Are you struggling to pay your monthly cell phone bills? Worry no more as you can now apply for the TracFone Affordable Connectivity Program and save more on those bills. To start with, TracFone is one of the main participants of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). With TracFone ACP facility in place, all eligible families are now able to enjoy discounts of up to $30 on a monthly basis in case they reside in Non-Tribal lands in the U.S. However, if they reside in Tribal lands, they can be assured that they will enjoy discounts up to $75 on a monthly basis.
Besides this, they can be assured that they will enjoy a discount of up to $100 to purchase their desired laptop, tablet, or desktop computer. However, one needs to contribute a minimum of $10 and a maximum of $50 towards the purchase of that device. Besides this, you will enjoy free unlimited talk and text, 3G of mobile data, and so on. Consequently, all the eligible families will be able to access internet, remain connected, work online, access emergency healthcare services, learn online, and so forth. In this article, we shall take a closer look at TracFone Affordable Connectivity Program alongside other related facets.
Benefits You Get If You Qualify for the TracFone Affordable Connectivity Program
Once you qualify for the TracFone Affordable Connectivity Program, there is an array of benefits that you are likely to enjoy. These include:
- Free unlimited text
- Free unlimited talk
- 3GB of unlimited data
- Monthly discounts of up to $30 if at all you live in a Non-tribal land in the U.S
- Monthly discounts of up to $75 if you reside on a Tribal land
- A one-time discount of up to $100 enables you to purchase a tablet, laptop, or desktop computer. However, you need to pay at least $10 and not more than $50 towards purchasing any of those devices.
Difference Between TracFone EBB and TracFone ACP
Yes. To start with, the TracFone EBB was initiated as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. With this program in place, all the affected families were able to remain connected to the internet during the pandemic. Here, they were able to enjoy discounts and other incredible offers from this carrier. As a result, they were able to work online, access emergency healthcare services, learn online without straining their budget.
It imperative to note that the Tracfone EBB program was offered since the onset of the pandemic up to 31st December 2021. After that, ACP was launched and was later rolled out from 1st March 2022. Therefore, all those who were benefiting from the EBB program still enjoyed its benefits up to 1st March 2022. After that, they were required to reapply for the ACP program.
Besides this, the benefits of the TracFone EBB program differ from those offered by the TracFone ACP program. For instance, those who reside in Non-Tribal lands were enjoying up to $50 monthly discounts on their cell phone bills. However, those who qualify for the TracFone ACP program and reside on Tribal lands now enjoy discounts of up to $30 on their monthly cell phone bills. Thankfully, the benefits of those residing on the Tribal lands did not change as all eligible individuals or families still enjoy discounts of up to $75 on a monthly basis.
As far as the timelines are concerned, the EBB program was largely a temporary program. This was because it was established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, its counterpart program is long-term and as a result, it might run even post COVID-19 pandemic.
Apart from the differences we have discussed above, the eligibility of the TracFone EBB program differs from that of TracFone ACP program when it comes to the income criteria. For one to be eligible for the TracFone EBB program, his or her income must stand at or be below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. On the other hand, if you want to qualify for the TracFone ACP program, your income must stand or be below 200%.
Finally, loss of income was one of the qualifications that made all affected individuals be eligible for the TracFone EBB program. However, this is no longer the case with the TracFone ACP facility. If you qualified due to loss of income, you might have to reverify with the National Verifier before being allowed to enjoy this carrier’s ACP facility.
Qualifying Requirements for Enrolling TracFone Affordable Connectivity Program in 2024
To qualify for the TracFone Affordable Connectivity Program, there are certain requirements that you must meet. To start with, you must either have a low income or be a participant in a government assistance program. Here is a breakdown of the eligibility criteria that can enable you to become a beneficiary of this carrier’s ACP facility:
1. Ensure that you have a low income
Having a low income is one of those requirements that can make you qualify for this carrier’s ACP facility. To put this into perspective, your income has to stand at or be below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Depending on the state that you live in, there is a need for you to check what its FPG outlines and then establish if you meet the minimum threshold or not.
2. Be a participant in a government assistance program
Besides having a low income, you can also qualify for TracFone Affordable Connectivity Program if you are a participant in a government assistance program. Some of these programs include:
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Security Income(SSI)
- Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program(SNAP)
- Federal Public Housing Assistance
- Special Supplemental Nutritional Program for Women, Infants, and Children(WIC) Program
- Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit Fund
- Lifeline
- You are a beneficiary of the free and reduced-price school breakfast program or school lunch program.
- You received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year
In case you reside in Tribal lands, you are likely to qualify for the TracFone Affordable Connectivity Program if you participate in any of the following programs:
- Tribal TANF
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
Documents Needed to Apply for the TracFone Affordable Connectivity Program
When applying for the TracFone Affordable Connectivity Program, you should submit a number of documents in order to verify your identity and eligibility status. To put this into perspective, you should present copies of your personal documents and eligibility documents. Here are the documents that you should submit during the application process:
1. Personal documents
As far as the personal documents are concerned, you should be ready to submit an official document that contains your name in full, date of birth, and place of residence. Some of the documents that contain these finer details include:
- Your government, state, military, or Tribal ID
- Your U.S driver’s license
- Your passport
- Your birth certificate
- A copy of your certificate of U.S citizenship or naturalization
- Your Green card or permanent resident card
- Your individual Taxpayer Identification Number(ITIN) document
To further prove your identity, you should present any of the following documents:
- Your lease or mortgage statement
- A recent copy of the tax or W-2 return
2. Eligibility documents
Apart from the documents that we have outlined above, you need to submit copies of your eligibility documents. Whether you qualify as a result of having a low income or are a participant of a government assistance program such as Medicaid, SSI or SNAP, there is a need for you to submit any of these documents to verify your eligibility status.
If you qualify via the income criteria, you should submit a document that shows that your income stands at or is below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Your document of choice should also contain your name in full. Some of the documents that you should submit include the following:
- Your prior year’s federal, state or Tribal tax return
- Your paycheck stub
- A copy of your current income statement
- A copy of the Veterans Administration statement of benefits
- Your Social Security statement of benefits
- A copy of your divorce decree
- Your unemployment or worker’s compensation statement of benefits
- A copy of the pension or retirement statement of benefits
- A copy of the child support award
If you are a participant of a government-assistance program, here are some of the eligibility documents that you ought to submit:
- A copy of the benefit award letter
- Your statement of benefits
- A copy of the approval letter
- A copy of the benefit verification letter
More importantly, the above-mentioned documents should contain the following details:
- Your name in full
- The name of the establishment that issued the document to you
- The name of the program
- An issue date within the last 1 year.
In case you are emancipated, you can still go ahead and apply for the Affordable Connectivity Program from this carrier. However, you should be ready to submit either of the following documents:
- A court document
- A certificate of emancipation
When submitting these documents, there is a need for you to only submit copies and not originals. This is because you might need to utilize the original copies elsewhere. More importantly, ensure that you take copies of the documents using a clear camera, copy machine, scanner, or smartphone. Ensure that you submit clear pictures so as to maximize your chances of qualifying for the TracFone Affordable Connectivity Program.
Applying Guideline for TracFone Affordable Connectivity Program
Enrolling in the TracFone Affordable Connectivity Program is not difficult per se. However, it will all depend on whether you are an existing customer or a new one. Depending on your category, here is a breakdown of the process you need to follow in order to get started.
Existing TracFone Customer
If you are an existing customer, you should first visit the National Verifier in order to establish whether you qualify for the program or not. In case you qualify for the program, you can now go ahead and fill in the ACP enrollment form. After being approved by the National Verifier, visit TracFone’s site and then make your application from that end.
Here, you will be able to find an application form that you need to fill in with your details. From your name to your physical address, there is a myriad of details that you should enter. More importantly, ensure that you key in the right details so avoid disqualification.
After that, upload some of the eligibility documents that you might have at hand. Once you are done, submit the application form, alongside the copies of the eligibility documents. The TracFone team will review your application and respond to you within a few days. If you qualify, this carrier will apply the monthly benefits of up to $30 at the beginning of the following month.
New TracFone Customer
If you are a new customer, you can also enjoy TracFone’s ACP facility. First, you should visit the National Verifier so that you can establish if you meet the minimum eligibility requirements. In case you meet the requirements of the National Verifier, you can now go ahead and transfer your benefits from your current carrier to TracFone.
To make this transfer a success, you need to complete the TracFone ACP enrollment form. As you purpose to transfer the ACP benefit to this carrier, it is imperative to note that you are only allowed to make such transfers once a month.
Once you have filled the TracFone ACP enrollment form, consider visiting the nearest TracFone store so that you can be assisted on how you can get started with this facility. In case you experience hiccups, feel free to reach this carrier’s customer support team on 1-800-867-7183.
Frequently Ask Questions
Are There Any Restriction To Getting TracFone Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
Yes. To start with, one can only qualify for this program if he or his household is a participant of a government assistance program such as Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, WIC, or has an income that stands at or is below 200%. Besides this, only one discount is allowed per household.
If you are a beneficiary of the ACP benefit, be sure that you can only transfer that benefit to another provider once in a month. Unfortunately, you are not allowed to transfer your ACP discount to another person. Finally, you should notify TracFone within 30 days in case you do not qualify for the benefit.
I Am Already In Existing EBB Customers In TracFone What Can I Do? (EBB to ACP Convert Process)
If you used to enjoy the TracFone EBB program be sure that you can still enjoy the benefits of TracFone ACP facility and save more on your cell phone bills. However, it is imperative to note that the TracFone EBB program ended on 31st December 2021.
Therefore, if you had applied of this program be sure that you were only able to enjoy its benefits up to March 1st 2022. After the lapse of the 60-day transition period, you had to reapply for the ACP facility so that you can continue enjoying discounts on your monthly cell phone bills.
In case you had qualified for the TracFone EBB program due to loss of income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, you need to requalify with the National Verifier. This can be attributed to the fact that loss of income is no longer one of those factors that can make one to be eligible for the ACP facility.
If you meet the minimum requirements, this carrier will go ahead and help you transfer the benefits that you used to enjoy in your EBB account to the newly acquired ACP account. Therefore, you should not panic that you might end up losing your discounts in the long run.
What States does TracFone ACP Facility Available?
Some of the states where TracFone ACP facility is available include: Delaware, California, Arizona, Indiana, Missouri, Maryland, Connecticut, Hawaii, Michigan, Maine, Lousiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nevada, Mississippi, Lowa, North Carolina, New Mexico, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Ohio, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Texas, Rhode Island, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Washington, Virginia, and Tennessee.
Can I have ACP and LifeLine at the Same Time?
Yes. The good news is that you can now apply for the Lifeline and ACP facility at the same time. This will go a long way in further enabling you to remain connected while lowering your communication costs to the bare minimum. More importantly, ensure that you meet the qualification of each of these programs in order to reap their benefits on the go.
