As of 2015, Alabama recorded one of the lowest median household income values. In the same year, it recorded an unemployment rate of 5.8%. This comes as a surprise, considering the fact that Alabama isn’t the smallest state in America. It is actually the 30th largest state. It is a fact that there are Alabama residents that work for big employers like Maxwell Air force Base and Redstone Arsenal. Individuals of this class are hardly in need of government assistance, yet there are hundreds of thousands of Alabama residents who need some form of assistance due to their financial status. One of such forms of assistance comes in the area of free cellphones. Regardless of where you live in Alabama, you may be eligible for a free cell phone from the government. However, not all carriers offer free cell phone packages, most of them do though. You must also meet certain eligibility criteria to be qualified for one.
Lifeline Free Government Cell Phone Program in Alabama
Most carriers who provide free government cell phones have the same application process and qualification criteria. Under Lifeline Assistance, you’re going to be getting pretty much the same deals from most of the carriers. Below is a list of carriers that provide free government cell phones in Alabama.
- Access Wireless
- Assurance Wireless
- Safelink Wireless
- AT&T
- Cellular South/C Spire Wireless
- Pine Belt Cellular
- North American Local
- Good Connection
- SouthernLINC Wireless
- T-Wire Corporation
Eligibility Criteria for Free Government Cell Phones in Alabama
Participants of government-paid programs may be eligible for a free government cell phone in Alabama. These programs include –
- Food Stamps/ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Veterans Pension and Survivor’s Benefit
- Medicaid
- Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Tribal Head Start (only those households meeting its income qualifying standard)
- Section 8/ Federal Public Housing Assistance
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance (BIA)
- Tribal Head Start (only those households meeting its income qualifying standard)
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
Qualification Based On the Household Income Rule
You may qualify for a free cell phone in Alabama, going by the household income rule. This rule states that for one to be qualified for a free cell phone in Alabama, their household income must be lower, or at the level of 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for Alabama. As of 2020, the numbers are listed in the table below.
| Household Size (Number Of People In Household) | Eligible Annual Income Per Household |
| 1 | $17,226 |
| 2 | $23,274 |
| 3 | $29,322 |
| 4 | $35,370 |
| 5 | $41,418 |
| 6 | $47,466 |
| 7 | $53,514 |
| 8 | $59,562 |
| For Each Additional Person | $6,048 |
Steps to Getting Free Government Cell Phones
If you aren’t sure you are eligible for a free government cell phone in Alabama, then check the necessary criteria before you apply. Basically, eligibility criteria require the following –
- Your annual income is within eligibility limits
- You are program eligible
When you are 100% sure you meet all eligibility criteria for getting a free government cell phone, you can proceed to apply. Below are the steps you need to take.
- Pick a Telephone Company
Earlier in this article, we provide a list of carriers that provide free government cell phones in Alabama. Most of them offer the same deals to eligible candidates, nonetheless, it is within your power to choose your preferred carrier. Be sure to select a telephone company that suits your specific needs and taste, since you have the freedom to do so!
- Fill and Submit the Application Form
After you have made your choice regarding your preferred telephone company, the next step would be to complete and submit an application form. All carriers that give out free cell phones in Alabama will provide you with an application form at your request. In this form, you are required to fill out your full names, date of birth, home address, and other relevant details, including your household. Be sure to provide accurate information when filling the form, as mistakes will delay the processing time. You will also need to attach documented evidence of your Lifeline Assistance Eligibility before you submit the application. If your eligibility is based on your income, then you are required to provide an income statement issued by your bank (salary account) or your employer. A federal tax return from the previous year will also suffice. If your eligibility is based on your participation in government-paid programs, documents such as membership cards will be required. Keep in mind that you will be required to provide only original copies of the requested documents. You should also keep in mind that on a yearly basis, you will be required to re-certify your eligibility by submitting documented evidence. Basically, all you need to do to get a free cell phone from the government in Alabama is –
- Make sure you are eligible (by meeting all eligibility criteria)
- Choose a cell phone carrier
- Fill out the application form and provide relevant documents as evidence of eligibility
- Submit form
- Wait for your government-issued cell phone
Conclusion
If you live in Alabama and you meet the criteria for a free cell phone from the government, then you can start your application today.
Below are other articles that you may be interested in:
Obama Phone – History, Eligibility and Providers
Companies That Offer Free Government Phone
Do I Qualify For A Free Government Phone?
What is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)?