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With all the privately-operated companies filling the search engines with their questionable websites, marketing free phones to attract the financially disadvantaged American, it is important to know the facts about Lifeline and its service providers, and where to actually get a government-mandated Lifeline phone. Free cell phones are a recent topic of controversy, ever since the term “Obama phones” hit the internet. This has caused quite a stigma for the providers. Despite the nickname, the service has been around for many years. In fact, the first cellular provider service was launched in 2008 by TracFone under the Bush administration.The idea for free cell phones actually started in 1985 when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) created the Lifeline Program to provide phone services to low-income families at a discounted price. With the invention of the cell phone and its widespread popularity, it was naturally included into the program in 2005. The FCC even plans to provide free internet service in the future.

The program has two parts: the Link-Up program which provides subsidies for the purchase or setup of phone service, and the Lifeline program, which provides a subsidy on phone bills to those living under the poverty line or that participate in an eligible government assistance program. Together, the programs are collectively called the Lifeline Assistance Program.

The Lifeline program only covers monthly discounts on telephone services for eligible customers, but does not provide the cell phones for free. Some companies have chosen to offer that opportunity to their Lifeline customers on their own.

The discounts are funded by the Universal Service Fund as fees against telecommunications providers. Unfortunately, these companies have the option to pass this fee along to their customers, as a “Universal Service” item on the phone bill. However, it is usually only a small percentage of their contribution to the USF, and is worth it if it allowed someone to call 911.

Not everyone can qualify, although with the poor economy, more and more Americans are able to enroll. The qualifications vary by state, but the general guidelines are the same. There are two ways to qualify: have a gross income at or below the Federal Poverty Guidelines or be enrolled in other public assistance programs.

The assistance programs include:

• Medicaid;
• Supplemental Security Income;
• National School Lunch Program;
• Federal Public House Assistance;
• Temporary Assistance to Needy Families;
• Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program;
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program;
• Other state assistance programs, if applicable;

The Federal Poverty Guidelines is adjusted each year. To qualify, a household must have a total household gross income at or below 135% of the FPG. Some states have even set the amount at 150% of the FPG, meaning that a household can make 50% over the poverty level and still be qualified to receive the Lifeline phone service. Well, what is the FPG? Charts displaying the 2013 135% poverty guidelines per persons in family can be viewed at http://www.lifelinesupport.org/_res/documents/li/pdf/handouts/Income_Requirements.pdf.

The families that qualify are allowed one Lifeline phone, either a cellular or landline unit, through one of the providers. The federal government set a limit of one per household, although Lifeline defined household as an “economic unit” so that families living in a group setting can still get their own phone. With the increasing popularity of mobile technology, most customers choose the cell phone option.

The Universal Service Administrative Company is responsible for collection of data and disbursement for the Lifeline program. Their website, provides information regarding program requirements and other administrative data, such as the poverty guideline charts and an eligibility pre-screening tool. They run an eligibility database to track fraud and to verify consumers’ enrollment and continuing eligibility. Households that have duplicate Lifeline accounts are notified by letter from USAC and are expected to select one provider and de-enroll from the other programs. It is important to know that you cannot apply for Lifeline through the USAC website. The free cellular phone providers are backed by some big name companies. The three most popular are TracFone, Virgin Mobile, and Nexus Communications. The largest and oldest provider is TracFone’s company, SafeLink Wireless. They provide service to over 18.8 million subscribers in the U.S. More information can be found at their website, www.safelinkwireless.com. Assurance Wireless is the fastest growing company, quickly behind SafeLink, and they are supported by Sprint’s Virgin Wireless. Nexus Communications backs the next largest company, ReachOut Wireless. If none of these providers will work for you, USAC created a map to help locate more Lifeline providers in your area at http://www.lifelinesupport.org/ls/companies.aspx.

The phones provided by these companies are not the latest iPhone, Blackberry, or Android, but they are recent model phones equipped with voicemail, caller ID, and texting. The Lifeline phones do not stand out from any other ordinary cell, so customers do not need to worry about being an obvious member of the program. If consumers run out of minutes, they can add or buy minutes. Some of the plans even allow rollover minutes from previous months. To get a free or discounted cell phone, you must contact a local service provider, determine the eligibility criteria, and then provide proof of eligibility. You can’t choose which time of phone you’ll receive, although some of the providers will allow you to upgrade to a smart phone. Once you’ve chosen a provider and a plan, you can fill out an application and wait for your new cell phone in the mail.

No matter what your financial situation, the FCC and Lifeline, along with the providers, have made it possible to stay connected. Whether you have to call your child out sick from school, require an ambulance, or need to provide a phone number for a job, you can have the phone to do it.

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The word on the street is you can get a free cell phone – and free minutes – from the government these days. These free phones became a national topic thanks the popularity of a YouTube video of a Cleveland resident shouting about her “Obama phones”. As you can imagine, this subject brings with it political controversy and mass confusion. Who exactly is giving out these free phones? Who is paying for them? What’s Obama got to do with it?

Contrary to popular belief – and yes, even this article title – the government is not giving out free cell phones. The term we’re looking for is not free but subsidized. A government subsidy is a grant paid by the government to an enterprise that benefits the public. The government does this with all sorts of enterprises, from agriculture to sustainable energy. The enterprise we’re talking about when we talk about “Obama phones” is the Universal Service Fund. And one of the Fund’s many projects is making telephone communication universally available to all Americans.

They call the service LifeLine and it is provided in every state. Services are provided by the largest telecom companies. In fact, the government requires most telecoms to pay into the Universal Service Fund whether they provide the LifeLine service or not. Carriers frequently pass this responsibility on to customers as a monthly surcharge. If you have a phone plan you can easily find the few dollars a month that are being charged to your bill for the Universal Service Fund.

The fee added to the phone bills seems like a tax to a lot of Americans. Many around the nation are furious about this program, citing government largesse and spinning the connotation of the nickname “Obama phones” to front an attack on the President’s welfare policies. However, this program started way back in 1985 under the Reagan administration as part of a universal access initiative, ensuring every individual could connect with jobs, family and the 911 services. Originally the program provided subsidized landline phone service for low-income individuals. The program introduced cell phone service as the public began to drop their landlines in favor of mobile devices.

But what about eligibility? Are you qualified to receive your very own “Obama phone”?

Eligibility varies from state to state, but generally if you earn less than $14,000 a year you can get a phone subsidy. If you have an income that is at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines or if you are eligible for other forms of government assistance like Medicaid or food stamps, you qualify to receive up to $10 per month in phone subsidies. People living on tribal lands may qualify for additional discounts and assistance. The free cell phone minutes again vary from state to state. For example, residents of the District of Columbia are given 55 minutes while those in Louisiana receive 250 minutes.

Now, if you’re eligible to get a government phone, you’re not alone. Currently there are over 28 million adults eligible for these phone subsidies. I agree, that number is ridiculously high. There are 17 million households signed up for the program where four years ago there were only 7 million. This mass increase is largely because of the recession, which increased the number of eligible people.

But there may be another reason for the huge increase in households signing up for the program: Tracfone Wireless. Tracfone appears to be cornering the market in subsidized phone service. Owned by Carlos Slim (the richest man in the world), Tracfone Wireless specializes in providing service for LifeLine customers. Through impeccable advertising Tracfone has skyrocketed above its competitors. The advertisements for Tracfone’s “free phones” attracted millions of people. Tracfone now has over 4 million subscribers in its LifeLine program, called SafeLink, and collected $452 million last year from the program’s subsidies. That’s far more than any provider (the runners-up, AT&T and Spring, each collected around $274 million).

So now that you know the basics I’m sure you’re dying to know how to apply for these “free” phones. If you want to receive a cell phone through Tracfone Wireless, go to the SafeLink website and first determine if the program is offered in your state. If the program is available in your state and you think you qualify, click the “Apply” button. Fill out the application on the following page. You will be asked for your name, a valid mailing address, any phone number you may already have, your birth date, and the last four numbers of your Social Security number. Once you complete the application, you will print off the signature page and sign and mail or fax it to the address indicated. If your state allows you to qualify based on income instead of participation in a government assistance program, you will be required to provide either copies of four months of pay stubs, a letter from your employer, the previous year’s tax return, or your employer W-2 form. You can also call SafeLink to request a hard copy of the application if you do not have internet access.

So I guess the final question is, are you the next lucky owner of an “Obama phone”?

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Did you get your Obama phone?  If not, then you might be like some Americans that don’t believe the Federal government should provide its citizens with unnecessary free cellphones.  This controversial issue was a constant polarizing argument between the Democratic and Republican parties during the last presidential campaign.  The “Obama phone” craze started on September 26^th, 2012, when a YouTube video of an Obama supporter bragged about having an “Obama phone” after that, the video went viral, hitting over 7 million viewers.  The video left the public misled, due to the fact that the lady in the video said, ”Yes, everybody in Cleveland who is a minority got an Obama phone. Keep Obama in President, he gave us a phone.”  Her main goal of the statement in the video was to convince voters to vote for Obama simply due to the fact that he ‘gave’ her a free cellphone. This sense of entitlement is sending the wrong message across America; implying that one does not need to work if they are going to be handed things for free.

The Obama Administration has updated as well as implemented a Federal program called “The Lifeline Program.” This is a program sponsored by the government in which applies to low-income participants whom are living below the poverty line.  It provides these users with either a landline home phone, or a cellular telephone, provided with 250 free minutes monthly.    Usually these participants take part in other government-implemented programs such as food stamps and/or other assistance programs.  Although this program was administered during the Reagan administration in 1984, Obama used his powers to ultimately modernize the program by applying the program towards cellphones verses landline home phones.  Furthermore, Obama has taken “The Lifeline Program” budget from 819 million, in 2008, to 2.2 billion, in 2012.  The FCC, under the Obama administration plans to provide free Internet services in the near future as well. We need to first look into a credible source in order to comprehend the advantages and disadvantages of this particular program.

   According to www.obamaphone.net, there are two Lifeline Assistance Programs, “The Link-Up program, which provided free landline connections to those living on tribal lands.  The Lifeline program, which provides waivers on telephone or cell phone bills to those on government programs or those living at or below the poverty line.”  I think that the Link-Up Program is a very useful program, but at the same time, why do we have the need to feel responsible to provide such technologies to tribes outside of the USA?  On this website, it also states that ‘all telecommunication providers should contribute a fee to the overall fund in order to increase nationwide access to advanced telecommunications services.’  I think that is a fair statement in a sense that, if we, as tax payers, are forced to give money in order to feed this program, then it only makes sense to have other cellphone providers to donate a sum of their income to the program as well.

In my opinion, there must be a hand full of people who are taking advantage of this free cell phone service.  Regulation on the program needs to be implemented in order to demolish this.  Nearly half of the 6 million users who have received these phones are actually ineligible to use the program.  One might ask why do these low-income individuals need cellphones to begin with? The cellphones should be provided for use during emergency situations only, without any exceptions.  They are not working so in turn they are not paying taxes therefore these phones are virtually free for its users.  I cannot even think of one reason they would need a cellphone to begin with. Is the government enabling these people to live off of the government, and tax payer’s money? Since when is it the responsibility of the Federal government to provide cell phones to low income individuals. I was always taught that having a cell phone is a privilege, not a necessity. Allowing the private sector (the major companies for this program are Safelink Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Assurance Wireless, and Reach Out Wireless) to profit off of this entitlement program is a breeding ground for fraud and the unfortunate victim is the U.S. taxpayer. It’s estimated that this particular program is costing every U.S. taxpayer $2.50 annually.  I believe our limited budget could be better allocated towards more necessary programs. Due to the fact that the United States, as a nation, is severely in debt in the trillions, the money for this program has been borrowed from foreign nations.  We must ask ourselves, is this program truly worth our nation growing further and further into the abyss that is our nation’s debt?  This program, along with a few others should be eliminated, or drastically downsized in order for our nation to make a step in the right direction.  If for no other reason at all (setting aside the ineligible users, and blatant misuse) we should demolish the program just due to our plummeting economy.

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The Safelink LG322G is one of the most popular phones provided by Safelink. It’s not a “fancy” phone with advanced features, but it’s a fantastic basic phone. It’s reliable, light and very durable.

What Basic Features Does it Come With?

The LG322G comes with:

• On board speakerphone for hands-free calls
• Phone book that supports up to 500 contacts
• 24 ringtones to choose from
• Automatic redial
• Alarm clock
• Voicemail
• Caller ID

Advanced Phone Features

This phone also comes with a few advanced features:

• Call waiting. If you receive a call while you’re on the line, you can place your current call on hold while you take the other call.
• Tip calculator. At a restaurant and need to figure out how much 18% tip is? This phone will make it easy.
• Stopwatch. You can count up and count down time with your phone.
• Unit converter. Convert meters to feet or kilometers to miles. This is especially important while traveling.

What Customers Love

There are a few things that customers just love about this phone. There’s a reason it’s one of the most popular models on Safelink.

First of all, it’s light. You won’t feel like you’re carrying a brick around in your pocket. Yet it’s also extremely durable. Customers often report owning this phone for one to two years with barely a scratch on the phone.

Despite being extremely affordable (usually free,) the phone doesn’t look cheap. It doesn’t look like cheap plastic. You don’t have to feel bad about pulling this phone out at a party.

It has a very long battery life. You’ll often be able to go several days without recharging. You can stay on the phone for over five hours on one charge. If you don’t make calls frequently, you can probably get away with charging it just once a week.

To top it off, it has a very loud speaker. In a room with a Blackberry, an iPhone and an Android phone, the LG322G will likely have the loudest ringtone of them all.

Are There Any Drawbacks?

The only drawback to this phone is that it truly is bare bones and basic. It doesn’t have bluetooth, it doesn’t have a camera. Unlike many low-end phones, it doesn’t even have a web browser that lets you use EDGE. It doesn’t pretend to be a phone that it’s not. It just doesn’t have those features.

In Summary

In summary, the Safelink Wireless LG320G is a fantastic basic phone. It’s got fantastic battery life, ringtone volume and overall durability. It has everything you might want from a free or cheap phone.

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This is a common question that many people have when it comes to the free government cell phone program. We are going to take a closer look at the question so that you can better understand why Lifeline is so important for many people around the country.

135% Below the National Poverty Level?

People who qualify for Lifeline’s assistance are in dire need of some help. If they are not 135% below the US poverty line, they must receive assistance from a laundry list of beneficial programs and these qualifications change from state to state.

Free cell phones will only give a small amount of relief to the people who are provided them, but it is relief that is long overdue. The necessity of communication is unavoidable. Scrapping from day to day is hard enough without having to worry about how to connect with a present employer, future career developments, family ties and authorities in case of emergency.

The Source

These phones have a common misconception racing through the internet and other media. Lifeline government paid cell phones are not funded by the country’s taxpayers. The nation’s population has been in an uproar over this topic, but with a misunderstanding like this, who wouldn’t be outraged? The unemployment rate in our country is already so high, US residents feared they were dumping more money into a mysterious government program.

The funds to provide government paid cell phones to low income individuals and families are collected by Universal Service Fund USF from telecommunication providers. Telecommunication providers include; wireless telephone companies, wireline telephone companies and specific Voice Over internet Protocol (VoIP) providers.

Each company is different in how they provide USF with the required dues, but most telecommunication service providers charge their customers a small fee per phone bill to contribute to the required federal USF collection to pay for low income individuals and families to receive government paid cell phones.

Helping to Employ the Unemployed and Underemployed

With the current economic slump, jobs are one everyone’s mind. “Is today the day the ask me to resign?” “Am I next to be laid off?” “I need to make rent this month.” “I can’t find a job in my career field.” These issues are troubling enough to manage, now imagine remedying them without a source of communication.

Whether it be following up on an interview, calling to ask if the company is hiring or double checking with your boss on a project’s deadline, communication is essential for this day and age. But more importantly, communication is a necessity for growth, prosperity and success.

There’s no way to get around it, in order to help those who are working low skill jobs, those laid off or those without jobs, they need a way to talk with everyone else.

Emergencies

Every year thousands of people die due to lack of medical attention. If only they were seen by a hospital sooner, if only they had called an ambulance, if only she wasn’t walking home alone. No one ever accounts for an accident, but preventable fatalities happen everyday.

It’s not enough to say, “Be careful”. If it was, we wouldn’t need insurance. Bad things happen, such as robberies, car crashes, muggings and accidents in the home. Everyone should be able to contact authorities if their or one of their family member’s lives are in danger. By providing people with the safeguard of a cell phone, you are ensuring they have a better chance of survival in a world of ‘what if?’

Keeping Families Together

Staying in touch with your loved ones relieves stress and promotes better mental health. Who better to vent to than your mother or grandparent? The always appreciated objective third party can be attained through just a simple phone call.

Spouses who travel of work in separate states from their families truly takes a toll on their ability to concentrate. With always wondering if their spouse got home from work last night, if their child did well on an exam and if the family is managing without them their to help.

These problems, though inspired from a tough situation, can be soothed from a simple, reassuring phone call. Just to hear their family’s voice and know, for sure,they are just fine and awaiting their return home.

Providing our nation’s low income individuals and families with free government cell phones is not a chore, it’s a God send to these people. To finally receive assistance in an area of everyone’s life that is so crucial, vulnerable and vital to a person’s safety and well-being.

Lifeline has been established to help these folks in just one area of their lives, the program is not taken out of taxpayer’s pockets and it truly does help those who need it most.

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Is it possible to have a free cell phone? Who wouldn’t want something that is free? Yes, there is such a cell phone that you can get for free from the government, yet you must be able to meet some requirements before you can receive one. You may have heard people talking about their Obama-phones. The Obama phone is what people started calling these free government cell phones. Talk show hosts, comedians, and Youtube creators have spoken about, joked about, and made hilarious videos about Obama phones. Many customers have continued to call them Obama phones and it seems to have stuck.

Yet, to tell you the truth, these free government cell phones have nothing at all to do with President Obama. Chances are you will not see President Obama wearing a trench coat in a dark alley handing out free cell phones. The name “Obama-phone” was a clever marketing tool used by some companies to aid them in promoting their free cell phone program. What follows are some of the facts concerning these free government cell phones.

How do you think it would be if you didn’t have a telephone and you needed to call 911, the police department, or the fire department? What if you needed to write down your phone number on a job application? How would the potential employer be able to call you back if you didn’t have a phone number? If you or a loved one needed help for some reason, or they are elderly, and you need to stay in touch with them, it would be difficult to do so without a landline telephone or cell phone. These are some of the thoughts and situations that led to the creation of the Lifeline government benefit program. The Lifeline program is operated through the FCC. It was created in the mid 1980’s while President Reagan was in office. The Lifeline program offers discounted services for those with low income. This would enable them to have landline (wired) telephone service. According to the creators of the Lifeline program, everyone should have basic telephone services for the reasons mentioned above. In 2005, while President Bush in office, the landline program was expanded to include mobile phones.

Associated with the Lifeline program is the Universal Service Fund. This is a fund that all telecommunication service providers are required to contribute to. This fund is used to ensure that everyone has access to the latest telecommunication services. This includes schools, healthcare facilities, and libraries. This is the fund that actually helps to pay for the free government cell phones.

There are currently ongoing debates about the Universal Service Fund. Some taxpayers believe they are paying an extra fee on their landline or mobile phone bill that enables people to get free cell phones and this is upsetting to them. Some are trying to pass bills in Congress to end the free government cell phone program. This is understandable to a degree. As with any government program, there are those that abuse the system while at the same time there are people that actually need and benefit from the assistance being provided.
The truth of the matter is that, while telecommunication providers are required to contribute to the Universal Service Fund, how they contribute to the USF is up to them. Some companies instead of contributing from their profits, charge a fee to their customer base. This is a decision made by the cell phone provider. This course of action is not required for the phone company to participate in the Lifeline program. You can see where the confusion can arise without knowing this tidbit of information.

There are many cell phone companies that work through the Lifeline program. Two of the largest ones are Safelink Wireless and Assurance Wireless. There are also various providers for the free cell phones in each state. The number of minutes you will receive for phone calls and texting varies by provider as well as by each state.

Some phone plans are completely free. You will receive a free cell phone and up to 250 minutes for calls and texting. Other plans may require payments for texting or a small amount for calls. On any of the plans, if you run out of minutes you are able to purchase more. If you do not use your minutes in any given month, they roll over to the next month and are added to your new allotment of minutes. The reason why some phone plans are free and why others you might have to pay a small amount for is because these companies are under the Lifeline benefit program. It is important to remember that Lifeline only offers discounts on landline and mobile phone services. It is up to each mobile phone company to decide how they want to market their phones. Safelink Wireless is one of the companies that offer a completely free cell phone with 250 free minutes for calls and free texting.  Learn more about Safelink Wireless, click here.

In order to receive a free government cell phone, you must be able to meet a few conditions. If your income is at or below 135% to 150% (according to your state) of Federal Poverty Guidelines you may qualify for a free cell phone. The amount varies and depends upon the state in which you live. It also depends on how many people are a part of your household.

If you are not able to qualify for a free phone based on income requirements, you may be able to qualify if you are enrolled in any of the government benefit programs. These programs include Medicaid, any state-assisted aid or financial programs, SSI, Head Start, TANF, LIHEAP, or Section 8 Housing. Also, if you live on any tribal lands you may qualify for a free cell phone.

If you want to learn more about the federal Lifeline Assistance Program, you have come to the right place. We have everything you need to know whether you are looking for a free phone or are just curious about the government program.

The first government provided cell phone came about in 2008 under the Bush administration. The very idea of government subsidized phones for low income people originated during the Reagan administration and brought about the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

What is Lifeline?

Lifeline is a government funded program that has been established to assist low income individuals and families who cannot afford a monthly cell phone and cell phone service plan, by providing them with one. Eligibility requirements apply and may vary from state to state. Individuals and families qualified for assistance from Lifeline will have a monthly income 135% below the national poverty line.

Everyone should have access to open communication. Not only does telecommunication open opportunities for people to chat long distance with family and follow job opportunities, it also enables people to call for help in emergencies, such as a robbery, physical injury or accident.

Lifeline Advantages

Lifeline offers a variety of different discounts and bonus features that will vary from state to state. Lifeline discounts add up to an average of about $9.25 per month for your monthly cell phone service plan.

Lifeline does however have its restrictions. Only one Lifeline service plan can be provided per household. Likewise, the household may only be provided a discount on a wired service plan or a wireless service plan, two plans with discounts cannot co-exist in a household.

A household has been defined as, “ A singular adult or group of people who reside under the same address and economic unit.” If there are other applicants in your household who need to be labeled as living in a separate household, Lifeline can be notified and make the adjustment.

Lifeline has also added an innovative program within its program called Link Up. Link up enables low income families and individuals who live on Tribal Lands to receive a $100 discount on their installation and activation of a wired line or a wireless line for their household.

Link Up also offers different payment plans to make sure customers are able to pay for the wired or wireless line comfortably. The program enables low income individuals and families to  pay off their remaining cost on a deferred schedule without also paying an interest rate.

However, similar to the information above, there can only be one Link Up discount per household. Only after moving to a new house are previous Link Up customers able to receive the service again.

Eligibility Requirements

Lifeline wants to help low income families and individuals grow into success with an availability to telecommunications. To be qualified for a free government cell phone and cell phone service plan, your monthly income must be 135% below the nation’s poverty line or are a member of the following assistance programs:

• Medicaid
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps or SNAP)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8)
• Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
• Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
• National School Lunch Program’s Free Lunch Program
• Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
• Tribally-Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TTANF)
• Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
• Head Start (if income eligibility criteria are met)
• State assistance programs (if applicable)

Who Pays for the Free Government Cell Phones?

Telecommunication service providers are required to pay certain amounts to the federal USF. These amounts are based on a their profits and end-user revenues. These telecommunication service providers include, wireless telephone companies, wireline telephone companies and specific Voice Over internet Protocol (VoIP) providers.

Telecommunication service providers may directly charge their customers on their telephone bills for their required USF fees. Bills may have a line titled, “Universal Service”. This is the small charge that benefits Lifeline and provides low income families and individuals free government paid cell phones so they too have access to new job ventures, family connectivity and a way to contact authorities in case of emergencies. However, the FCC does not require these “Universal Service” charges to be passed on to the customer. Each company has to make a decision that will best fit their corporation.

Documentation for Qualification

Document proof is needed to satisfy specific eligibility requirements set by Lifeline. Aceptible documentation includes, Current or prior year’s statement of benefits from a qualifying program; notice letter of participation in qualifying program; program participation documents (or copy); or another official document of a qualifying program.

Income Eligibility Verification

Acceptable documentation includes: The prior year’s state, federal or Tribal tax return; current income statement from an employer or paycheck stub; Social Security statement of benefits; Veterans Administration statement of benefits; Retirement or pension statement of benefits; Unemployment or Workers’ Compensation statement of benefits; Federal or Tribal notice letter of participation in General Assistance; or divorce decree, child support award, or another official document available to you to show your income.

If you feel you would benefit from the help of a Lifeline program, please visit the Lifeline website to read more about your state’s eligibility qualifications and a plan that will work best with your household.

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If you and your loved ones are struggling to make ends meet lately, you’re not alone. Currently 7.8% of American adults are unemployed and over 4.3 million are on welfare. Perhaps your family is not the welfare type, you find the “hand-outs” to be embarrassing or “too little, too late”.

But government assistance programs reach far and wide and you may be qualified to get a type of help you never knew was out there: free or discounted phone service. The program is called LifeLine. Set up in 1996, LifeLine is a government benefit program that discounts on monthly telephone service for eligible low-income consumers to help ensure they have the opportunities and security that telephone service affords, including being able to connect to jobs, family, and 911 services.

If that monthly phone bill is pushing your family’s financial stability over the edge, you might want to find out if you are eligible for a government phone subsidy. A government subsidy is a grant paid by the government to an enterprise that benefits the public. The government does this with all sorts of enterprises, from agriculture to sustainable energy. The enterprise we’re talking about when we talk about these phone subsidies is the federal Universal Service Fund (USF). Making telephone communication universally available to all Americans is one of the Fund’s many projects. Originally USF created the LifeLine program to help low-income families with monthly landline bills. Over the last few years, however, the program has put more than 12 million wireless feature phones into the hands of low-income Americans. Now more than 75% of phone subsidy customers request cell phone coverage over landline.

Unfortunately, federal rules prohibit eligible low-income consumers from receiving more than one LifeLine service per household. Under their definition, a household is any individual or group of individuals who live together at the same address. But this rule can be worked around. An “economic unit” constitutes all adult individuals contributing to and sharing in the income and expenses of a household. You can demonstrate when initially enrolling in the program that any other LifeLine recipients residing at your residence address are part of a separate household. Through this approach you and your spouse could each get cell phone coverage. Sorry, no coverage for your kids.

Contrary to popular belief, the government is not paying for this phone service. In fact, the government requires most telecommunications companies to pay into the Universal Service Fund, and thus support the LifeLine program. Carriers frequently pass this responsibility on to customers as a monthly surcharge. People with monthly phone bills will see a monthly charge – usually a few dollars – for “Universal Service Fund”.

The fee added to the phone bills looks like a tax to a lot of Americans. Many around the nation are furious about this program, citing government largesse and nicknaming subsidized phones “Obama phones” to front an attack on the President’s welfare policies. This program, however, has little to do with Obama. The idea started way back in 1985 under the Reagan administration as part of a universal access initiative, ensuring every individual could connect with jobs, family and the 911 services. The program was named LifeLine in 1997 when the Universal Service Fund was created by the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to meet Congressional universal services goals as mandated by the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

Eligibility varies from state to state, but generally if you earn less than $14,000 a year you can get a phone subsidy. If you have an income that is at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines or if you are eligible for other forms of government assistance like Medicaid or food stamps, you qualify to receive up to $10 per month in phone subsidies. People living on tribal lands may qualify for additional discounts and assistance. The free cell phone minutes again vary from state to state. For example, residents of the District of Columbia are given 55 minutes while those in Louisiana receive 250 minutes.

Now, if you’re eligible to get a subsidized phone, you’re not alone. Currently there are over 28 million adults eligible for these phone subsidies. There are 17 million households signed up for the program where four years ago there were only 7 million. This mass increase is largely because of the recession, but there may be another reason for the huge increase in households signing up for the program: Tracfone Wireless.

Tracfone Wireless appears to be cornering the market in subsidized phone service. Owned by Carlos Slim (the richest man in the world), Tracfone Wireless specializes in providing service for LifeLine customers. Through impeccable advertising Tracfone has skyrocketed above its competitors. The advertisements for Tracfone’s “free phones” attracted millions of people. Tracfone now has over 4 million subscribers in its LifeLine program, called SafeLink, and collected $452 million last year from the program’s subsidies. That’s far more than any other provider (the runners-up, AT&T and Sprint, each collected around $274 million).

If you want to receive a cell phone through Tracfone Wireless, go to the SafeLink to determine your family’s eligibility and whether or not the program is offered in your state.

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