The 10 Free Government Cell Phones For Low Income
Free Government phones have been there for almost two decades. We have seen the transition from when the lifeline service providers issued people with flip and keypad phones to a point whereby you can get a free mid-range high quality smartphone. The free Government phone services have also diversified to a wide area which has led to effective communications among Americans. With these free Government phones in place, people with low income can easily access the phones, and not only do you get phones, but also cell phone plans for free.
There are more than 30 lifeline phone service providers in the US. Some work in over 30 States while others operate in one or two states across the country. Choosing the best lifeline provider is not quite easy as most people think. All the service providers serve a common purpose which is to provide people with the free Government phones, but the big difference comes about with regards to the allocation of plans. Some service providers will give you the best options with regards to talk, text and data units while in other service providers may give you some very low offers for up to 50 MB of data in your free cell phone plan.
With this article, you will get to discover some of the 10 best lifeline phone providers and the type of plans that they offer. Choosing the best service provider takes some factors like network coverage, reviews and opinions about the company from people who have experienced it and the quality of phones offered. So, read more below to learn about the free Government cell phone for low income people.
At what income level can you qualify for the free Government phone?
In most cases, the Federal policy states that the income level should be below 135% of the federal poverty level. However, this varies with the State you are in and the current economic drifts in your State. For example, California which happens to have a high revenue yield may set the low-level income bar much higher compared to unestablished States across the country.
You can learn more about the income qualifications level from the nearest lifeline offices within your State or by visiting the Federal communications website to learn more!
A side from qualifying through low income, people can also qualify through other eligibility requirements. These are through the participation in federal lifeline assistance programs. Some of the federal lifeline qualifications programs include;
- Food stamps
- Federal housing programs
- Food distribution program in Indian reservations
- Tribal temporary Assistance for needy families
- Veteran pension and survivor’s benefit
If you have participated in these programs or your income is below the poverty guidelines, then you can apply for a free Government phone today. Below are some of the best free phone providers you can consider.
The 10 best free Government phone for low income
1. Qlink wireless
Qlink wireless tops our list with its wide coverage in over 30 States. The company offers high quality free Government phones and plans at zero costs. You will also be impressed by how simple it is to apply for the phone.
The verification process is very fast, and you can either do a paper or online application. In case you lose a phone, the Qlink wireless phone replacement process is very simple and you can pay a small or no cost at all. Here are some of the States they cover.
Coverage
According to their website, Qlink wireless covers up to 97% of the States across the country. To know whether your State is covered, visit Qlink’s site and search for your location.
Phone brands
The type of phone brands likely to be offered includes: Kyocera, LG, Sanyo, Samsung, HTC, ZTE, Nokia, Huawei, Motorola, Palm and Alcatel. Aside from these brands, you can also bring your phone to Qlink at no cost at all. You will be issued with a sim card if your phone is compatible.
Plans
Currently there are exiting deals at Qlink wireless. Every month you get the following perks for free;
- 3GB of data
- 1000 minutes
- Unlimited texting
View Qlink free government phone plans
2. Safelink wireless
Safelink seconds our list with a wide range of perks compared to other service providers. Safelink offers free flexible plans for everyone whether you are using a flip phone or a smartphone. The company has a simple application process too.
Once you submit the correct documents and the background checks are approved then you may get the phone within the next business day. Safelink also has a reliable customer care team who has a good rating in most reviews.
As for contracts, there are none, however, after one year of using their services, you will be required to recertify your plan with them to avoid being cut-off.
Coverage
Safelink offers wide coverage and a simple way to check whether they cover your State. Simply go to their website and key in your zip code to see if you are covered.
Plans
Safelink plans offered come with the following perks;
- 750 minutes
- 3GB of data
- Unlimited texting
- Voice mail services
Phone brands
Currently, Safelink has not listed the devices likely to be offered in their website. However, you are assured of getting a high-quality smartphone with high or mid-range features. Also, if your current phone is Safelink compatible, you can bring it to your network. View Safelink Wireless free phone plans
3. Assurance wireless
Assurance wireless is a lifeline service provider with a wide variety of free Government smartphones to offer. The company has a simple application process and they will not pressure you with many documents. They have a very reliable network coverage which assures you of less or no dropped calls if your location is covered.
You can also consider a cell phone signal booster in case there are network issues within your area. Assurance wireless offers high quality phones and you can get the phone of your choice based on its availability. They also ship the phones to your location.
Coverage
To know whether your area is covered, simply use your zip code. Assurance wireless has a website has a prompt that allows you to key in your zip code and get precise information whether your area is covered or not.
Plans
The Assurance wireless plans are very flexible, and they vary with each State. If your State has favorable economic conditions, you are likely to get more talk, text and data units.
Phone brands
Assurance wireless states that they only offer Android smartphones. They also allow people to bring their own phones to the network if it is compatible. View their plans
4. Verizon wireless
Verizon wireless is not only a standard service provider in the US, but they also offer lifeline services. The company boasts with nationwide coverage and affordability with their Verizon phone deals for existing customers.
When it comes to the lifeline services, Verizon can be among the best service providers to opt for. They do not only offer free phones and plans but also discounts on other products like the home internet plans and the Verizon monthly plans. You can qualify depending on the terms within your State.
Coverage
Verizon offers nationwide coverage,so you don’t have to use a zip code to check whether your State is covered.
Plans
The plans offered are not different from the ordinary plans you would expect at Verizon. However, you get a discount on the plans instead pf getting it absolutely for free. In most cases, the discount clocks at around $9 per month on the plan.
Phones
If your phone is compatible with Verizon wireless, you can bring it to their network. Also, they offer the best cell phone deals for people opting for the lifeline services. View their plans
5. American Assistance
If you are looking for the best California lifeline cell phone providers, then American Assistance is a good option to consider. They offer similar eligibility criterion with most service providers. The company is also acknowledged to have reliable customer care services so if you are stuck up with any issue, you can call them easily.
The cell phone plans are quite convenient not only for California residents, but also other States served by this lifeline provider. The phones offered are also o high quality according to some reviews.
Coverage
American Assistance covers the following States: Indiana, Maryland, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nevada, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Puerto Rico, Utah, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania.
Plans
For California residents, you get 4 GB plus unlimited talk and texts. Other States give you the following;
- 500 free monthly minutes
- Unlimited text messages
- 3GB data
Phones
The phones offered are Android devices but they’re of high quality. View their plans
6. Budget wireless
Just from the name, this is a service provider ready to save you the costs on your ordinary phone bills. The company offers a simple application process which can be done straight from their website.
If you have had contracts before, Budget wireless is here to get you out of such. They also have stunning free phone plans for those who are eligible.
Coverage
The company covers around thirty States like American Assistance. You can also check out their website and key in your Zip code on the first prompt you will see.
Plans
The plans offered vary from State to State. In most States you get 250 minutes and text units and up to 500 MB of data.
7. Easy wireless
Easy wireless is one of the service providers that work under Boost Mobile to offer the lifeline services. The company has been there for almost a decade and people seem to be impressed by their services according to most reviews.
The company offers a simple application process and you never have to worry about any contracts or having to pay any fees for the registrations. In most cases, you may only pay around $25 for the activation of the phone. Eligibility is met through the qualification with regards to the low-income levels or through the federal assistance programs.
Coverage
To know whether your area is covered, you can use the Zip code prompt in their website. Simply key in your zip code and you will get a prompt telling you whether your area is covered or not.
Plans
The cell phone plans vary greatly with the State you are in. In an overview, here are the plans you are likely to get;
- 750 minutes
- Unlimited texting
- 25 MB of data
Phones
Easy wireless offers a wide range of Android phones and you can also bring your phones. The phones are of high quality and they have been test by technical experts. View their plans
8. Cintex wireless
Cintex wireless offers an amazing deals to all those who qualify for the free Government phone. The company has a wide range of smartphones available to all those who qualify for the free Government phone plan. The plans offered are very flexible with a well allocated talk, text and data units to suite you for the whole month.
Coverage
Cintex wireless covers only a few States and they are; Maryland, Rhode Island, Maine, and West Virginia.
Plans
The free cell phone plan comes with the following perks;
- 1000 minutes
- Unlimited texting
- 3GB of data
- Smartphone
9. enTouch wireless
This service provider offers the best deals with regards to discounts on cell phones and plans. It covers more than 10 States across the country, and they all have stable network coverage. The devices offered are of high quality and you can also bring your phone to their network.
Coverage
To know whether your area is covered, simply go to their website and scroll to the bottom page. There you will find the zip code prompt ad key in your zip code. After that you will get more information as to whether your device is compatible or not.
Plans
The enTouch wireless Free Government phone plans offered are on discounted offer of around $20 to $30 per month. This plan gives you between 1 or 1.5 GB of data and unlimited talk and text. View their plans
10. Infiniti Mobile
Infiniti mobile has seen a major growth of the market share in the lifeline providers industry. As of 2020, they offer close to 97% of the country. The application process is very simple and if your eligibility documents are valid, you may get the phone and plan services within two days at the maximum. The phones offered are of high quality and you will never have to be disappointed with the specs.
Coverage
As I mentioned earlier, Infiniti covers close to the whole of the US (97%). Simply go to their website and you will get more information regarding the coverage.
Plans
Infiniti offers very affordable and discounted plans to anyone who has low income and qualifies for the plans. You can check out their website to learn more. They also allow people to bring their own phones or get the free Government phone. View their plans
Bottom line
Free Government phone services have become very easy to access. There are many service providers across the country and all you have to do is choose the one that favors you within your State. I hope with this article will help you get the free Government phone with your area.
