Free Phones and Services for Low-income People

We can’t imagine life without the use of a mobile phone. We have it as a given that we’re in contact with our family as well as colleagues, and get emergency services with the click of a button. For families with limited incomes phones and mobile services are usually difficult to access due to their cost. Learn about Free Government Phone Stands Near Me.

There is a federal program known as Lifeline Assistance that partners with numerous major wireless carriers to offer eligible families free phone service and phones.

Through the federal government’s Lifeline aid program, people can qualify for free mobile phones and cheap cell phones.

If you’re trying to pay your monthly phone bill every month, this program from the government was designed to help you . Let’s see if you could set it up using the government’s free phone. In this article , we’ll describe how to be eligible under the Lifeline program and run through companies that provide free cellphones from the government. In addition, we plan present a few low-cost cellphone plans that can be used in conjunction with the program.

At present, you can receive a cell phone at no cost by the federal government in approximately 40 states. The program is currently being launched to new states in a fast speed . If you live in an area that does not have free mobile phones however, you could still be qualified for a landline that is free.

Am I Entitled To a Free Phone Of The Govt. Lifeline Program?

If you’re already in a program of aid to the government then you could be qualified for a government-issued phone . People who are currently registered in one or all of these programs can be eligible

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Medicaid
• Federal Public Housing Assistance
• Specialized Tribe Programs: Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance and Tribally Administered Temporary Aid for the most needy Families (TTANF),
• Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), Head Start

If anyone else in your household is involved in one of these programs, your family may be qualified to receive the Lifeline aid discount, or even FREE services (if offered by a mobile company) or perhaps a government-issued phone ( is contingent on the policies of the mobile provider).

Similar to the test for low income the participation requirement must be proved.

The following is an outline of information to include in the document used to prove participation

• Your name as well as the title of the individual who is entitled to this benefit (BQP);
• Name of program which is eligible for Lifeline for example, SNAP;
• The tribal or the government program administrator or the managed care organisation (MCO) who issued the document and The tribal or government program administrator or MCO that issued the document;
• A date of issue within the past 12 months or an expiration date that is in line with the benefit time.

In the majority of instances, a copy of your membership certificate or cover letter sent by program’s administrator will suffice.

If you’re not registered in one of these programs, you’ll need to prove that your income is less than 135 percent from the Federal Poverty Guidelines . If, for instance, you are the sole member living in your home and want an unpaid phone through the Federal Government, you’ll have to prove that make less than $12,760 per year. Every additional member within your household will increase the amount by another $4480. So the more people that live within your household more likely you are to get a cellphone from the government and an affordable cellphone plan.

What Are The Documents Needed To Prove Identity

If you want to benefit from Lifeline assistance, you will have to apply based on low income or the participation of one of the household members in government-subsidized programs. In all cases you’ll need to verify your identity.

The following list contains all the documents you need that could be used to prove your identity in the case of applying for Lifeline assistance:

• Driver’s license (unexpired)
• Birth certificate
• w-2
• Tax returns for the prior year, whether federal, state or tribal tax return
• Social Security card
• naturalization certificate
• US citizenship certificate
• Card of permanent resident (unexpired)
• Permanent resident cards for non-natives (unexpired)
• Document of identity issued by US military, government the state, or tribe (unexpired)
• Passport (not expired)
• Military discharge documentation
• Gun permit (unexpired)
• Documents from the government assistance program (including evidence of identity)
• A statement of benefits received from the program that is qualified (including evidence of identity)
• Unemployment Benefits , or Worker’s Compensation Statement

What Do I Need To Do To Prove My Household Income To The Govt?

You’ll need to supply pay stubs for your wages, a W-2 form or a copy of an official letter from the government agency you’re registered with to prove your household’s income. It’s good to know that the process of applying to get a free mobile phone is simple. Just visit the website of the mobile phone provider that is a participant within the scheme.

For instance, if you’re interested in checking the services of Assurance Wireless , there’s a huge “Apply Now” button in the middle. Follow the steps and you’ll know whether you’re eligible for the cell phone or cell phone plan fairly quickly.

What Documentation Is Required To Prove Your Income Level?

As stated above, in order to be eligible for Lifeline assistance based on a low income, you need to show that you are above the poverty threshold of 135. To prove this, quite a number of documents are acceptable.

This is a comprehensive list of documents that could serve as proof that that your income is less than 135 percent of the poverty line (only one document is required):

• The previous year’s state, federal or tribal tax return
• A current financial statement for an employer, or pay stubs from a paycheck
• The declaration of Social Security benefits
• Worker’s Compensation or Unemployment Benefits Statement
• A tribal or federal notification letter regarding participation in General Assistance
• Divorce decree or child support award or any other official document that contains information about income information

When the type of document that you pick doesn’t provide a complete year (for instance, a paycheck stub) then you have to show the exact document for three months in succession in the same calendar year to demonstrate your annual gross earnings.

In the event of the request being made in person or via email, do not send or deliver the original document but only copies.

What Is The Application Process For Free Cell Phones From The Government For Low-Income People

To assist you as much as we can, we’ve put together the steps you need to follow to apply to receive Lifeline assistance. It’s the same process no matter if you’re applying on the basis of a low income or taking part in one of the support from the government programs listed above (this only applies to the documentation (copies of the documents) that you need to provide).

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