The state of Kansas is known for having very large wheat fields, and this has been a major part of its economy for as long as anyone can remember. However, the thriving wheat industry hasn’t stopped the state from facing its own fair share of economic drawbacks. Since the great recession, the unemployment rate in Kansas has dropped, kudos to them for that. Nonetheless, there are still many who live below the federal poverty guidelines, and for this reason, they need all the assistance they can. Luckily, the financially disadvantaged people of Kansas can catch a break, as far as mobile communication is concerned anyway. Thanks to the lifeline assistance program, free cellphones can now get into the hands of those who cannot afford it.
Free Cell Phone Providers in Kansas
There are many cellphone companies that are part of the lifeline assistance free cellphone program. These companies offer different plans, a number of minutes, refill options, and they cater to different areas in Kansas. You can go through each of them one by one to see which one will offer you the best or most favorable package. These cellphone companies are listed below.
- Access Wireless
- Assurance Wireless
- EnTouch Wireless
- Life Wireless
- Q Link Wireless
- Safelink Wireless
- StandUp Wireless
- Tempo Communications
- Truconnect
Lifeline Discount Companies in Kansas
You may qualify for a free lifeline assistance cellphone in Kansas, but none of the cellphone companies listed above caters to your area of residence. This could be heartbreaking, but not to worry, there are other cellphone companies that offer huge discounts on calls, text messages, and data bundles. Although these companies do not give out free cellphones, the discounts they offer are very significant, and it can help low-income earners or the unemployed save a lot of money. We know that free is always better, but you should take what you can get. The lifeline discount cellphone companies in Kansas are listed below.
- Epic Touch/EpicPCS
- U.S. Cellular
- Viaero Wireless
How to Qualify for a Free or Discounted Lifeline Phone in Kansas
There are two major ways by which you can qualify for a free government cellphone in Kansas. You can either be eligible based on the amount of money your household earns on a yearly basis or if you are a beneficiary of one of several lifeline assistance programs.
Eligibility Based on Lifeline Assistance Programs Participation
This is one way by which you can get a free government cellphone in Kansas. If you are a beneficiary of one or more of the lifeline assistance programs listed below, then you are eligible to apply for a free cellphone.
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps or SNAP)
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8)
- Veterans Pension and Survivor’s Benefit
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance (BIA)
- Tribally Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tribal TANF)
- Tribal Head Start (only those households meeting its income qualifying standard)
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
If you are a member of any of these programs, then you will be issued a membership card. This card will come in handy when you want to start your application for a free government cellphone in Kansas.
Eligibility Based on Annual Income
Another way you can be deemed eligible for a free government cellphone in Kansas is based on your annual income. If your total household income is at or less than 135% of the federal poverty guidelines, then you are eligible for a free government cellphone. We have done the math for you, so you can take a look at the numbers below to see where you fit in
Members in Household: Annual income
1 member : $17,226
2 members : $23,274
3 members : $29,322
4 members : $35,370
5 members : $41,418
6 members : $47,466
7 members : $53,514
8 members : $59,562
For each additional member add $6,048 annually.
How Do I Begin the Process of Getting a Free Government Cellphone in Kansas?
Now that you know and understand what makes one eligible for a free government cellphone in Kansas, then we guess you know if you are eligible or not. If you are, then there are certain steps you need to take to get the whole process started. We will discuss these steps below.
Choose Your Cellphone Company
You will not be able to start the process without first choosing one of the lifeline assistance of mobile phone companies. These cellphone companies are different in terms of the packages they offer, so you have to do some investigation to determine which of them is best for you. The easy way to do this is by visiting their websites and browsing through every single package. You should investigate them all and select the one that has the most favorable plans for you.
Request an Application Form
After you’ve made up your mind on which cellphone company is best for you, the next step would be to request an application form. The cellphone company will provide you with one.
Fill Out the Application Form
This should be the easy part, and it is. Although filling out a form requires you to provide information, you can imagine how delicate this phase of getting a free government cellphone can be. On the application form, you will be required to provide information such as your full names, your date of birth, your current residential address, your current place of work (that is if you are employed), your monthly/annual salary, the number of people in your household, and the lifeline assistance programs you belong to. These pieces of information are very vital and you cannot get your application processed if they aren’t provided. Be very sure that all the information you provide when filling out the application form is correct. If the information filled out on the form is false, then it will slow down your application process. Everything is subject to verification, so it would be wise of you to only provide the correct information. If it is found that you intentionally provided false information, all in a bid to get a free government cellphone, then not only will your application be slowed down, you may also be disqualified from the program altogether. We understand that things could get tough financially, but if you are not eligible for a free government cellphone in Kansas, it means you are living above the federal poverty guidelines, therefore have no need to apply. If you are a legitimate candidate, then be sure to cross-check all the information you have provided in the form to make sure everything is in order.
Provide Proof of Eligibility
Even though all the information you provided is still subject to verification, you will need to provide proof of eligibility and attach it to the application form before it is submitted. Without any proof of eligibility, your application will not be complete. So, how can you prove that you are eligible for a free lifeline assistance government cellphone in Kansas? Well, it’s very simple. If you are applying based on income eligibility, then it is required that you provide your statement of account for the past year. To get your hands on this, all you need to do is get in touch with your bank and they will give you a printout. If you do not want to go to your bank’s physical branch, then you can call or send them a mail requesting that your statement of account is sent to your email. You can then print it out and take it with you as you apply for your free government cellphone.
On the flip side, if you are applying for a free government cellphone based on being a beneficiary of any one of the lifeline assistance government programs listed in this article, then you will need to provide your member’s ID card as proof of your participation in the program. Please take note, only original documents are accepted during the application process. Photocopies are invalid. We also have to mention that your eligibility will be re-certified the following year after your first application is successful. In fact, re-certification is carried out every year, just to ensure the person’s eligibility for a free government cellphone is still intact. A person who is eligible for a free government cellphone today, may not be eligible the following year. He/she may receive an increase in salary and their financial situation changes for the better. Once you start earning above the federal poverty guidelines, then you are no longer eligible for a free government cellphone.
Below are other articles that you may be interested in:
Obama Phone – History, Eligibility and Providers
Companies That Offer Free Government Phone – Free Cell Phone Providers
Do I Qualify For A Free Government Phone?
What is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)?