Today, many Lifeline Assistance companies offer smartphones to individuals who qualify for free government phones under the Lifeline Assistance Program. The constant advancement in technology means that people have to upgrade to the latest technologies to get the benefits thereof. Since the inception of the free government phone program, beneficiaries have been getting basic phones but now there is a need for them to use smartphones. It is not compulsory for phone provider companies in the Lifeline Assistance Program to offer smartphones, but many of these companies are offering them. This is a great idea since keeping up with technology is good for all those applying for this program.
Recommended Providers and Companies
Here is a list of recommended companies that offer free government smartphones:
Access wireless is one of the major companies providing free government smartphones to users who qualify for the program. They currently offer the service to multiple states. Some of the states served by Access Wireless are Arkansas, Missouri, and Maryland. Users with basic phones are offered an opportunity to upgrade to smartphones. They also offer a Bring-your-Own-Phone program to interested individuals and connect them to their service.
Assist Wireless offers Lifeline services in Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, and Oklahoma with amazing perks of birthday reward credits, activation date anniversary credits, and free account credits. Currently, there are five Lifeline plans available including Lifeline for Tribal Oklahoma, Lifeline for Non-Tribal Oklahoma, Arkansas Lifeline Plans, Maryland Lifeline Plans, and Missouri Lifeline Plans.
This is another free government phone provider with a widespread coverage across the US. It serves more than 20 states and it is expanding. It offers free smartphones to new applicants to the Lifeline Assistance Program. In addition, in case you have a basic phone and you would like an upgrade to a smartphone, you can contact the company and get connected to the current service.
American Assistance offers eligible beneficiaries with smartphones for free and provides nationwide minutes, data, voice mails, and text messages at no cost. Currently, American Assistance service is available in states including AZ, AR, CA, CO, GA, HI, IL, IN, KY, MD, MI, MN, NV, OH, PA, RI, SC, UT, WV, WI, and Puerto Rico.
Founded in 1981, Arctic Slope Telephone Association Cooperative (ASTAC) is committed to providing affordable and reliable telecommunication services to the residents of the North Slope region of Alaska. As one of the Lifeline free phone providers, ASTAC is proud to offer Lifeline assistance plans to eligible customers in Alaska.
enTouch Wireless has a wide Lifeline network coverage including 34 states: WA, OR, CA, AZ, TX, LA, MS, GA, SC, MD, RI, PA, OH, MI, IN, WI, MN, ND, ID, WY, SD, NV, NE, UT, CO, KS, MO, IA, OK, AR, KY, WV, HI, and Puerto Rico. Eligible customers could access five free lifeline services, among which California Plan, California Tribal1 Plan, Kentucky Plan, and Tribal1 Plan give unlimited texts & minutes to help needy people stay in touch and remain connected.
Feelsafe Wireless offers free government phones with free phone services to eligible residents in 13 states including California, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. Additional airtime, data, or texts could be added to existing Feelsafe lifeline plans at affordable prices.
Being one of the primary Lifeline Assistance Program providers, Infiniti Mobile helps low-income households in the states of Georgia (GA), Maryland (MD), Nevada (NV), Oklahoma (OK), South Carolina (SC), Vermont (VT), and Wisconsin (WI) by offering free wireless services and free smartphones with no credit check.
Life Wireless gives free government smartphones to residents who qualify for the Lifeline free phone program. The company operates in multiple states. Some of the states where it serves include: Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, West Virginia, and Arkansas. If you apply and qualify for the Lifeline program, you are eligible to get a free government smartphone.
Newphone Wireless is an eligible Lifeline telecommunication carrier that only provides Lifeline services to qualified individuals residing in the state of Louisiana. Free smartphones with free monthly minutes, unlimited texting, and free data are included in the Newphone Wireless Lifeline program with no contract, hidden & activation fees, and credit check.
Q Link Wireless is another major player in the free government phone program under Lifeline Assistance Program. It serves approximately 97% of the US, meaning that most of the states are covered by this company. All new users on the program can get smartphones. For those with older phones, they have an opportunity to upgrade them to smartphones.
Safelink Wireless is another major company in the free government phone program. It is operational in more than 30 states across the US. Those who apply and qualify for the program can have access to smartphones. Beneficiaries can also bring their own phones and get connected to the services available.
As a division of AmeriMex Communications, SafeNet Wireless provides free government phones or free lifeline phone plans every month for eligible residents in the states of California (CA), Colorado (CO), Georgia (GA), Kentucky (KY), Michigan (MI), and Oklahoma (OK) to help lower the cost of their telephone bills.
As a Lifeline provider, StandUp offers free wireless services of at least 1,000 monthly minutes, unlimited texts, and 3GB of data to qualified customers in 30 states including AZ, AR, CA, CO, GA, HI, ID, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MT, MO, NE, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TX, UT, WV, WI, and Puerto Rico. Different from other telecommunication companies, StandUp wireless allows additional phones to be activated for each household at affordable prices.
Headquartered in Georgia, Tempo Communications is one of the leading Lifeline phone providers that currently offer free Lifeline wireless plans in the states of CO, GA, HI, IN, IA, KS, KY, MD, MI, MN, MO, NE, NV, ND, OH, RI, SC, UT, WV, WI, and WY with no contract, credit check, and hidden fees. Eligible customers in those states could have unlimited monthly minutes, unlimited text messages, and 4.5G of date at no cost.
Terracom Wireless is a Lifeline phone service providers that offer lifeline assistance in the states of AZ, AR, CO, IN, IL, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MN, MO, NE, NV, OK(non-tribal), PA, RI, TX, WA (not-tribal), WV, and WN with no monthly fee. Subscribers could enroll in Terracom Lifeline phone plans either by participating in certain government programs or having household income below government income poverty guidelines.
Believing that everyone should enjoy affordable wireless service, TruConnect is committed to providing Lifeline free wireless phone programs to low-income residents in the states of AZ, AR, CA, CO, GA, HI, ID, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TX, UT, WA, WV, and WI, allowing people to keep in touch and stay connected.
True Wireless is based in the state of Oklahoma and currently available in Arkansas (AR), Maryland (MD), Oklahoma (OK), Rhode Island (RI), and Texas (TX). Qualified low-income Americans could enjoy discounted wireless services under the lifeline program with the limitation of one per household unit.
Rules and Requirements
There are certain rules and requirements that you should meet to get a free government smartphone. The first requirement is that you have to be earning an income that is below 135% of the federal poverty level. Also, if you are currently receiving assistance from government-based programs, you also qualify to get a free government smartphone. The other significant requirement is that you have to apply through a company approved to offer free phones and services in your state. Different states have varying regulations and rules as you apply for the program. So you have to know and adhere to the state-specific regulations to qualify for a free government smartphone. It is important to take note that access to smartphones depends on availability. Thus, your choice of smartphone is subject to the models available.
FAQs
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Do all companies offer smartphones or Android phones?
The answer is that not all companies offer free government smartphones to beneficiaries of the Lifeline Assistance program. If you would like to get a free smartphone, it’s advisable that you apply with companies that offer such. For example, Q Link Wireless offers smartphones to their customers. Besides, providers like Safelink Wireless, Life Wireless, Access Wireless and Assurance (California only) also offers smartphones or android phones under certain conditions.
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What if I get a phone that I didn’t request?
This is likely to happen and it is because smartphones are offered on availability basis. If the phone you wanted is not available, you will receive an alternative that can still serve you well.
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Can I bring my own phone to the program?
Yes. It’s possible to bring your own phone to the program and get connected to the services offered. However, it has to be compatible with the specific services offered by your company of choice. Indeed, smartphones are becoming increasingly valuable today. Basic phones are declining with every passing day; hence, making it important for companies to offer free government smartphones to those who qualify for the Lifeline Assistance program. If you would like to get a smartphone or upgrade your old phone to a smartphone, you can go ahead and apply with a company that can offer you that opportunity.
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