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Do you struggle each month to pay your cell phone bill? Don’t even own a cell phone because it is too costly? Yet you have appointments to make or employers to get in contact with which requires you to have a phone. Do you feel you should have a right to be able to contact any emergency service (911) as needed? Then the American Government would like to help you by offering a free cell phone with 250 free talk and text minutes per month. Yours free to keep!

It’s easy to obtain just by going to your local community services office or by searching online Free Cell Phones. With any search engine you will find many links to click on and get you started. I found the link Free Government Cell Phone to be most helpful answering all my questions and guidance on where to apply. Giving complete instructions and information to get set up with a free phone and plan. There are a few rules and restrictions to the Lifeline phone service and not everyone qualifies, but many people do. First, you will want to check to see if the state you live in currently is participating in this free government cell phone program called Lifeline. Over 30 states participate currently, with more competitors coming soon. To search your state, you can either go from the website I mentioned earlier or use a search engine to find this information. Enter in Free Cell Phone by State or more specific, the state you live in. Once you notice your state is assisting, go on to the next step. You will want to check the specific qualification details, as each state differs slightly with eligibility requirements. It all depends on your income. This is only offered to low- income people. So please don’t waste your time if you’re just being greedy.

The easiest way to know you qualify and will get an instant approval online is by already participating in certain government programs. These include getting assistance through Medicaid, Food Stamps, Supplemental Security Income, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program, Section 8 Federal Public Housing Assistance or even the National School Lunch Program’s Free Lunch. Being a recipient of any of these programs automatically approves you for a free cell phone and minutes. Most of these program’s websites should have an application process directly through them for Lifeline. If you don’t receive assistance, but feel you are below poverty guidelines, you can check with your state for the family criteria limits which are at or below poverty level. This income is usually around $14,000 maximum per year for one person then raises $5,000 per family member. The process will take a little longer since you will need to provide proof of income. Mailing or faxing in your pay stub, tax return or any other income document will be required. Once you know you qualify and have a valid mailing address, you can proceed on to the next steps. Next you need to decide which provider company in your state you would like to choose. There are three major companies’ nationwide offering free cell phone plans. Safelink(TracFone) is the oldest and largest company nationwide; Assurance(Sprint/Nextel) is the newer, yet fastest growing company; and ReachOut(Nexus communications) is offered in most southern states and the Midwest. Research each company by going to their websites and seeing which plans and phones they offer. You can apply directly through their websites. If you prefer to talk to someone directly regarding the information, you can call the company’s customer service line. Each company has agents willing to assist you with the process.

All companies will provide quality, upgraded phones for free. Depending on which state you live in, you will receive free monthly allotted minutes. Smaller carriers have fewer minutes but the larger companies usually offer 250 free minutes and 250 text minutes. They all offer similar features such as 3-way calling, call forwarding, caller ID, call waiting, text messaging and voice mail. If you need more minutes or services, they have other plans for a discounted cost. Airtime cards are easily available to purchase at retailers nationwide. Prices range from $5.00 to $20.00 a month extra. These services could include 411, International calling, games, graphics, downloadable apps, web, ring tones and more. Some may offer upgraded phones. They are not iphone or blackberry, but they offer quality service. Just choose your plan and complete the application process. Once you are approved, your phone is shipped and on its way. When you receive your phone, the set up is easy and ready to go. You never will have to return the phone. It is yours to keep!

Just remember, you will need to re-apply through the annual re-certification process. This should be done 60 days before your expiration date arrives. If you do not complete an annual re-certification with your cell phone company, your service will be suspended. You will need your date of birth, social security number, the cell phone number and PIN to update any information that may have changed. You may need to verify your current address and former address (if you have moved since you got your free phone) and any documentation verifying your income. It is not certain you will be asked for such documentation, but you should be prepared just in case. Documentation is requested on a random basis, but you should have it on hand so your re-certification is not delayed. The rules of the Lifeline Assistance program requires you to annually verify you are still qualified to receive the free minutes on your phone. You can automatically qualify if you still participate in any of the qualifying government programs or if you still meet the below poverty guidelines for income. Re-certification is usually very easy and can be completed also, via the mail.

My first cell phone, a Motorola Startac, came with a plan that included 60 anytime minutes for $30.00.  That’s it.  I didn’t get free weekends or nights, no texting (it wasn’t even an option yet), no caller id, and certainly no such thing as web surfing.  My parents explained that my emergency-only cell phone was to be carried at all times and was the result of my new driver status.  I still called my friends from our cordless home phone and I can only recall a handful of times that I even used my cell.  In 1996, when I was 16, I used a pager and my cell phone seemed impractical and only useful as a paperweight.

My brother received his first cell phone in 2004 at the age of twelve.  In just eight short years cell phones had become mini-computers you carried in your pocket.  His first phone included texting, basic web surfing, 1000 anytime minutes, free weekends and nights starting at 7:00 pm, a digital camera, the ability to play music, and a host of other little things offered at $40.00 per month including a free phone if you signed a contract.  In addition, all of his friends had cell phones with similar features and they carried them everywhere.  The ability to connect with anyone at anytime in anyplace had changed the world.  My parents cancelled their home phone service that year.

Cell phones have become the standard for personal communication, most notably in the work place.  While many business still use land line phone systems in-house, employees are expected to carry cell phones and be available at all times.  I recently had a supervisor refer to an employee as “lame” because she and her boyfriend shared one cell phone so she could not always be immediately reached. Despite the commonplace status of cell phones, the expense still precludes many needy individuals and families from owning one.   AT&T, the largest United States cell phone service provider, lists it’s least expensive individual cell phone plan at $39.99 a month.  The plan includes 450 anytime minutes and 5000 night and weekend minutes.  Plus, the user better hope they don’t go above their allotment because the additional per minute charge is $.45, which adds up quickly.  This plan does not include any texting or web service but does come with an additional $36.00 activation fee and a 2-year contract with a huge cancellation fee.  The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour and even if a minimum wage paid worker has two jobs and racks up 80 hours per week they still earn less than $30,000 per year, gross income.  After paying rent, basic bills, car costs, and taking care of food and needs for a family, there is not much left over to cover the cost of a cell phone.

As a result of this disparity, numerous states have begun to offer government provided free or very low cost cell phone services to those who qualify based on financial need.  Thirty-eight states plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico offer cell phones to needy families as a social service through three main service providers, Assurance Wireless, ReachOut Wireless, and Safelink Wireless.  All three services provide the same basic deal to those who qualify.  The user receives a free cell phone, 250 anytime minutes, caller id, basic text messaging, and long distance among other services.  In addition, the user can upgrade the service plan for a modest $5.00 to $20.00 fee per month depending on features.  The phones are pretty basic but they get the job done at a considerably cheaper rate and without the pre-paid minutes purchase necessary with a non-contract tracfone.

Currently, the $4,500,000,000 cost of providing low or no cost cell phone and internet service to needy individuals and families is overseen by the FCC Universal Service Fund.  Wondering where all that money comes from?  The next time you get a cell phone bill take a look at the itemized additional charges and you will see a USF charge of approximately $3.00.  That money combined with traditional taxpayer funds supports the program, which many opponents look to when criticizing the service and its provisions.  Supporters of the program tend to follow the old adage often used to support social services in general, “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.”  Opponents of the program point to mounting federal debt, tax rate increases, and the shrinking middle class as reasons to avoid funding what is still seen by many to be a luxury item.  While not as convenient, subsidized home phone service is still available, often for a fraction of the price of cell phone service.

In my experience, cell phone service is considered by most to be a necessity.  I know very few people who still pay for a traditional home phone and if you can only afford one phone service why not choose the one that can be carried with you everywhere.  I argue that providing subsidized cell phone service is an integral part of guaranteeing employability for needy individuals and providing emergency services to the elderly and disabled.  In my opinion, if I can afford to help then why shouldn’t I?

The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program is a state-funded program designed to help mothers afford better care for themselves and their children. The program is specifically catered towards mothers of children who are at risk of nutritional or health deficiencies. Their definition of “risk” is quite loose, which makes it quite easy for most mothers to qualify.

Why Qualify Through the WIC?

If you’re receiving benefits through the WIC, you have a much higher chance of being approved for a free government cell phone. It’s viewed almost as a “free pass.”

The qualification requirements for the WIC are significantly less stringent than the Lifeline program. The Lifeline program requires that participants have an income of below 135% (or 150% in 8 states.) The WIC program on the other hand is open to women who have an income of up to 185% of the federal poverty level. The specific income floor is set on a state-by-state basis.

Who the WIC Caters To

The WIC caters to:

• Pregnant women. Pregnancy begins the moment an OBG-YN can verify insemination. A woman is considered pregnant by the WIC all the way till 6 weeks after birth.
• Postpartum women. The WIC considers the postpartum period to be six months after birth.
• Infants. The WIC considers “infants” any child who’s under one year of age.
• Children below 5 years old.

The WIC treats each of these cases slightly differently. For the purposes of getting a free government phone, you can qualify any time between inception and having a child who is 5 years old.

If the qualifying member is the infant or the child, technically the infant or the child is the person who receives government benefits. However, this will still allow you to qualify for a free cell phone for your household.

What About the Risk Requirements?

Technically, the WIC is meant for women who have children that may be at-risk. In truth, the risk requirements are actually quite lenient. Here are some of the many categories that can qualify you under the WIC’s requirements:

• Medical conditions. If the child has any medical condition, you’ll likely qualify.
• Underweight. If the child was born early, or if the child was born underweight, then there’s a good chance you’ll qualify. The underweight birth rate is somewhere between 6% and 11%, depending on the state. This category alone qualifies about 1/10th of all households for the program.
• Any previous negative pregnancy. If you’ve ever had a miscarriage, you’ll likely qualify for WIC.
• Dietary conditions. If you or your child’s diet falls under what the WIC deems a “poor diet,” then you’ll qualify for the program. This is also another extremely easy way to qualify for the program.

In short, though the program is on the surface catered only to at-risk families, the reality is that it’s not all that difficult to qualify for. Applying for the program only takes an hour or two and doesn’t cost a dime.

If you’re a mother who’s looking for a way to qualify for a free cell phone, the WIC program is a good bet. On top of the free phone, you also get the many great “free food” benefits that the WIC offers.

Many people in a variety of social groups in our country are struggling with the idea of free phones provided by the FCC Lifeline program, and now they’re introducing low cost internet. After just recently recovering from the “Obama Phone” misconception, our country is astounded at the introduction of another ‘freebie’ type program providing low cost internet, called Connect America.

For those who are still in the dark on the free phone controversy, the Lifeline program provides free or extremely price reduced cell phones and cell phone service plans to eligible participants.

There was a rumor inspired by a Youtube video starring an ill-informed woman that she and others could receive a free cell phone and cell phone service plan from the Obama administration. The free phones provided by Lifeline were then depicted as a cheap campaign strategy initiated by the Obama administration to bring in more votes for the candidate at the time of the election. This is not true.

The Lifeline program has been around since the 1980s and was created under Ronald Reagan’s presidency. Then, Lifeline only provided landlines to low income, eligible Americans, who had no other source of telecommunication. During George Bush’s presidency, the Lifeline program expanded to include cell phones, as landlines were becoming obsolete in our prolifically technological society.

Requirements to receive service from the Lifeline program include, a total household income below 135% of the nation’s poverty line (or 150% depending on state), government assistance from another program like Medicaid or food stamps (applicable government programs vary by state) and verification documents proving these requirements.

These free phones were available in our nation much before President Obama’s re-election campaign and were no way affiliated with his strategy to accrue more votes from the low income citizens of our country.

The FCC has ruminated the concept of adding internet to its Lifeline plan in the past, but now that the idea has come to fruition and Connect America is here, American’s paying for the program are nervous Connect America will have reminiscent issues of fraud as the Lifeline program had.

Lifeline only allows one landline OR one wireless line per household. Frustrated with this rule, people began creating fraudulent accounts to receive more than one phone, some even selling the phones to turn a profit all at the cost of the Lifeline program, and in turn, American citizens.

The Lifeline program is funded by the Universal Service Fund. The USF issues fees to telecom companies across the country, these fees are usually passed down to the telecom company’s customers and collected in a small additional fine. This fine is listed on the customer’s monthly phone bill as a Universal Service Charge.

The FCC did admit the Lifeline program had its flaws and took action to correct the thousands of duplicate accounts, fraudulent identities and oversights. In fact, this is how they plan on funding Connect America; with the money they saved from eliminating Lifeline’s bugs.

An FCC chairman, as reported by PRWeb.com, claims over the next couple of years, the adjustments made to the Lifeline program will save $2 billion, plenty to start a new program for struggling, low income people.

The new program, Connect America, was created to provide broadband, high-speed internet service to low income individuals who own a computer or other source capable of internet access.

The new program costs $10 per month now, but as reported by PRWeb.com, Mark Henry, editor of CheapInternet.com says because the program is so closely linked with the Lifeline free phone program, the internet service will most likely be no-cost as well, in the future.

Henry adds, “Broadband has gone from being a luxury to being a necessity,” “This program is exactly what low income Americans need to succeed.”

As explained above, Connect America will go along the same lines as its free government phone providing sister program, Lifeline. The requirements to gain access to the program will vary by state, but generally will include, as reported by PRWeb.com,

“…you must already participate in any one of a number of other government aid programs, such as the National School Lunch Program, food stamps (SNAP), public housing assistance, Medicaid, Section 8 housing, Supplemental Security Income, various Home Energy Assistance Programs, and other programs. You can also qualify if your household income is no more than 135% of federal poverty guidelines (and as much as 150% in some states).”

Henry states the Connect America program will surely bring in more than enough benefits to keep itself afloat for years to come. He states, as reported by PRWeb.com, “Cheap internet today. Free internet tomorrow,”

It seems the recession has taken more of a toll on average income Americans than previously expected. With new low income benefit programs popping up everyday and the expectation of fees, charges and fines to be payed over, frustration mounts in the middle class.

In today’s cellular phone industry, the average costs for even the simplest plan and phone seem insurmountable to many Americans. The phones themselves are often considerably costly, and once a phone is selected, finding a phone plan that fits into one’s monthly budget becomes an incredibly daunting task. Access to emergency contacts like law enforcement or medical assistance, and personal contacts such as employers or loved ones shouldn’t be denied to anyone based on income level, but for those who cannot afford a monthly cell phone plan, such access becomes a challenge or struggle, rather than a basic right. Happily, if you’re finding yourself financially unable to keep up with the bills and charges that come with owning a cell phone, you may qualify for a free phone and plan supplied by the government.

Access to telephone communication would greatly improve the quality of life for those who cannot afford it, and for this reason, and many others, government-implemented assistance programs are beginning to form in order to provide cell phones and cell phone plans for people who meet the financial criteria. Currently, the most prominent program the government is employing is one called Lifeline, which provides affordable, or even free telephone service to those who qualify. Backed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Lifeline’s mission is to provide accessible telephone service to those who are eligible based on income, and does so in every state, commonwealth, and even on Tribal Lands. The Lifeline program has criteria for those who wish to apply, and it is estimated that tens of millions of Americans have already taken advantage of this government-provided opportunity.

While researching government-provided cell phones and programs such as Lifeline, there are a few things you should keep in mind, the first being that these phone services are not given to just anyone. There is an enrollment process involved with obtaining these benefits, which will require proof of income to show income-eligibility, and only one phone and phone plan can be granted to each household. How does one qualify for the Lifeline Program’s affordable telephone service for income-eligible consumers? An application process is involved to determine eligibility, and one can enroll through their local telephone company or a designated state agency. There are many assistance programs that by receiving benefits from would allow a consumer to qualify for the Lifeline program. According to the Federal Communications Commission, “To participate in the program, consumers must either have an income that is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or participate in one of the following assistance programs:

• Medicaid;
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program;
• Supplemental Security Income;
• Federal Public Housing Assistance;
• Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program;
• Temporary Assistance to Needy Families;
• National School Lunch Program’s Free Lunch Program;
• Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance;
• Tribally-Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families;
• Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations;
• Head Start (if income eligibility criteria are met); or
• State assistance programs (if applicable).”

Therefore, anyone who receives assistance from any of the listed programs may also be eligible for Lifeline’s affordable telephone service. Within the application process, some documentation is needed to prove eligibility, such as the prior year’s state, federal or Tribal tax return, current income statement from an employer or paycheck stub, Social Security statement of benefits, Unemployment or Workers’ Compensation statement of benefits or another official document containing financial information, to illustrate one’s monthly or yearly income. Once enrolled in the program, those eligible have access to a discounted monthly telephone service. According to the FCC, landline or wireless telephone services are discounted with an average of $9.25 per month, but that these averages vary depending on the state, and could be even higher in some. Lifeline does limit low-income participants to receiving only one Lifeline service per household, and those enrolled in the benefit program must re-enroll on a yearly basis to ensure that they still qualify. In addition, people who are already enrolled in the program are required to notify their Lifeline provider in the case of a move of household, and also if they are no longer eligible for Lifeline’s services.

Having access to a cell phone is more than just a modern luxury. With a landline or cell phone and an affordable plan, anyone has access to emergency assistance including medical help during a crisis. The access to a cell phone allows for communication on a professional level, allowing employers or even prospective employers to contact the applicant or employee. It allows for families to connect and maintain strong communication, with the peace of mind that such communication is not destroying one’s monthly budget. Right now, millions of Americans are benefiting from government-paid cell phones, landlines, and phone plans. Millions more people qualify for these benefits, and once you understand the process, it is quite easy to take steps towards acquiring your very own phone, paid for by the government. To locate a Lifeline provider near you, and begin your enrollment process now, go online to www.lifelinesupport.org. This is the very first step needed to acquire telephone services provided by the government.

Minnesota residents have something to get excited about: Assurance Wireless offers free government cell phone service in Minnesota! Now eligible Minnesota residents can get a free modern cell phone and 250 free voice minutes a month. Free phone service from Assurance Wireless does not require a credit check, a deposit, monthly fees, or a contract. All you have to do is qualify for the program and you get free cell phone service for one year. When a year has passed, if you still qualify for the program all you have to do to keep your free cell phone service is complete the annual certification application (this takes five minutes).

By now, you are probably wondering how you can qualify for Assurance Wireless’ free cell phone program. Well, it is pretty simple. You can qualify for Assurance Wireless service in Minnesota under income-based eligibility criteria or government program-based eligibility criteria; no one else in your household currently has a Lifeline phone; and you have a home mailing address.

Government Program-Based Eligibility Guidelines

If you are enrolled in one or more of the following government assistance programs, you most likely qualify for Assurance Wireless phone service in Minnesota:

• Food Stamps/SNAP
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
• Social Security Income (SSI)
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• National School Lunch’s FREE Lunch Program
• Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP)
• Federal Public housing Assistance (Section 8)
• Medicaid

If you qualify for Assurance Wireless service under government program-based eligibility guidelines, the Assurance Wireless application is straight forward and does not require you to submit and supporting documentation of your enrollment in a government assistance program. However, you will be required to swear under oath of perjury. If you lie in your application, you can be charged in criminal and civil courts. So just don’t do it!

Income-Based Eligibility Guidelines

You may also qualify for Assurance Wireless service if your total household income is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.  Please refer to the table below to determine the maximum eligible income for your household based on household size.  If you qualify under income eligibility guidelines, you must provide income verification documentation to support your application.  The table below shows the income guidelines for Assurance Wireless in Minnesota.

Only One Lifeline Phone Per Household

In order to qualify for a free cell phone from Assurance Wireless, your household cannot be enrolled in any other Lifeline phone program. This includes other free cell phone programs (from Reachout Wireless or Safelink Wireless) or free home phone service under Lifeline/Link Up programs. If you are enrolled in another Lifeline program and would like Assurance Wireless service, you must first cancel your service with your current Lifeline service provider and then apply for Assurance Wireless. The Federal Communications Commission has begun cracking down on Lifeline program fraud and has sent tens of thousands of letters to customers who they believe are defrauding the program (most signing up for more than one free cell phone). These customers risk fines as well as jail time.

No Post Office Box Addresses

At the present time, Assurance Wireless does not allow applicants to apply from a PO Box. You must apply from a valid US home mailing address. Assurance Wireless will not mail your free government cell phone to a PO Box. This rule limits fraud in the program. Unfortunately, it also prevents the people who need free cell phones the most from applying for Assurance Wireless service: the homeless. If you are homeless, we encourage you to contact Assurance Wireless customer support to learn if there is anything that they can do to help you get a cell phone.

You can apply for Assurance Wireless service by visiting their website and downloading their application. You can visit the Assurance Wireless website by clicking the link below:

www.AssuranceWireless.com
Assurance Wireless
P.O. Box 686
Parsippany, NJ 07054
1-888-898-4888
Email: ourteam@assurancewireless.com

The government offers free cell phones. Yes, it’s true (in case you didn’t already know). In fact, TIME Business reported that there were over 12 million wireless phone accounts paid for by a government assistance program in 2011. So a fairly large amount of people are getting free cell phones from the government. But the government doesn’t hand out free cell phones to just anyone (darn?), a person has to qualify as a low-income resident to be eligible. Now before you start making assumptions or opinions about this program, let’s learn a little more. As you can imagine, this is a highly debated topic. A quick search online and you will get a huge amount of information regarding this topic, and not all of the sites out there are what some would label as legitimate or credible. And like in any hot topic, a lot of myths and rumors fly around. Well, we are going to clear up some of those rumors. Here are 7 real facts you should know about free government cell phones:

1. The federal program that offers free cell phones to consumers is regulated by the Federal Communications Commission and is aptly titled Lifeline (or Link Up for Tribal lands), as its main purpose is to connect low-income residents to current or potential employers, family and emergency services.

2. Not everyone is eligible for a free cell phone. There is a very specific qualification process for this program. To be eligible to participate in the Lifeline program, an applicant must have an income that is below 136% of the federal Poverty Guidelines and/or already receive assistance from one or more of the following programs:

Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance;

Head Start;

Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations;

Federal Public Housing Assistance;

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program;

Medicaid;

National School Lunch Program’s free lunch program;

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance;

Supplemental Security Income;

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families;

Tribally-Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families ;

Other applicable State assistance programs.

3. The program does not haphazardly give away free phones to qualified applicants. Lifeline has been highly regulated by the FCC since January 31, 2012, as reported by Bloomberg Businessweek. Only one account is available per qualified household. With a national database that wireless providers will be required to check prior to approving any free service, providers also have to purge all Lifeline accounts that are inactive for 60 days.

4. Lifeline is not funded by taxes. The federal program is funded by the Universal Service Fund (USF). All telecommunications companies in the US have to contribute to the USF based on their revenues. The customers of these telecommunications companies may see a USF-related charge on their bills. However, the FCC says that it, “does not require this charge to be passed on to customers. Each company makes a business decision about whether and how to assess charges to recover its Universal Service costs.”

5. The Lifeline program does not offer free smartphones or unlimited service. The phones that Lifeline offers are simple, basic phones and the services offered cover up to 250 free minutes per month.

6. People have referred to the wireless phones offered by Lifeline as “Obama Phones.” This is an incorrect description of the program phones, as Lifeline started offering free cell phone coverage in 2005, which was during the Presidency of George W. Bush, not under President Barak Obama.

7. The government does not chuck regulation of the Lifeline accounts once an applicant is approved. In actuality, a Lifeline account holder must undergo annual re-certification in order to keep the free service under the program. As well, if an account is inactive for more than 60 days it will be either disconnected or the account holder will be incur charges. If you have heard of anyone talking about free phones from the government, or have gone online to learn about the topic, we hope these 7 real facts you should know about government cell phones cleared up any rumors flying around. Now that you are fully-loaded with real information, you can go successfully blog about this highly debatable topic.

Whether you disagree with the need for a federal program such as Lifeline, or you completely support the existence of federal assistance for cell phones, keep in mind that, per the FCC, the Lifeline program, “has helped tens of millions of low-income Americans afford basic phone service. Access to telephone service is essential for finding a job, connecting with family, or getting help in an emergency, and the percentage of low-income households with phone service has increased from 80% in 1985, when Lifeline began, to nearly 92% last year.”If you are hungry for more information, you can read the federal “Guide” to the Lifeline program on the FCC website at www.fcc.gov/lifeline. Interested in applying for Lifeline phone assistance? Read the, “How to Get a Free Cell Phone From the Government” article or visit www.lifelinesupport.org for more help.

Can a person really get a free cell phone? Yes, you can but keep in mind that you aren’t going to get a top of the line Iphone or Android smartphone. You’ll get a basic cell phone that allows you to make and receive phone calls and send and receive text messages. Do not call your current provider yet to cancel your cell phone plan as not everyone is eligible to receive a free phone. First, you will need to find out if you qualify for a free cell phone from the state. Once you qualify, depending on the cell phone provider you sign up with as well as what state you live in, it is possible to receive a free cell phone with free minutes that allows you to make phone calls and send text messages. Lifeline is a government benefit program that is operated by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission). Discounted services are offered to landline or mobile phone communication services. You are only allowed to be enrolled with Lifeline for one service, either your landline (wired) phone or your mobile phone (wireless). If you are currently enrolled in the Lifeline program for your home telephone and you would like a cell phone instead, you will need to cancel your current Lifeline service and re-enroll into Lifeline that offers a free cell phone. You are only allowed to be enrolled into one Lifeline service per household.

There are three ways you can go about getting a free cell phone from the state. If you receive government benefits of any kind, you are pre-qualified to receiving a free cell phone. These government benefit programs are as follows:

Medicare,

Supplemental Security Income,

Federal Public House Assistance,

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program,

LIHEAP – (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program),

TANF – (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families),

The Free Lunch Program (National School Lunch Program),

Head Start (if income requirements are met), and

Any State assistance programs.

If you live on any tribal properties or participate in any of the following programs, this also makes you eligible for getting a cell phone from the state. The programs that follow only pertain to Indians:

Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance,

TTANF – (Tribally-Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), and

FDPIR – (Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations).

The third option to getting a free cell phone from the state is determined by your income and by how many people are a part of your household. Depending on which state you live in will effect what your base income requirement is. Your income must be at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines in order to qualify for a free cell phone. To give you an idea of these amounts, a single person earning $15,512 dollars per year or less will be eligible for a free cell phone. A family of four earning $31,118 dollars per year or less would also qualify for a free cell phone. This family of four is considered to be one household. As a result, this means that only one phone could be received. Alaska and Hawaii have higher rates for the poverty levels since they both have a higher cost of living. Here is a chart in which you can view the poverty levels based on your state. You will also be able to find what your income limit is based on the number of members in your household. Multiply the income limit by 1.35 to calculate 135% of the federal poverty guidelines. An example would be if a single person earns $11,490 per year on the poverty guideline chart, you would multiply $11,490 by 1.35. The result is $15,512. This individual would qualify for a free cell phone if their yearly income was $15,512 or less.

There are many different companies that provide a free cell phone. How many minutes you get for calls and text messages vary. With some companies, you may need to pay a small amount for text messages, calls, or the phone itself. This is due to the fact that the Lifeline program only offers discounts on phone plans; it does not offer free phones. It is that some of the phone companies working with Lifeline have chosen to offer free phones with free minutes for calls and text messaging. It depends on which state you live in as well as what company you choose to get a free cell phone from.

Here is a list provided by Lifeline where you can view the various companies and their details by the state in which you live: Lifeline Support – http://www.lifelinesupport.org/.

There are two nationwide companies that provide free cell phones and these may offer comparable or better plans than your state offers. SafeLink – www.safelinkwireless.com and Assurance Wireless – www.assurancewireless.com both offer a free cell phone with up to 250 minutes and free text messages. If you find that you do not qualify for a free phone from the state there are two options left.

Virgin Mobile (www.virginmobileusa.com) offers prepaid cell phones. They have a cell phone plan called PayLo. This plan offers inexpensive phones with plans ranging from $20.00 to $40.00 per month. Next to free, these are probably the lowest prices you will find anywhere for a no-contract, prepaid cell phone. You could just purchase the phone, not add minutes, and you would still be able to call 911 in case an emergency arises.

If you have the money and desire and iPhone or Android smart phone, Virgin Mobile offers these as well. You will have to pay for the phone but you will not have to add minutes to the phone to call 911. It is a good option if this is one of the sole reasons you want to have a phone. If you decide to purchase a smart phone without adding minutes, not only will you be able to call 911, you will also be able to connect to the internet if you are near a WiFi connection. You would be able to call or text your family or friends through communications programs such as Skype. Many restaurants and fast food places offer free WiFi connections as well. Getting a free cell phone from the state is easy enough to do as long as a person meets the given requirements.