Phone services are crucial as they help reach out to friends/family, ask for emergency help or even conduct important businesses. Therefore, most of us can’t stand living without access to phones. The most unfortunate thing is that phone services are costly and not affordable to low-income families. As a result, the government initiated lifeline program that provides discounted or free phone services to families that struggle to survive.
Through the government lifeline program, you can be lucky to get free landline services from participating wireless providers. Although landline services might seem outdated to some, other users still prefer them as they are attached with several benefits. Luckily, the government also offers free landline phone services to seniors, disabled, or low-income earners who still prefer them through the lifeline program. However, you must meet some set requirements before applying for free government landline phone service.
Benefits Of Using Landline Phone
Since landline phones are considered outdated, some users might have considered eliminating them from their homes. Before taking such a step, you should know the several benefits that are associated with these phones. Some of these benefits are:
- They guarantee safety. Unlike other phones, landline phones are important as they are safe from hacks
- Saves on bundling. When you bundle services, landline helps you to save on money. For instance, internet and cable TV bundling provide super cheap home phone services.
- With landline phones, you get a directory listing
- When you are under electrical outage, your landline phone will still work
- Landline phones are important as they provide emergency security with 911 call services
- They are known to deliver great sound clarity and quality. In addition, you will experience no lags or dropped calls with landline phones.
- Best for international calling.
- With landline phones, you can select and block all unwanted numbers.
Can I Get A Free Landline Phone Service?
Yes. If you are lucky enough, you can get a free landline phone service from the government’s lifeline program. To get these services, you must meet at least one of the lifeline program requirements. Once you qualify, you will apply for free landline phone services through your selected lifeline service provider. Besides the government, it’s also possible to get free landline phone services from alternative ways like magicJack, NetTalk Duo and Ooma Telo.
Who Qualifies For Free Government Landline Phone Service?
Free government landline phone service is not meant to benefit everyone. As mentioned earlier, you must qualify for the lifeline program to get free government landline phone service. Qualification for lifeline is determined by meeting the following criteria:
- You qualify if you participate in any of the following government assistance programs both on federal and tribal land:
- Medicaid
- Supplemental security income ( SSI )
- Supplemental nutrition assistance program ( SNAP )
- Federal public housing assistance ( FPHA )
- Low-income home energy assistance program ( LIHEAP )
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Food distribution program on Indian reservation
- Head start
- Tribally administered temporary assistance for needy families.
- You also qualify for free government landline phone service if you as an individual or a household have a total income below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines.
Free Landline Phone Service For Seniors
As far as safety, ease of use, and reliability is concerned, landline phones are literary the most ideal for seniors. As stated, landline phones have a super loud and clear sound. This makes it suitable for seniors who might be straining to hear. Landline phones are also easy to use and offer the best emergency help services. This helps seniors not only to remain connected but also to provide reliable safety services.
The good news is that companies like AT&T, Verizon, Assurance Wireless, and Safelink proudly participate in the government’s lifeline program to offer free landline service for seniors. However, you must be an income-eligible senior to receive free landline services from these companies. It’s prudent to state that there is no age restriction to get free landline phone services for seniors from the government. All you need is to ensure you are an income-eligible senior. If you are a senior member of American associations or a retired person, you can also qualify to receive these benefits.
Free Landline Phone Service For Disabled
If you are a low-income disabled or participate in SSI or any other assistance program, you will be prioritized to get free landline phone services from the government. This is through lifeline participating companies like virgin mobile and safelink among others. Besides, you can also be lucky to get free landline phone service for the disabled from charity organizations that prioritize the disabled.
How Do I Get Free Government Landline Phone Service?
To get free government landline phone service, you should qualify for the lifeline program. Lifeline is a federal communications commission program that offers monthly discounts on telecommunications services. These discounts are channeled to users through participating service providers. There are several service providers that offer discounts on landline phone services through lifeline. These are providers like ATT and Verizon. Through your lifeline service provider, you should send a free government landline phone service application and wait for approval. To send this application, you will be asked to attach eligibility proof documents. Some of these documents are:
- Medicaid benefit award letter
- SSI or any other aid program approval letter
- Tribal, federal, or state previous year tax return
- Unemployment or worker’s compensation statement of benefits
- Child support award or divorce decree
How Do I Apply For Free Government Landline Phone?
As stated prior, free government landline phone application is done via a landline service provider that participates in the lifeline program. From your Company’s official website, fill an application form with correct personal details, attach eligibility proof, submit the form and wait for the national verifier to approve or decline your application. While applying, you will need personal information like:
- Your full legal name
- The last 4 digits of your social security number
- Your address
Alternatively, you can apply for a free government landline phone directly through the lifeline national verifier page. To apply;
1. Confirm qualification
Before applying for these services, ensure that you qualify for the lifeline program. If you meet any of the above-discussed eligibility criteria, then you are good to go.
2. Sign up for lifeline
Once you confirm your qualification, sign up for lifeline through the federal communications commission page. To sign up, visit the link nv.fcc.gov/lifeline and fill out the form.
3. Wait for approval and choose a service provider
When you submit the form and get approved, select your preferred landline service provider and sign up for their services.
8 Best Cheapest Landline Phone Service Providers
Below is a list of the cheapest landline phone service providers.
1. AT&T
ATT is one of the best wireless service providers in the US that works across several states in the US. This provider participates in the government’s lifeline program by providing up to $7.25 discount and $25 on tribal land to qualified customers. The company also offers the cheapest landline phone services from as low as $39 per month. This traditional home phone plan features:
- Unlimited local calling
- Reliable connection
- Long-distance calling
- 911 call services
To get ATT landline phone services, contact the customer care team on 800.288.2020 every Monday to Friday 7 am to 9 pm CT.
2. CenturyLink
CenturyLink is another reliable service provider that is known to offer cheap landline plans to its customers. Although the company works consistently to improve in technology, they still offer landline services to clients that still prefer the old ways.
CenturyLink landline home phone plan costs $50 per month only. With this plan, expect nothing but long talk hours, super call quality, and unlimited nationwide calls with no delays and no call drops.
3. Verizon
Verizon is known to have the best coverage with its services available in several states in America. Besides reliable coverage, Verizon also participates in the government’s lifeline program where qualified customers get up to $9.25 monthly discounts on their phone bills.
When it comes to $19.99 home phone connect plan, Verizon charges only $10.74 after the discount. Verizon home phone plan features unlimited minutes, unlimited local call minutes, and domestic long-distance calls.
4. Frontier communications
This is another reputable company that offers lifeline discounts to low-income earners in the US. If you reside in Arizona, California, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Texas, Utah, virgin, Ohio, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, and New York among others, you qualify to receive frontier communication lifeline services.
The company also offers cheap home phone plans that come in combination with internet services. With as low as $37.99 per month, you can enjoy unlimited landline calls and internet service of 6 Mbps speed.
5. YMax MagicJack
MagicJack is one of the best internet-based telephone service providers in the US. It offers services that help users to bypass traditional phone services through VoIP services. With the earliest MagicJack, you should connect your PC directly with VoIP adapter but the PC has to remain on throughout for effectiveness. MagicJack offers amazing features at a cheap and affordable annual rate of $49.99. With these services, you will enjoy voice quality, no monthly bills, caller ID, free 411, call waiting, and call forwarding among other features.
6. TDS
Being in operation for more than 50 years, TDS telecom offers the best experience as far as lifeline and home phone services are concerned. The company provides standard lifeline discounts to low-income families.
Besides, TDS offers reliable home phone services with affordable calling packages. These phone services feature voicemail, call forwarding, caller ID, call waiting, and special call acceptance features. To know more about TDS landline deals, visit tdstelecom.com/shop/home-phone-services.html and select your interested package. For further inquiries, contact 1-866-734-0704.
7. NetTalk Duo
This is another cheap VoIP phone service that help users to make calls without necessarily depending on a computer unlike MagicJack. NetTalk Duo can directly connect to a router, modem or any other internet network to receive or make calls. NetTalk Duo services feature 3way calling, caller ID, call waiting, call forwarding, free international calls, 411 directory assistance, local and international calling for free. The cost of the NetTalk duo adapter is $49.95 with an annual service charge of $29.95.
8. Ooma Telo
Free calling services have never been made easy. Ooma Telo is a free residential VoIP service provider that guarantees nothing short of voice quality to its clients. Besides, Ooma Telo assures encrypted calls as a way of protecting Customer’s classified data. All these services have zero monthly charges. All you need is $79.99 to get Ooma Telo gadget.
5 Best Cheap Landline Phones
1. A&T BL 102 DECT 6.0 cordless phone for home with answering machine
This is an incredible expandable cordless phone that features large, 2 inches screen that makes it easy to read call history or incoming caller ID. It also features enlarged fonts, well-light keypads and inbuilt phone speakers that makes calls audible and quality. This gadget is expandable to 5 handsets and features other special features like:
- Smart call blocker with call ID announcer
- Wide range call coverage
- Up to 50 contacts phonebook directory
- Eco mode
2. Panasonic cordless phone system, expandable home phone with call blocking
This is another amazing cordless expandable home phone with call blocking. The phone features a one touch telephone call block that allows up to 150 numbers on the blacklist. Besides, this phone boasts of a talking caller ID with bi-lingual announcement of caller information, either in English or Spanish. In addition, this cordless unit features a quick and easy to read message counter and compacts well with S Voice, Google now and SIRI. This unit is expandable to three units and features other special features like:
- Wide range Bluetooth connectivity
- Has LCD backlit that makes calling effortless
- Large numbers and dial keys for easy use
3. Panasonic expandable cordless phone system with call block and answering machine
Panasonic expandable cordless phone also features voice assistance technology like S Voice, Google Now and SIRI. When it comes to blocking unwanted calls, this phone never disappoints. It is built with a special button that is dedicated to call blocking and can register up to 150 unwanted calls. Besides, this handset has bilingual caller ID and can be programed to announce specific ringers ID. It is a three handset system with other special features like:
- Enlarged numbers and keys
- Lasting battery with extended talk time of up to 10 hours and 5 days of standby time
- Strong Bluetooth connectivity that guarantees a wide calling range.
4. AT&T 210 Basic trimline corded phone
This is one of the most affordable but popular home phones from the great ATT telecommunication company. It is an easy-to-use phone that has well-lit keypads for easy dialing. It is also built with large and clear fonts for convenient dialing. The phone is easily mountable on the wall and features a large dial number memory that lets you store up to 21 digits. It is inscribed with additional features like:
- Has a directory card that helps to track all memory dial settings
- Ringer and handset controller of volume
- Audible speakers.
5. Vtech CS6529-4B handset DECT 6.0 cordless phone with answering system and caller ID.
This is another incredible but cheap landline phone that you should invest in. It is expandable to 5 handsets that are well and brightly colored to spice your home. It is also inscribed with power-conserving technology that minimizes power consumption for maximum performance of the battery. With this phone, you can talk freely thanks to its reliable speakerphone that allows hands-free conversation just with a touch of a button. It has other special features like:
- An enlarged directory that stores 50 entries
- Allows three-way conferencing
- Well lit keypads and large screen for easy dialing
- Caller ID with trilingual prompts.
Frequently Ask Questions
Does google have a landline service?
Yes. Google provides landline phone service through Google Fiber phone that works just like a home phone. However, Google Fiber phone uses internet to deliver services and is supported by Google voice.
Can you get a landline through internet?
Yes. You can get a landline through internet using residential voice over internet protocol (VoIP). This is a technology that enables users to make calls anywhere to anyone through internet connection.
How can I use my cell phone as a landline?
Yes. It’s possible to use your cell phone as a landline by using Voice Bridge. This product turns your cell phone into your landline’s second interface by allowing it to act more like a cell number. This makes it possible for users to make landline calls from their cellphones with the help of WIFI or internet data.
How can I call a landline from my cell phone for free?
If you have an income below 135% of the federal poverty guideline or a member of programs like SNAP, you qualify to make landline calls from your cellphone for free through lifeline. However, to make any landline all from your cellphone for free, you should add your area code as a prefix on the landline number that you want to dial.
Can I use my iPhone as a landline?
Yes. You can use your iPhone as a landline by connecting the two using a landline converter.
