Many Americans are still deprived by cell phones in the era of 5G even after the availability of affordable plans from many cellular phone service providers including MVNOs. Because of low income, millions of Americans can’t afford to have cellular phone service so the Unites States Government runs a program called Lifeline Assistance in collaboration with Lifeline Assistance firms to offer free cell phone service to these eligible citizens.
Eligibility criteria to get free Cellphone
American Citizens, who have earnings below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines of the US, or are enrolled in any of the following government programs, are eligible for Lifeline Assistance and deserve a free cell phone:
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Medicaid
- Federal Public Housing Assistance
- Tribal-specific programs: Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribally-Administered Temporary
- Assistance for Needy Families (TTANF), Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), Head Start
- Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit Programs
If you fall any of the above eligibility criteria, then you can get a free cell phone or you can also get an Internet Broadband Plan under the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program.
You are only allowed to get one Lifeline benefit per household, not per person. If you qualify, your household can get one Lifeline benefit for phone or internet service, but not both. Your household also cannot get Lifeline from more than one company.
Free cellphone serice providers
You may not get free cellphone service from any major cell phone providers under the Lifeline Assistance program, but the following carriers are currently offering free cellphone plans with the Lifeline Assistance program. Check out which one is in your area.
- Assurance Wireless
- Cintex Wireless
- Easy Wireless
- enTouch Wireless
- FeelSafe Wireless
- GCI
- Infiniti Mobile
- Life Wireless
- NewPhone Wireless
- Q Link Wireless
- Safelink Wireless
- SafetyNet Wireless
- StandUp Wireless
- Tag Mobile
- Terracom Wireless
- TruConnect
If you don’t find any above carriers in your area, you can also get a Broadband plan from all three major carriers Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile under the EBB program with a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands.
If you don’t qualify for any of the above programs and still you can have cellphone service at a dirt low price of $7/mo from MVNOs.
