What Kind Of Phones Can I Get From The Government
Phones are a really important need and there are variations of phones according to need. It is common to see that everyone aspires to get a high configuration of phones. When it comes to a government program, everyone is expected to cover. For this, funding may be limited and a high configuration of phones may not be available. Surely iPhone 11, iPhone SE, a Newer version of Android are awesome deals for everyone but these may not be available.
But the government also ensures that phones will be a smartphone to let people use the internet and communications over the phone. So there are still plenty of smartphones from the end of the government to provide for the people. So the fact is that smartphones may be available at a cheap rate or free of cost but they are not going to be highly costly.
Qualify Based On Your Income
To qualify for Lifeline based on your income:
- Based on household size, your annual household income must be 135% or less than the federal poverty standards. For example, a household size of one would need a yearly income of $18,347 or less.
- A household of eight would need an annual income of $62,951 or less.
See a complete chart of income requirements based on household here.
How To Sign Up At Access Wireless
There are three ways through which you can apply for the Access Wireless services:
- You may apply online via the Access Wireless website.
- You may download and print the application form, fill it in, and mail it to Access Wireless.
- You may call 1-888-900-5899. You will receive guidance from an Access Wireless customer care representative.
If you are in a state in the National Verifier, you will need to first qualify in the Lifeline program through the National Verifier application. After receiving an Application ID, you may proceed to the Access Wireless application.
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What Government Program Provides Free Landline Service
Since 1985, the Lifeline program has provided free landline service to qualifying low-income Americans in every state, commonwealth, territory, and Tribal land. Lifelines goal is to ensure every American can connect to family, jobs, and emergency services.
The Federal Communications Commission started the Lifeline program in the early 1980s. Since then, its developed into a robust federal program that helps thousands of people connect annually.
Whats The Difference Between Acp And Lifeline
ACP provides a discount of up to $30 monthly for internet service for qualifying households. They could also provide up to $100 to buy a tablet, computer, or laptop for these same households.
ACP participants must make 200% or less of the federal poverty guidelines. Check out that link for a complete list of income standards listed by state. You could also qualify by participating in specific government assistance programs like SNAP, Medicaid, or Public Housing.
On the other hand, Lifeline provides a monthly discount of up to $9.25 for phone service for qualifying households. If you participate in Lifeline, you are automatically eligible for ACP.
To qualify for Lifeline, youll need a household income thats 135% of the poverty guidelines or less. You can use the Lifeline National Verifier to make things easy to see if you qualify.
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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 $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.
Is There Anything Else I Should Know Beforehand
There are a few things you should know before you try to get a free iPhone from the government.
- First, not everyone is eligible for a free phone.
- Second, even if you are eligible, there may be a waiting list.
- Third, you will likely have to recertify your eligibility every year.
- Fourth, you may be required to pay a small monthly fee.
- Fifth, your free phone may come with some strings attached, such as having to use it for work or school-related purposes.
- Sixth, there are only a limited number of free phones available, so you may not be able to get one right away.
- Finally, keep in mind that the government may change the rules at any time, so its important to stay up-to-date on the latest information.
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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
Waiting For A Phone If You Are Qualifying
Now it is time to wait for a free phone when the application process is in the progress. It takes a couple of days to assess your application and other related documents. When the staff of the free phone providers finds that everything is okay, you may be contacted to pick up it in person or other ways. But it is important to get a phone from the free phone providers in person where you can get it physically and know how to activate it with a SIM kit.
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Top Network Carriers Offering Free Government Phones
While many network carriers offer free government phones to first-time customers, others only provide these devices to those switching from other networks. So, you need to analyze a network carrier to know the modalities with which they offer free phones.
Some companies operate main wireless networks across the United States, while others are mobile virtual network operators . The difference between the two is that MVNOs may experience a slowed network during peak hours.
The following are some of the places where you can get a free government phone today:
What Is An Obama Phone
According to the Federal Communications Commission , the Lifeline program is an extension of the Universal Service Fund, which has been in operation since 1985. According to their website:
The Lifeline program has provided a discount on phone service for qualifying low-income consumers to ensure that all Americans have the opportunities and security that phone service brings including being able to connect to jobs, family and emergency services The Lifeline program is available to eligible low-income consumers in every state, territory, commonwealth, and on Tribal lands.
In more recent years, phones offered by Lifeline Assistance have been popularly renamed the Obama phone. Many cell phone providers offer plans for an Obama phone, some of which are listed below.
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In What States Free Government Iphone Is Available
The free government iPhone is available in all 50 states. You can get it through any government phone company, such as AT& T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, or US Cellular.
You can also get it through any other provider that offers free government phones. To find a list of providers, visit the website for the National Lifeline Association.
What Is The Safelink Phones Replacement Program
With this scheme, you can get a completely free replacement for your safelink compatible phones. There is a limitation to this definitely, you can only get a replacement once, which means that if you lose your phone for the second time, then you will not be able to get a new replacement. you need to be eligible for the scheme to avail of this benefit.
Safelink is one of the oldest providers of wireless networks, and there are millions of people across all the American states using their services, so it gets very convenient for everyone to be able to claim the replacement for your device. You must note that you can only get a refurbished phone as a replacement.
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Applying For A Free Government Phone
Once you have located a company that offers a program that is to your liking, applying for a free cell phone is simple. Using the providers website, you can fill out an online application to get a free phone.
While many choose to apply online for a free phone, the option exists to sign up in stores where applications are taken. In addition, some government assistance offices may also offer the option to sign up for the Lifeline Assistance program. For those of you who are not internet savvy, this is a great option to apply for the program.
Selecting The Best Offer
When you determine which companies offer phones in your area, you must next visit the websites of the companies that distribute these phones. Many of the providers that offer phones in different states vary what their programs offer each individual consumer, so you may need to shop around at each of their websites in order to determine which has the best deal.
Some providers give you the 250 minutes as part of the government program, but also offer additional minutes at a reduced rate. In addition, some of the providers may also offer texting at reduced rates.
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Go Paperless Application If Necessary
The free phone stands may be flexible in some cases especially for the seniors. The senior may not be able to get started with an online application but they may contact the nearest phone stand to get a free phone. The services and guidelines of the agent of the phone stands are awesome and friendly for the seniors. The senior may comfortably do that without visiting the companys website.
How Free Government Tablets Help Low
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Find Refurbished Tablets For Free:
Many different businesses hold the best buy or buyback programs where they sell old models or older computers. There many tablet manufacturing companies that do the same. Under the buyback program, they convert the e-waste into scrapes or refurbished it and gave it to needy people.
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How Can One Person Have Two Government Phones
The Affordable Connectivity Program and Lifeline are federal programs that give one set of benefits per household. This means that ACP/Lifeline providers will only be able to provide service and a free phone to one designated person in the household.
The free phone might be used by multiple people in the family. Still, only one set of benefits will be given to provide discounted or free phone service on one contract. Each provider has different rules around their free government phone.
Some may require that you stay with the company for at least one year to keep the phone. Others may give you the phone upfront once you sign up and not have any further requirements. Before signing any contracts, speak to a representative at the company to know what they require before you get your free phone.
If you are allowed to take your phone with you if/when you leave the company, you may be able to get a second free government phone. You would need to transfer your ACP/Lifeline benefits to a new provider that offers a free phone for new customers.
If this is the case, you would be left with your old free phone and now have a new phone with your ACP/Lifeline service. You now have two government phones, but youll need to pay for service out of pocket for the original phone if you want to connect it to a network.
Best Cell Phone Deals November 2022
Here are the very best cell phone deals of the month, all in one place.
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.
Looking to save some major cash this fall on a new cell phone plan? Or a new iPhone or Android device? We’ve rounded up this month’s best cheap phones and cell phone plans so you can score an incredible deal.
AT& T, Verizon, and T-Mobile currently offer great deals on the newest iPhones and Samsung Galaxy for new customers who switch or trade-in eligible devices. Smaller carriers like Xfinity Mobile, Mint Mobile, and Boost Mobile are offering deals on new devices as well as discounted, or free months of wireless service when you sign up for a new plan.
Read on to learn more about the latest cell phone deals.
- : Get the first 3 months of unlimited talk and text for only $5/mo
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Find Free Government Phone Stands Near You
Surely the low-income people want to go with the free government phone stands and it is the work to find free government phone stands near me. It should be clear that every government phone stand may work differently. There are some direct wireless providers in association with Lifeline promotional stands and there may be some local stores that may work for the low-income people with different devices and accessories but they may not participate in the government program. For this one should need to ensure what program they are going to seek. There are some points to make sure it is a government program and these are so important to know for staying under the government programs.
What We Dont Like About Xfinity Mobiles Unlimited Cell Phone Plan
We want you to know everything we do about this plan, so there are a few aspects we dont like about Xfinity Mobile. They mostly pertain to data limitations for non-5G devices.
Expect throttled, capped, and deprioritized 4G LTE data speeds
For 4G LTE data, Xfinity says it can deliver download speeds around 512 Mbps and upload speeds around 25 Mbps. There is a soft data cap of 20 GB, after which you will be deprioritized, and Xfinity will cut your download speeds to 1.5 Mbps and upload speeds to 750 Kbps. Thats partly why we say go with 5G if you can.
Non-5G devices experience low-resolution video streaming
Video streaming is where youre most likely to feel the pain of these data limitations. If youre on Xfinity Mobiles unlimited plan, the default video streaming quality may disappoint. It will depend largely on whether your device is 5G and if the network you have access to is 4G LTE or 5G.
The default streaming resolution for non-5G devices on Xfinity Mobiles unlimited data plan is only 480p, which is just standard definition . But if you’re on the 5G network, you’ll get the best possible video resolution.
Thats basically the difference between Batman Forever and The Dark Knight. Both are Batman movies, but one is clearly more advanced than the other.
Go with 5G. Thats our best advice when it comes to Xfinity Mobile. With a 5G device on a 5G network, youll enjoy 4K streaming. Roar!
Read Full Xfinity Mobile Review | View Xfinity Mobile Plans
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How To Get A Government Free Phone
Have you heard of the Lifeline Assistance program before? How about Obama phone? No? Well youve definitely heard of free government phones before, right? Yes, there are ways for those of you who meet specific eligibility criteria to get free government phones, and one of the ways to get your hands on a free government phone is searching free government phone stands near me.
There are two ways to qualify for the Lifeline Assistance a household must meet the low-income threshold, which is set at 135% of federal poverty guidelines or have a member that participates in one of the pre-defined government-supported programs .
Government-supported programs that make a household eligible for the Lifeline support:
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program , formerly known as Food Stamps
- Federal Public Housing Assistance
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
If a household meets one of the qualifying criteria, it must apply for the assistance. This is most easily done online, either directly through the National Verifier or individual wireless provider that takes part in the Lifeline Assistance program.
Below, we will take a closer look at the two most popular ways to apply for the Lifeline Assistance program online or in person.
