The Lifeline Assistance Program
The Lifeline Assistance Program - also known as the Obama Phone Program - is a government-sponsored program, which aims to provide free cell phones for seniors and low-income citizens. This program offers free cell phones along with free cell phone plans for seniors who are qualified. The free cell phone service plan may vary from one state to another and from one provider to another.How to Get Free Phones for Seniors?
There are two ways to qualify for the lifeline assistance program:The first way is by proving your income is below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines in your state, then you are eligible to get a free phone for seniors.
The second way, if you are currently receiving benefits from one of the public or government assistance programs such as the following programs, you're eligible to receive a free phone and a monthly free cell phone service for seniors.
- Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
- Supplementary Security Income (SSI).
- National School Lunch Program’s Free School Lunch.
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance.
- Federal Public Housing Assistance.
- Tribal Head Start (only those households meeting its income qualifying standard)
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
- Food Stamps.
- Medicaid.
The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBB)
Note: The Lifeline customers are qualified to opt-in and get benefits from the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBB).
Free Flip Phones for Seniors
If you are not eligible and need to get a cell phone service at an affordable price, there are other cell phone companies offer free cell phones with low-cost cell phone plans for seniors. You can check out Affinity Cellular, which offers a free flip phone if you purchase any monthly service plan and the voice plans start as low as $10 per month.- Recommended: Best Cell phones for seniors.
Free Cell Phones for Seniors Providers - Lifeline Phones for Seniors
Free phones for seniors are available through the Lifeline program providers. Some Lifeline providers cover most of the states, such as Safelink Wireless and Assurance Wireless. Many other regional companies offer free government phone services, such as Assist Wireless, True Wireless, StandUp Wireless, and Terracom Wireless.Some of these cell phone providers offer better deals than others, such as more minutes, data, or free smartphones for seniors. Now, most of the Lifeline providers offer Android smartphones with touchscreens. So, below are some tips to help you choose the best deal.
Tips for choosing the best Lifeline provider:
- Each state has many free cell phone providers, and you have to find out who serves your area.
- One of these companies may offer more free minutes or allow additional low-cost minutes. Compare the free cell phone companies in your area to get the best deal.
- Then you have to sign up for the lifeline program on this company website, or you can do that with mobile vendors at street fairs.
Q Link Wireless - Smartphones with Free Phone Service Plans
QLink Wireless is one of the promising Lifeline providers and offers a free smartphone along with free unlimited minutes, unlimited texts, and 3 GB of data every month. The offered service or deal may vary from one area to another. You should use your zip code to check the service availability in your area.Q LINK Wireless offers
- Free unlimited talk, and text messages.
- Free 3GB of data every month.
- Nationwide coverage.
- Call features like Free Voicemail, and Free Caller ID.
- Free wireless service with no Contract, Credit Check, or Bills.
- You have the option to bring your own phone.
Q LINK Wireless provide Service in the following states:
Arkansas – AR, Arizona – AZ, Colorado – CO, California – CA, Georgia – GA, Iowa – IA, Idaho - ID, Indiana - IN, Kansas – KS, Louisiana – LA, Kentucky – KY, Maine - ME, Maryland – MD, Minnesota – MN, Michigan – MI, Missouri – MO, Nevada – NV, Oklahoma – OK, Ohio – OH, Pennsylvania – PA, Puerto Rico – PR, Rhode Island – RI, South Carolina – SC, Texas – TX, Utah – UT, Vermont - VT, Wisconsin – WI, West Virginia – WV, Washington – WA.
Safelink Wireless - Government Free Phones for Seniors
Safelink Wireless is owned by Tracfone and offers free cell phones, along with free cell phone service. Safelink Wireless's plan in many states includes 350 minutes, unlimited text messages, and 3GB of data per month. It provides nationwide coverage through 4G LTE capable networks.What Does Safelink Wireless offer?
- Free 350 minutes, unlimited texts, and 3GB of data every month.
- Free SIM card.
- Nationwide coverage on reliable networks.
- Features like Voicemail, Caller ID, 3-way Calling.
- Free 911 Access and 411 Directory Assistance.
- You can bring your own phone.
Safelink Wireless Service States:
Alabama – AL, Arizona – AZ, Arkansas – AR, California – CA, Connecticut – CT, Delaware – DE, District of Columbia, Florida - FL, Georgia – GA, Hawaii - HI, Indiana - IN, Illinois - IL, Iowa – IA, Kentucky – KY, Kansas – KS, Louisiana – LA, Maryland – MD, Massachusetts – MA, Michigan – MI, Maine - ME, Missouri – MO, Mississippi – MS, Nevada – NV, New Jersey – NJ, New Hampshire – NH, New Mexico – NM, North Carolina – NC, New York – NY, Oklahoma – OK, Ohio – OH, Pennsylvania – PA, Puerto Rico – PR, Rhode Island – RI, South Carolina – SC, Texas – TX, Tennessee – TN, Utah – UT, Virginia – VA, West Virginia – WV, Washington – WA, Wisconsin – WI.
Assurance Wireless - Free Phone Service for Seniors
Assurance Wireless is a subsidiary of the Virgin Mobile Corporation. It offers free cell phones and free cell phone plans that range from monthly 350 minutes to unlimited talk, text, 2GB of data. Free cell phone services by the same provider may vary from one state to another so, you have to check out what is available in your area.Assurance Wireless Service States:
Arizona – AZ, Alabama – AL, Arkansas – AR, California – CA, Connecticut – CT, Colorado – CO, Florida - FL, Delaware – DE, District of Columbia, Georgia – GA, Iowa – IA, Idaho - ID, Indiana - IN, Kansas – KS, Kentucky – KY, Louisiana – LA, Michigan – MI, Maine - ME, Maryland – MD, Massachusetts – MA, Missouri – MO, Minnesota – MN, Mississippi – MS, Nevada – NV, New York – NY, New Hampshire – NH, New Jersey – NJ, New Mexico – NM, North Carolina – NC, Oregon – OR, Ohio – OH, Pennsylvania – PA, Rhode Island – RI, South Carolina – SC, Texas – TX, Tennessee – TN, Utah – UT, Virginia – VA, Wisconsin – WI, West Virginia – WV, Washington – WA.
- Recommended: Assurance Wireless phones
- Recommended: Best California Lifeline cell phone providers
Free Government Cell Phone Service in Texas
If you live in Texas and searching for free government phones for seniors, you have many providers offer free cellphone service. Below are some Lifeline cell phone providers in the state of Texas.
- Life Wireless
- Q LINK Wireless
- Safelink Wireless
- Assurance Wireless
Free Government Cell Phone Service in New York
If you live in New York and searching for free government phones for seniors, you have many providers offer free cellphone service. Below are some Lifeline cell phone providers in the state of New York.
- Assurance Wireless
- Safelink Wireless
- Access Wireless
- Verizon offers phone discounts in New York. Check out the Verizon Lifeline
- T-Mobile offers cell phone discounts. Check out the T-Mobile Lifeline for low income
Verizon Lifeline - Verizon Wireless Free Government Phone
If you’re asking about Verizon Wireless government free phone, Verizon doesn’t offer free government phones. But Verizon does offer a $9.25 discount on the monthly home phone or internet service for Lifeline qualified customers. If you’re living in Tribal Islands, you’ll get an additional discount.For Lifeline eligible customers, Verizon offers the Home Phone Plan for $10.74 a month after applying the Lifeline discount. This plan includes unlimited minutes and domestic long distance calls. The Verizon government discount is limited to specific states (Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia).
You can apply online via the Lifeline National Verifier, and if you receive the eligibility notification, you can apply to get the Verizon government discount.
Free cell phones for seniors Verizon!
Many senior citizens ask about free cell phones for seniors Verizon offers, you can check out the Verizon Cell phones for seniors.
AARP free cell phones for seniors!
Others ask about AARP free cell phones for seniors, you can check out the AARP phones for senior citizens.
Free touch screen government phone
Many free cell phone providers such as QLink, Life Wireless offer a free smartphone (free touch screen government phone) along with the free cell phone plans.
Does Medicare give free cell phones?
many quires about free phones for seniors on medicare, but actually you may recieve a free phone if you are on Medicaid not Medicare.
Free Phones for Seniors on Social Security
People who are on Social Security and recieving benefits from government programs may get Lifeline phones.