How to Get Free Government Cell Phone – Eligibility and Application

Are you looking for a way to get a free Government Cell Phone? If yes, then you have stumbled upon the right article.

I kept hearing about the government offering free phones and phone service to low-income people, so I decided to get my hands on them for my grandpa.

To my surprise, the application process was very simple, and I got my free cell phone and services such as unlimited talk, text, and data within 2 weeks.

With this article, let me share my personal experience with you guys on how I applied for a free government cell phone, its eligibility criteria, required documents, available service providers, and more.

So, let’s delve further to learn more about it –

What is the Free Government Cell Phone Program?

The federal government offers the Lifeline Assistance program to help needy people reduce their phone and internet service costs. A lot of people have benefited from this program and are able to connect with the world.

Lifeline Program offers a monthly discount of $9.25 for nontribal lands and $34.95 on tribal land for wireless services.

 

Many service providers that participate in the Lifeline program offer these services. Some providers under this program also offer free cell phones to low-income people.

How to Get a Free Government Cell Phone 2023

Getting a free government cell phone requires you to follow the steps below.

• First, make sure you meet the eligibility criteria for the Lifeline program, which is based on Low income or participation in government programs.
• Collect all the eligibility documents.
• Find a Lifeline service provider in your area by visiting “https://www.lifelinesupport.org/companies-near-me/”
• Complete an application process on your provider or National Verifiers website.
• Wait for the approval

How to apply for Free Government Cell Phone

You can apply for a free government cell phone in 2 ways.

• Online Application
• Mail Application

Online Application

The online application requires you to complete an application form on the National Verifier. Here are the steps to do so.

• To apply online for a free government cell phone, visit “https://getinternet.gov/apply?id=nv_home&ln=RW5nbGlzaA%3D%3D”

• Select your state and click on “Get Started.”

• Complete the application form with your details, such as Name, address, SSN, etc.
• Upload Scanned copies of your eligibility documents.
• Submit the application and wait for the approval.
• Once approved, look for the service provider “https://www.lifelinesupport.org/companies-near-me/”
• Contact your service provider and enroll in their services to recieve a free cell phone.

Mail Application

If you prefer a paper application, here are the steps to do so.

• To apply for a free government cell phone via mail, download and take a printout of the application form available at “https://lifelinesupport.org/wp-content/uploads/documents/get-lifeline/LI_Application_NVstates.pdf”
• Fill out the application form
• Attach copies of your eligibility documents
• Review the application
• Finally, post it to that Lifeline Office at
  USAC
  Lifeline Support Center
  P.O. Box 9100
  Wilkes-Barre, PA 18773

How to qualify for Free Government Cell Phone

You can qualify for the Lifeline program and recieve a free government cell phone if you meet the eligibility criteria. However, you must first meet the prerequisites to apply for the program.

• You must be 18 years or older
• You must be a permanent resident of the state you are applying from.

If you meet the prerequisites, check for the Lifeline program eligibility criteria in the next sections

Eligibility for Free Government Cell Phone

 

You can become eligible for the Lifeline program to get free government cell phones in two ways.

Income-Based Eligibility

Your annual income should be less than 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. You must provide proof of financial eligibility to your provider.

Program-Based Eligibility

You qualify for the program if you take part in any of the programs mentioned below –

• Head Start
• Medicaid
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8)
• Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
• Tribally-Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
• Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
• The National School Lunch Program’s Free Lunch Program

What Documents Are Needed to Prove Eligibility

To prove your eligibility, you must provide one or two copies of the documents based on your eligibility –

Income Documents

Here are the accepted income documents.

• Recent Federal Tax Returns (W-2 Forms)
• Child Support Letter
• A letter from the Unemployment
• Workman’s Compensation Letter
• Payroll statements or recent check stubs from your job
• Department of Social Services letter

Program Participation Documents

Here are the accepted program Participation Documents

• Government approval letter
• Benefit award letter
• Benefit verification letter
• Statement of benefits

General Documents

Provide the following documents to prove your identity, age, and address.

• U.S. driver’s license
• Birth Certificate
• Passport
• Utility bill
• Government-issued, state, military, or Tribal ID
• Lease/mortgage statement
• Permanent resident card

Free Government Cell Phone Lifeline Service Providers

Some of the free Lifeline service providers that offer their service to the needy are –

SafeLink Wireless

SafeLink Wireless is one of the biggest and oldest service providers. It is operated by TracFone Wireless and provides its service in Alabama, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Kansas, Georgia, and other states and countries.

To apply for a free cell phone from Safelink Wireless, follow our guide on “Apply for Safelink Wireless Free Phone.”

Assurance Wireless

Assurance Wireless is a California-based government-funded wireless service provider.

It offers needy people a free smartphone, unlimited talk time, text, and data every month. It operates its service in Mississippi, Michigan, New Mexico, West Virginia, Ohio, etc.

To apply for a free government cell phone from Assurance Wireless, read out our guide on “Apply for Assurance Wireless Free Government Phone.”

QLink Wireless

QLink Wireless is an American telecommunications company that is located in Diana, Florida. It offers Wireless service for free to its Lifeline-qualified customers.

Besides this, the company offers prepaid mobile phone services encompassing wireless voice, free text, and internet service under the brand named Hello Mobile.

QLink is operated by the Sprint network and offers its service in Texas, Utah, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and others.

To apply for a free government phone from QLink, read out our guide on “How to get QLink Wireless Free Phone.

Assist Wireless

Assist Wireless works in the Sprint and T-Mobile network as well. It offers its service in selected states: Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, and Oklahoma.

To apply for a free government phone from Assist Wireless, read our guide on “Apply For Assist Wireless Free Phone.”

How to sign up for Free Government Cell Phone

Signing up for a free government cell phone won’t take much time. You can do so by following these simple steps –

Look for a provider in your state

The most important step before signing up is to look for a provider in your area or state.

Cross-examine the information on each carrier’s website

It’s crucial to check what each carrier offers its users, as cell phone and service plans differ from carrier to carrier. So, do a detailed study about the carrier you will select.

Enroll online or via phone

After selecting your carrier, sign up on the provider’s website. You can also register via call instead of online. It would be more convenient for you to upload the required documents if you enroll online.

After getting approved, you will get your cell phone within a week.

What are the Benefits of Free Government Cell Phones

 

Users can get amazing perks with free government cell phones.

These are –

• Free monthly minutes
• Free Voicemail
• Caller ID and three-way calling
• Free monthly data
• Affordable phone plans
• No extra charges
• 911 & 411 calls
• Good quality Wi-Fi connection

Free Government Cell Phone Available Models

No service provider reveals the exact model of cell phone you will be receiving, however, we have created a list of available devices just for you.

• Apple iPhone 8
• Apple iPhone SE
• Apple iPhone 11
• Samsung Galaxy J2
• Nokia 3310 3G
• TCL LX
• LG Journey LTE
• ZTE Quest Plus
• Blu Dash L3
• Alcatel Go Flip
• Alcatel MyFlip
• LG Rebel 4
• Coolpad Legacy
• HTC Desire 555
• ZTE Z233VL
• LG Xpression C395
• Kyocera Cadence LTE
• Alcatel Dawn

Comparison Table of Top 4 Free Government Cell Phone

Here is a table

Feature	Apple iPhone 11	Samsung Galaxy J2	LG Rebel 4	ZTE Quest Plus
Screen Size	6.1 inches	5 inches	5.7 inches	5.5 inches
Processor	A13 Bionic	Qualcomm Snapdragon 425	Qualcomm Snapdragon 425	Qualcomm Snapdragon 425
RAM	4 GB	1.5 GB	2 GB	2 GB
Storage	64 GB	8 GB	16 GB	16 GB
Rear Camera	12 MP	5 MP	8 MP	8 MP
Front Camera	12 MP	2 MP	5 MP	5 MP
Battery	3110 mAh	2600 mAh	3000 mAh	3000 mAh
Operating System	iOS 13	Android 8.1 Oreo	Android 8.1 Oreo	Android 8.1 Oreo

How long does it take to get approved for Free Cell Phone Service

You can expect to get your free cell phone within five to 10 days. If it takes more than that, you can freely contact your service provider for any inquiry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which free government phone company is the best?

Some well-known cell phone providers are Safelink Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Reachout Wireless, and Access Wireless.

How do I qualify for a free mobile phone?

You can qualify for a free mobile phone by participating in government benefit programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, and SSI.

Can I get a free cell phone service for life, unlimited everything?

If you qualify for the Lifeline Program, you can get free cell phone services for Life.