Certain carriers are able to provide people with a free phone! Low-income individuals often have priorities other than a phone when it comes to spending their salary. Many of them will prioritize spending their money on food, rent, and/or medicine costs. That’s why paying for a phone and phone packages may seem like a luxury to many people. In this case, obtaining a phone for free may really help low-income individuals save on this cost. The catch, however, is that not everyone qualifies for this opportunity. So let’s find out who is eligible to get a free phone!
The Opportunities of Getting a Free Phone
Carriers are able to offer the option of a free phone through the Lifeline program. Some people may wonder: Who doesn’t have a phone in this day and age? This is because phones have become such a necessity that we sometimes forget that there are still people who cannot afford them. This is why the opportunities that will be discussed may be helpful to some people since they can get a phone without having to worry about paying for it. In this article, we will also talk about the assistance and offers that the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is able to provide individuals with. One thing people should keep in mind is that only those who meet a program’s qualifying conditions will be able to benefit from it.
Understanding the Lifeline Program
The Lifeline program offers a monthly price reduction on some qualifying services. The price reduction is up to $9.25. However, for recipients who reside on tribal lands, there is a discount of up to $34.25. The discounts will be on one of the following services:
- Telephone services
- Broadband internet
- Voice-broadband bundles.
Like any support program, the Lifeline program is only able to help those who are eligible. The program is built on the belief that communications services should be affordable for everyone, so it targets low-income people. That said, individuals must be at or lower than 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines to qualify. Another thing that may qualify someone is if they are receiving aid from other programs. For anybody wondering, the credit for providing the Lifeline program goes to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). However, the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) is in charge of supervising the program.
Explaining the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
Households must be at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines to be considered for this program. If the household is considered eligible, they will receive:
- A $30 (at most) monthly price reduction on broadband services.
- A one-time price cut of up to $100 to buy an approved electronic item.
- A monthly price reduction of up to $75 for homes located on tribal lands (instead of $30 at most).
A household’s income level is not the only qualifying criteria. Essentially, households may be eligible if at least one member of the family participates in certain federal assistance programs. They may also qualify if a household member meets the requirements established by a participating provider for a current low-income internet program. Last but not least, if a family member received a Pell Grant for the present award year, a household may also be eligible for the program. Just like the Lifeline program, this opportunity is made possible by the FCC.
Who Offers Free Phones?
Individuals looking to get a free phone should use the USAC’s tool to locate carriers in their area that provide this aid option. This is because not every carrier serves every location. However, just because a carrier is available in a person’s area does not mean they will be able to get a phone for free. There will be qualifying requirements that people have to meet to be able to benefit from this opportunity. Now, let’s discuss the carriers that are able to provide individuals with a free phone, and they are:
- TruConnect
- Assurance Wireless
- Safelink Wireless
TruConnect
Individuals who want to join TruConnect should simply enter their email address and zip code on the carrier’s website. However, only those who fulfill the eligibility requirements will be able to benefit from the offers. Here is what TrueConnect can provide users:
- Free Android phone or Wi-Fi hotspot.
- Free international minutes are available to a limited number of countries
- Unlimited text and talk
- Up to 14GB of data per month is available
Assurance Wireless
The eligibility requirements for this opportunity require people to satisfy income criteria or be actively enrolled in federal programs. The federal programs that may qualify people include SSI, WIC, Medicaid, SNAP, and others. Overall, anybody who’s interested in this option must satisfy state or federal requirements. With this carrier, customers can receive a plan through the Lifeline program which would consist of:
- Free unlimited calls
- Free text messages
- Free internet
- Free 10GB of mobile hotspot data
The most important part is that Assurance Wireless is one of the carriers able to offer people a phone for free!
Safelink Wireless
Just like any other opportunity on the list, people must be eligible to take advantage of the offers. Safelink Wireless is able to offer users:
- International calls to Canada and Mexico
- Unlimited texts and calls
- Up to 5GB worth of hotspot data
- 25GB of high-speed data
People looking to get a smartphone for free may be able to get it from Safelink Wireless!
Overall
Individuals who are in need of a phone have options available to them! Thanks to particular carriers that provide phones for free, these options are accessible! Additionally, there are complimentary options for free international calls, unlimited internet, and even more. Those interested in taking advantage of this opportunity should use the USAC’s tool to find carriers in their area. It’s also wise that individuals check the qualifying requirements of the opportunity they are seeking. That’s because these opportunities are designed for people who have low incomes. The best part is that getting a phone for free is a legitimate option for those who are eligible for it!