With the advancement in technology, living without a smartphone is the most unthinkable thing. A mobile phone provides an effective way to talk to your family members and friends. It is also a vital way to call your healthcare giver if you might require medical help, or a manager to reach when looking for work. For this reason, the government has cell phone providers offering free government smartphones for individuals who can’t afford to purchase one. Even financially challenged people should be given a chance to have and use a smartphone.
Read through to understand how you can get free cell phone & Internet from the government if you are a low- income earner. You will also know the best cell phone companies offer the best government cell phone plans.
Who Is Eligible For A Free Government Cell Phone With Internet?
The US government has strict rules regarding the acquisition and utilization of free government cell phones. This means that not every citizen is eligible to use these cell phone services. The free government cell phone offers 250-1000 unlimited minutes and every month.
Those eligible for this service are not supposed to pay any charges for the phone and services. Usually, the free cell phone providers are the ones that conduct the vetting and approval of individuals who qualify for these services. The qualification criteria and rules set by the state tend to be the same in all the states. So, you will be eligible for a free government cell phone if you fit in any of the following federal government.
1. Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
The social security administration is mandated to offer this program. The beneficiaries include individuals who also old age, disabled, and orphans who can’t appropriately take care of themselves due to low income.
How to prove you are a member
To show you are an SSI member, you will have to submit a check stub from the SSI. Make sure that the check stub indicates the name of the beneficiary and date of issue. Other important details that should not miss in the SSI documentation comprise the name of the participant, program name, address, date of application, and award amount required.
2. Medicaid
If you are from a low-income household, this program administered by the federal and state government is ideal for you. It gives medical help in the form of personal assistance and nursing homes service to beneficiaries of this program. It caters for individuals of all age groups by offering them health insurance.
What you need to prove that you are a member
You must present documentation showing that you are a Medicaid member to benefit from this program. This documentation includes the state you live in, your name, agency or state name you acquired the card from, and date of issue.
3. Food Stamps Or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap)
This is a government-managed program under the Food and Nutrition Services. The program’s principal beneficiaries comprise low-income earners who live in the US.
How to prove you are a member
Come with a certificate with the program’s name on it. Additionally, details of the beneficiaries must be indicated on the certificate like name, address, and date of insurance.
4. Food Distribution Program On Indian Reservations (Fdpir)
This program is administered to low-income earners of Indian origin staying in Indian reservations.
How to prove you are a member
You will be required to submit three documents to establish your proof of membership. They include FDPIR participation papers, award letters, and a letter from the administering organization indicating participation in FDPIR. The letter must have an opening and closing comprising a date, telephone number, and name of the beneficiary who qualifies for the program.
5. Bureau Of Indian Affairs General Assistance (Bia)
This is a federal government program administered by the Bureau of Indian affairs. It offers financial help and caters for shelter, food, utility costs of Indian-American households.
Requirements for proof of membership
The program requires that beneficiary present documentation to prove membership. You can submit the ISP since its direct evidence to prove that you are a beneficiary of the help plan.
6. Public Housing Assistance (Federal Section 8)
The program is part of the housing and urban development. It subsidizes the rent of low-income earners.
Requirements for proof of membership
You need to submit two letters to the PHA that will serve as membership proof. The first is an award letter acquired from a public housing agency. The other one is the public housing assistance lease agreement. An award letter must have the name of the program, beneficiary and the amount to be awarded.
7. Tribal Head Start
This program is offered to American Indian households with low incomes. The program provides its services based on emotional, social, and mental development. This is achieved by supporting key programs that affect children like health, education, parental engagement, and education.
Requirements for proof of membership
You will need to provide a membership letter or show enrollment confirmation with the name of the kid.
8. Veteran’s Pension And Survivors Benefits
This is a tax-free financial help provided by the government every month to various groups of individuals related to deceased war veterans. These groups include:
- Un-remarried
- Unmarried kids
- A surviving spouse
Requirements for proof of membership
You must present documentation showing that you are a qualified war veteran beneficiary. You will also need to submit the following letters to qualify for a free government cell phone.
- Cost of living adjustment letter
- Pension grant letter
- Survivor’s benefits summary letter
9. Tribally Administered Temporary Assistance For Needy Families (Tribal Tanf)
The program is delivered to American Indian households with low-income. Support is offered in the form of job opportunities, childcare assistance, and work preparation. You must reside near the Indian reservation, and be jobless.
Proof of membership
Come with an award letter showing names of the beneficiary and program, address, and date of the award letter was provided.
7 Best Provider For Free Government Cell Phone With Internet
1. Q-Link wireless
Q-Link is the leading free government cell phone touch screen provider. The company offers its services to various states such as Arizona, Indiana, Kansas, Lowa, Idaho, Hawaii, Arkansas, and Georgia. If you are an eligible resident of any of these states, you qualify for the standard plan of 500 unlimited talk and minutes every month.
- No activation charges
- No credit checks
- Offer bonus program
- Offers 20 different add on packages to add that allows clients to add data or buy more minutes.
- Plans available on contracts
2. Verizon wireless
This is one of the leading free government cell phones available in North Dakota, Wisconsin, Lowa, and New York. Currently, the plan participates in the lifeline cell phone program in a minimal capacity. So, some costs might be incurred when enrolling in the program.
- No contracts
- Offers cheap smartphones due to the subsidized benefit
- Have strict rules
- Services cannot be transferred to another person
- Clients have to go through a strict process to prove their eligibility
3. Assurance wireless
This is a free government cell phone provider under Nextel and Sprint Company. The company offers its services to 41 states and aims to enhance the coverage to be at the same level as the competitors. Assurance Wireless free government cell phones provide a wide array of plans based on your state. The client will get unlimited text, unlimited talk time, and free 500 megabytes of data. However, this is if you live in California. In other states, clients receive 350 talk time, open monthly data, and text messages.
Assurance wireless is one of the leading company that is authorized to provide a free government cell phone with internet. For any person to qualify, he or she must be a member of an open government assistance program or come from a low-income earning family of 135%-150% of the state poverty level. You can apply for the free smartphone from the government online or contact the company number for clarifications.
- Ideal for low-income earns
- Offers a variety of plans
- Provides free android smartphone
- Provides insufficient minutes to clients who are not from California
4. Safelink Wireless
Safelink is the oldest and most prominent company that has been providing free government smartphones for many years. They are also authorized to offer free landline phone services for seniors. Currently, the company has received tremendous attention from millions of clients in more than 40 states who believe that the platform is efficient. The company provides you a chance to enjoy a free smartphone or free sim card based on your qualification. If living in California, you can choose a free sim card and receive 1 gigabyte of data and unlimited minutes per month. If you want to get a free government cell phone with the internet, Safelink gives you unlimited minutes and 2 gigabytes of data every month.
Other cities are not left behind as you can receive 1.5 gigabytes of data and 1000 free minutes when you choose a free Sim Card. You get a 1gigabyte and 1000 free talk time if you choose a free smartphone. If you want to get free government internet and laptop, this might be the best option.
5. Access wireless
Access wireless has become a leading manufacturer of free government smartphones. They provide lifeline aid to states such as Arkansas, Alabama, Colorado, California, Delaware, and places within the proximity. In all areas apart from California, you will receive a free government smartphone, 250 talk time, and unlimited text messages a month. However, the plans might vary depending on where you live and what you might want.
The company offers two kinds of plans, free talk text and data plan that gives you 500 megabytes of data, unlimited text messages, and 100 minutes a month. You can also opt for the second plan known as the talk and text plan that gives you 500 minutes, 500 megabytes, and unlimited texts. Note that the plans differ depending on what you prefer, and this can be surfing the net or minimal data requirements.
6. American assistance
The unique fact about American Assistance is that it gives full countrywide coverage. The company serves as the brand name of lifeline assistance free government smartphone with internet provided by America broadband and telecommunication. Currently, the company is working on producing free government mobile phones accessible to 16 states to improve its coverage. When you get the free government smartphone, you will receive 500 free minutes, 500 texts, and 1 GB of data per month.
- No monthly bills
- No contracts
- No purchase needed
- Allows you to buy additional offers
- Not available in many states
- Will give you a phone if you are a member of a government assistance program
7. Assist Wireless
Popularly known as the Obama phone, Assist wireless is the latest entry to the lifeline aid free government smartphone marketplace. The company started its venture in Oklahoma, Missouri, and Maryland. The phones are free in Arkansas and Maryland, but in other places, you might be required to pay $ 1 every month. In the free states, you will get 500 minutes and 500 text messages a month. The plan doesn’t provide free data, so you will be forced to buy free data at a fee.
Those residing in Oklahoma, but not in tribal lands receive the same free plans as other regions. Nevertheless, they have an option to upgrade the free plan with additional texts, voice minutes, and data. People who qualify for this free plan must have a household income of less than 135%-150% of the poverty level or must be a member of government aid programs.
- Offers the best coverage
- 100% free in some states
- Allows clients to upgrade their plans
- No data offered in free zones
Final Word
Smartphone service providers collaborating with the lifeline aid program offer you cell phone plans that have various features. That means that the free government smartphone plan in a certain region will not be the same as what is provided in another state. In most cases, the differences are attributed to different geographical features and FTC regulations.
Some companies provide cell phone services in certain places only while others provide in over one state. As a smart user, make sure you compare the pros and cons of the providers in your state to know which free smartphone from the government suits your needs.