Having access to a cell phone in this day and age is almost mandatory, and it can make your life much easier, whether it’s in terms of getting a job or simply staying in touch with your loved ones.
However, a phone can potentially set you back hundreds of dollars, and not everyone can afford that, especially in this economy, which is why some carriers have made this process much easier for the average low-income American.
In fact, there are dozens of opportunities out there that will allow you to get a phone completely free of charge, or at the very least, with a hefty discount, and they’re applicable so long as you’re willing to adhere to the terms in the contract and qualify for assistance.
Some carriers in the US will offer you a free phone if you sign up for a data plan with them, and while these will mostly be some fairly unknown carriers, the opportunity is too good to pass up.
Free phone? Is it a scam?
At first, people assume that this is some sort of elaborate scam to get you to sign up for a data plan, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
The whole thing is as legit as can be, and you’ll find that numerous carriers offer similar programs, and it’s all enabled by the Lifeline program.
The federal government also created the Affordable Connectivity Program as a form of assistance for those that don’t qualify for Lifeline or live in states where Lifeline isn’t applicable.
Made possible by the Federal Communications Commission, Lifeline was created with the intention of providing affordable connectivity to wireless and wired networks, allowing low-income Americans to use their cellular devices with as little cost as possible, lowering their connectivity expenses by a margin.
How does it work
In general, Lifeline offers discounts to qualifying households, which can then be used to lower the cost of their phone or broadband service bills, with the discount being up to $9.25 every month, although Americans living on tribal land can get a discount of up to $34.25.
However, if you wish to qualify for assistance through Lifeline, your income must put you at or below 135% of the current Federal Poverty Guidelines, although some other assistance programs you may be a part of could qualify you instantly.
Programs like SSI, SNAP, and Medicaid are only some of the many that will allow you to benefit from Lifeline, and veterans will be happy to find out that their pension benefits also qualify them for assistance through this program.
Lifeline also offers its users the opportunity to use a one-time discount for purchasing a mobile device or laptop, although this discount can only be applied once per household, much like the benefits of the program.
Affordable Connectivity Program
Much like Lifeline, the ACP is also made possible by the people over at the Federal Communications Commission, and it’s been helping households handle the cost of broadband services for years on end.
With ACP, a qualifying household can gain access to a discount of up to $30 every month, which can go up to $75 if they’re located on tribal land.
ACP also offers its users the opportunity to use a one-time discount for purchasing a mobile device or laptop, although this discount can only be applied once per household, much like the benefits of the program.
The requirements for the program are slightly different, as you’ll have to provide proof of your income being at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines at the time of application, although your household may also qualify if at least one member received a Pell Grant, qualifies for another low-income internet program or is part of another government assistance program like SNAP, SSI or WIC.
Carriers to keep an eye out for
Even though some more popular carriers like Verizon or AT&T won’t offer you this opportunity, a free phone is practically within your reach if you’re willing to switch over to a slightly lesser-known network provider.
Assurance Wireless is one of them, and aside from giving you a free phone, they also offer a fairly generous data plan along with it, including free unlimited data, unlimited minutes, and unlimited text messages, and as long as you qualify for Lifeline, you can get a deal of a century on all of those perks.
True Wireless, on the other hand, believes that everyone should have access to a dependable phone, and they aim to provide all qualifying Americans with access to the cellular network.
Their program includes unlimited service if you qualify for Lifeline or ACP benefits, and if you provide proof that you need it for work, the carrier may also give you an Android tablet completely free of charge as well.
