Are you finding it difficult to purchase a mobile phone today? Worry not because you can now have a free government phone today, thanks to the Lifeline Assistance program. This is basically a US Government Program aimed at enabling eligible people from low-income families to access mobile phones for free. Also, they are bound to enjoy different cell phone services such as calls, texts at an affordable price. Therefore, the struggle to purchase a mobile phone and to pay for costly cell phone services will be a thing of the past.
However, you need to apply for this program and then wait for about one week or so after your application has been approved. Once your application has been approved, the device will be sent to you using the address you provided during the application process. If you want to get the free government cell phone within one day, you should make your orders between Monday and Friday. This is because orders are typically processed within one business day except for holidays and weekends. In this article, we shall take a closer look at how one can get a free government phone and other facets around it.
Does The Government Provide Free Cell Phones?
Yes. However, for you to get a free government phone, you have to come from a low-income family. Technically, this handset is given to one person per household. The eligible person has to have an income that is below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Better still, the person has to be enrolled in any of the following government programs:
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program(SNAP)
- Federal Public Housing Assistance
- Supplemental Security Income
- Tribal-Specific programs such as Tribally-Administered Temporary, Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance.
- Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit Programs
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families(TANF), Head Start, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations(FDPIP)
If you are already in any of these programs, be sure that you will be eligible for the free government phone. Also, you will get inexpensive cell phone plans that will enable you to communicate and use the mobile device more conveniently.
How To Get A Free Government Phone Within A Day (Today)?
Yes. However, it will depend on the carrier that you choose to deliver the free government phone to you. A good example is Assurance Wireless. This carrier offers free government phones to all eligible clients. Unlike other carriers, this one processes its orders nearly on the same day. As long as you make your order between Monday and Friday, be sure that you will get your device on the same day.
Technically, the carrier takes one to three business days to process all its orders. For instance, if you make an order on Monday, you will get the free government phone on the same day. However, if you make your order on Friday, you might have to wait until Monday for you to get your device. To be on the safe side, always make your orders between Monday and Friday as orders are not shipped on Saturdays or Sundays.
In addition, orders are not processed on holidays. Finally, orders submitted after 1 PM EST during a normal business day will not be considered as they will be assumed to have been made on the following day. To avoid inconveniences, always make your orders before 1 PM EST, and you will get your device on the same day.
Place To Get A Free Government Phone Today
As we speak, there are many places where you can get a free government phone today. Some of these places include:
1. Lifeline Support
The above-mentioned assistance program is basically a government-funded program that aims at helping people from low-income families to own a mobile phone. However, these individuals need to meet the eligibility requirements for them to own a cell phone.
If you qualify for this program, be sure that you will get a subsidy of at least $9.25 per month. This subsidy will go towards your cell phone bill and thereby reduce your overall cost of cell phone services. In addition, you will get an Android phone for free.
Some of the eligibility requirements include:
- The applicant must be earning less than 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines per year.
- The applicant has to be a participant in Medicaid, SNAP, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Supplemental Security Income, and so forth.
It is important to note that only one person per household qualifies to get a subsidy. Besides this, if you have a phone plan that is below $9.25, be sure that the subsidy will cater to the entire cost.
1. Assurance Wireless
Besides Lifeline Support, you can also get a free device through Assurance Wireless. However, you have to qualify for Lifeline Assistance for you to enjoy the services offered by Assurance Wireless. Here, be sure that you will get an Android device for free and also a plan that allows you to enjoy unlimited text and talk.
In addition, you will get 2GB of data per month for free. If you need additional data, you can go ahead and sign up for a monthly plan or opt for pay for data as you use it. The choice is solely yours.
2. SafeLink Wireless
The provider mentioned above also works hand-in-hand with the Lifeline Assistance program so that individuals from low-income families can get a free cell phone. Unlike other service providers, Safelink Wireless allows you to bring your own phone to use. Here, you will be able to enjoy relatively cheap cell phone services. The good news is that there are plenty of affordable plans to choose from.
For instance, a Voice-focused plan allows you to enjoy 1GB of data per month and 1000 minutes. If you go for the data-focused plan, be sure that you will enjoy 2GB of data and 350 minutes per month. This plan is ideal for those residing in Massachusetts. If you live in California, be sure that you will enjoy 3GB of data and unlimited voice services. In case you have your own device, be certain that you will enjoy 4GB of data.
Who Qualifies For A Free Government Cell Phone?
Like we mentioned above, individuals who come from low-income families are eligible to get free government phones. To put it into perspective, you are eligible for this program if you normally earn less than 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines of your state.
In addition, if you are already enrolled in government assistance programs such as Supplemental Nutrition, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Federal Public Housing Assistance, be sure that you will be eligible to get a free government cell phone. In addition, families whose children receive free lunch through the federal government qualify to get a free government phone.
Applying Process For A Free Government Phone
If you want to apply for a free phone from Government, you should ensure that your household income is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Apart from this, you need to provide pay stubs as proof of your household income. Better still, you need to provide a W-2 form or a letter showing that you are enrolled in any of the government agencies that help the poor.
Having done the above, you can now determine if there is a wireless service provider that offers free government phones within your region. Chances are that you will not miss a service provider near where you live or in your state. To determine if there is a service provider within your state offering free government phones, you can use your ZIP code to Google search your carrier of choice. By doing this, you will see an array of free government service options that you can get in your locality or region.
Once you get the carrier you want within your region, you can now go ahead and make your application. For instance, if you notice that Assurance Wireless is available in your locality, you can go ahead and click its website and then click the ‘Apply Now’ button.
After that, follow the instructions given and then you will find out if you qualify for a free government phone or not. Also, you will know whether you qualify for a cell phone plan or not. If you are eligible for a free government phone, you can place your order and then wait for it to be shipped to your home address.
Alternative To Get A Free Cell Phone Within Today
Sometimes, you might not necessarily qualify to get a free government phone due to one reason or another. However, this is not the end of the road for you. The good news is that there are some cheap options that can enable you to have a cell phone for free and still remain connected. Some of these options include:
1. Buy one get one free option
As we speak, there are places where you can purchase a mobile phone and get one free. A good example is T-Mobile. Once you buy a mobile phone at T-Mobile, be sure that you will get a similar one to the one you have just bought, thanks to their buy one get one free phone program.
However, you have to purchase from their retail stores countrywide. In addition, you do not have to be an existing customer for you to enjoy these offers. All you need to do is to pay for your device of choice, and they will ship you a free phone within a short period.
Besides T-Mobile, you can purchase a mobile phone from AT&T and get another one of the same model. Unlike other service providers, the device that you will get will be an unlocked phone and thus can be used by any carrier you please.
Verizon also allows its customers to get an additional device once they buy their preferred device from their official stores. For instance, if you purchase an S10, be sure that you will get an S10 E free of charge. The only drawback here is that Verizon phones are locked to their network. However, you can unlock it after using it for a while and enjoy the services of your preferred carrier.
2. Switch to get a Free phone
Besides buying a new phone and getting another one free, you can switch carriers and get a free handset. A good example is Boost Mobile. You will note that it offers its customers a new device once they switch to their services. Also, you stand a chance to get a free phone after switching to a T-Mobile plan.
Verizon and AT&T also gift their clients a new phone after switching to their services. As you switch carriers, it is imperative that you contact your carrier and enquire about contract cancellation fees. After that, you will know the right steps to take moving forward.
3. Check on Craigslist
If you are hunting for a free cell phone, you can now check on craigslist and see if you will get one there. On this platform, be sure that you will get a device or two that will please you. Also, you might get other electronics such as TV, radios and so forth, for free. Most people have obtained quality handsets such as iPhones from the craigslist.
4. Visit the Facebook Marketplace
As we speak, Facebook Marketplace is a platform that has plenty of devices being sold at a subsidized price. You can also find some models being offered free of charge on this platform. To get a free phone on this platform, you should browse the free section and see if you will find a model or two. Chances are that you will be able to find someone near you who is willing to give away his or her device free of charge.
5. Ask your friend for their old device once they upgrade
If your friend has upgraded his device, you can go ahead and ask him to give you the older model. Chances are that he will not need the device anymore. If he does not need it, be sure that it will be gifted to you for free. You can also ask your relative to give you his or her older model after upgrading the older model. This strategy has helped many people to get a mobile phone free of charge.
6. Get a free phone from your employer
Currently, most companies usually give their employees free handsets to use while at work and even at home. However, not everyone is eligible to be given this handset. It all depends on what you do at the office and so forth. If your line of duty allows you to have a mobile phone, feel free to ask for it from your employer, and you will be given one for free.
7. Look out for giveaways
There are many places that give cellphones free of charge. For instance, renowned cell phone brands such as Samsung offer their cell phones free of charge at certain times in a year. Better still, certain stores offer cell phones free of charge through raffles, contests and sweepstakes.
Therefore, you should look out for these brands and stores on the internet and then see if you will win a free handset as a prize. From their official websites to their social media platforms, there are many places where you can find details about their current giveaways.
8. NextDoor
The above-mentioned platform is a social network that helps connect people living in the same neighborhood. Here, they will have the luxury to connect, trade, and even learn about various local events. It is not a wonder to find someone willing to give out his or her phone on this platform. Therefore, you should keep an eye on this platform for anyone who would like to give out his device for free.
9. Buy Nothings group
This is another platform where people share a number of things with their neighbors. From skills to tangible assets such as phones, there are many items shared on this platform. The good news is that you can get a mobile phone for free on this platform. Sometimes, the handset might not be in its pristine state, but it can help you for the time being since you need a handset to use.
10. OfferUp
The marketplace mentioned above works like Craigslist. Here, people usually post a number of things they are selling at low prices. Also, this is a platform where people post items they are giving out for free. Therefore, you should keep an eye on such items as you might be lucky to get a good iPhone device or Samsung mobile device.
To get a good deal, you can negotiate with the sellers and see if they will be willing to give out their phones for free. This strategy works well if the device has been in the market for long, but no one seems to like it. You might be lucky to get the cell phone free of charge.
Closing Thoughts
If you come from a low-income family, you should not feel left out when it comes to phone ownership. You can also own a phone by following the ideas mentioned above. The good news is that you will get a government phone for free and also be eligible to enjoy inexpensive cell phone plans. Consequently, you will remain connected without necessarily having to strain your budget. Consider these ideas today, and you will get a free government phone seamlessly.
