally-Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families , Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations , Head Start
If youre not enrolled in any of those government programs, youll need to prove your income is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. For example, if youre the only person in your household and want to get a free government phone, youll need to prove you make less than $12,760 per year. Every extra person in your household pushes your limit up another $4,480so, essentially, the more folks you have in your household, the easier it is to qualify for a free government cell phone and inexpensive cell phone plan.
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Entouch Wireless: Free Smartphone And Plan
If you qualify for Lifeline and ACP, enTouch Wireless offers a free Android smartphone with options for free unlimited data, talk, and text, or limited data plans with 100MB-11GB of data.
enTouch Wireless is available in 34 states and on Tribal lands. You can view eligibility requirements on the state list.
In some states, if you only qualify for Lifeline, enTouch offers a free SIM card for unlocked phones. The features of these $0/month plans and data limits vary by state.
This provider also offers free international calling from the United States to Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, India, China, Vietnam, and South Korea.
Visit enTouch Wireless and click enroll now to choose your state to see available plans.
Apply Payment And Enjoy Your Service
After Steps 1 through 3, you may input your payment information at Checkout to pay your bill. You can also edit your payment method by clicking on “Account & Payment” under the “My Account” tab. If you have any questions, please call 1-877-430-2355 to make your payment.
If your household is eligible, you can receive:
- Up to a $30 per month discount on any monthly smartphone, hotspot or tablet plan
- Up to a $75 per month discount for households on qualifying Tribal lands
A household is eligible if one member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below:
- Household income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines
- Household participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, WIC, or Lifeline
- Household is located on qualifying Tribal lands and participates in Tribal specific programs, such as Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal TANF, Tribal Head Start or the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
- Household participates in the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision in the current school year or
- Household member received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year
A household is defined as any individual or group of individuals, related or unrelated, who live together at the same address and who contribute to and share the household income and expenses.
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Find A Free Government Phone Provider
To get a free phone, you must check with one of the companies that offer phones through the Lifeline Assistance program. There are many providers out there, but the most popular ones are Safelink Wireless and Assurance Wireless.
Many programs exist all over the country that provide cell phones to needy people in most states. Providers include Budget Mobile, Life Wireless, Assist Wireless, I-Wireless, Terracom Wireless, YourTel Wireless, Tag Mobile, Cintex Wireless, Care Wireless, Alaska Communications, and Wireless for Hope. Because of the expansion of these programs nationwide, this list is subject to change.
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.
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How To Get A Free Phone From The Us Government
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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 $11.
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
- Federal Public Housing Assistance
- Tribal-specific programs: Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families , Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
- Assistance for Needy Families , Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations , Head Start
- Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit
How You Can Get An Obama Phone
If you qualify based on your income, you can get a free government phone for yourself. Along with a free cell phone, you will be able to receive 250 free minutes per month. Needy Americans can get approved through many different retailers in 49 states along with Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. To get an Obama Phone, you must simply qualify based on your income level per year.
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Lifeline Support For Affordable Communications
FCC Chairwoman RosenworcelSpotlights Lifeline Program
During Lifeline Awareness Week, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel addressed the range of Americans who can receive support from the FCC’s Lifeline program.
Lifeline is an FCC program that helps make communications services more affordable for low-income consumers. Lifeline provides subscribers a discount on qualifying monthly telephone service, broadband Internet service, or bundled voice-broadband packages purchased from participating wireline or wireless providers. The discount helps ensure that low-income consumers can afford 21st century broadband and the access it provides to jobs, healthcare, and educational resources.
Lifeline During Coronavirus Pandemic
To help keep Americans connected during the coronavirus pandemic, the FCC has temporarily waived recertification and reverification requirements for subscribers residing on Tribal lands, and has extended those waivers until January 31, 2023. The latest FCC waiver order was released September 30, 2022 and it will help ensure that Lifeline subscribers are not involuntarily removed from the Lifeline program during this time of national crisis. All other Lifeline waivers previously in place as a result of the coronavirus pandemic have ended.
If you’re looking for more information about the Affordable Connectivity Program go here.
A New Government Program Cuts Big Dollars Off Your Cellular Plan
You may qualify for government discounts on your smartphone, hotspot or tablet data plan under the new Affordable Connectivity Program .
ACP provides awesome discounts so your household can afford the day-to-day data you need to stay connected for work, school, healthcare and more! The ACP discount can be applied to all monthly data plans we sell!
Learn more about this great program to see if you qualify for the discount!
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How To Replace A Lost Lifeline Company
You can lose or damage your free government cell phone shortly after getting it. The best thing is that you can replace it or even get an upgrade. If you lost your device, the provider would replace it at a fee. Its vital always to keep an emergency copy of your providers name, your phone number, and the serial number of the device. You are going to need it if you want to replace a lost or damaged handset.
Here are the steps you can use to replace your free government cell phone:
- Contact the mobile carrier immediately you realize you lost the device so they can turn off the service to protect your phone balance.
- The provider may ask you for the events that led to you losing the cell phone.
- Pick a new cell phone.
- Pay the replacement fee.
- Wait to receive the new handset via regular mail.
