What Are The Top Lifeline Providers? (Everything You Need To Know)

Obtaining a free government cell phone has become an absolute necessity. Almost everything and everyone is connected to your phone. A food stamp cellphone is the quickest and cheapest way to stay in touch with family and friends.

It could be a lifesaver in an emergency or distress situation. Free government cell phones will also be your ticket to a new job, as employers will be able to contact you once they have an interview or are ready to hire you.

People on food stamps and others are eligible for free government phones through the Lifeline Assistance Program. It was created by the US government to assist millions of Americans who do not have access to the internet.

This FCC-mandated program requires several service providers to provide devices with monthly mobile plans that include minutes and text messages. Verizon, for example, typically includes 250 minutes or more of call time, text messaging allowances, and some even offer data allocation. AT&T only provides a discount on voice minutes.

WHAT IS LIFELINE?

Lifeline is an FCC (Federal Communications Commission) government assistance program designed to make communication services more affordable for low-income households.

The program began in 1984, during the Ronald Reagan administration, when communication services were no longer considered a luxury but a necessity. Because the program underwent significant reforms during the Obama administration, free Lifeline phones are sometimes referred to as ‘Obama phones.’

Participating Lifeline providers provide eligible low-income households with a monthly telephone service discount. Eligible low-income subscribers can receive a Lifeline discount of up to $9.25 per month ($34.25 per month for eligible Tribal members). Subscribers can receive a discount on either wireline or wireless service, but not both.

Subscribers can also get a discount on any participating wireline or wireless provider’s broadband Internet service or bundled voice-broadband packages. The discount assists low-income families and individuals in gaining access to jobs, educational resources, loved ones, healthcare, and emergency services.

Furthermore, some of the best Lifeline providers provide discounts on mobile devices and other benefits. The exact list of Lifeline benefits varies by provider and state.

Lifeline is available to low-income subscribers in every state, territory, commonwealth, and tribal lands. According to FCC regulations, each household can only have one Lifeline service. The service cannot be transferred. Check out the ‘What Are the Limitations or Restrictions of Lifeline Providers’ section for more information on other Lifeline program limitations and restrictions.

BEST LIFELINE PROVIDERS WHO OFFER FREE CELL PHONE SERVICE

There are numerous Lifeline providers available in every state. However, not all providers offer the same benefits. In this section, you will find out which the top Lifeline providers are, where do they offer their services, which benefits they offer, and how to apply for their discounts.

1. ACCESS WIRELESS

Access Wireless is a top Lifeline service provider. Millions of subscribers in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia use the popular provider’s services.

Benefits:

Access Wireless provides eligible customers with low-cost connectivity that includes:

• Unlimited talk
• Unlimited text
• Unlimited data (15 GB of high speed)
• Hotspot data

The exact amount of free minutes and data depends on the state. It also offers nationwide coverage on Sprint’s network, free long-distance calls, and international calling availability.

How To Apply?

Simply follow the simple steps below to apply for Access Wireless Lifeline discounts and benefits.

• Accesswireless.com/lifeline has more information.
• Enter your 5-digit ZIP code in the box provided and click ‘Learn More.’
• You will be redirected to the Access Wireless Lifeline program in your state. You will be able to see how many minutes and data you can get in your state.
• Examine your state’s Lifeline program thoroughly. When you’re finished, click ‘Enroll.’
• Fill out the provider’s online application form with the necessary information and possibly some documentation.
• Allow a few days after submitting your application for the provider to review it and contact you.

2. ASSURANCE WIRELESS

Assurance Wireless is a phone service that is funded by the federal Lifeline Assistance program. This best Lifeline provider serves clients in a variety of states, including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

Benefits:

Eligible customers can expect to receive:

• Free monthly data
• Free unlimited texts
• Free unlimited minutes
• Free 10 GB of mobile hotspot data up to 4G LTE speed
• A free Android smartphone

The exact amount of free minutes and data depends on the state. The Android phone you will receive depends on phone availability.

How To Apply?

Follow the steps below to apply for the Assurance Wireless Lifeline program.

• Check out assurancewireless.com.
• More information about their Lifeline services can be found here. Then, scroll down and click the ‘Apply now’ button.
• You will be redirected to the application form for the provider.
• Fill it out by entering the required information and attaching the required documentation.
• After submitting the form, you will be notified as soon as possible if you are eligible.

Alternative Video: Lifeline Explained

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3. ENTOUCH WIRELESS

enTouch Wireless is a Lifeline provider that operates on a national scale. It is regarded as one of the best Lifeline providers and serves the following states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Benefits:

Customers who are Lifeline-eligible receive the following benefits from the provider:

• Free unlimited talk
• Free unlimited text
• Free unlimited data (through EBB)
• A free 4G/5G smartphone

• The exact number of free minutes and data is determined by the state. The smartphone you will receive is subject to availability.

How Do You Apply?

Follow the simple steps below to apply for the enTouch Wireless Lifeline program.

• Visit entouchwireless.com and click ‘Enroll Today,’ or go directly to apply4lifeline.entouchwireless.com.
• Enter your email address and ZIP code, then click the ‘Check availability’ button.
• Follow the on-screen instructions, fill in the blanks, and submit the application.
• You’ll find out soon whether or not you’re eligible.

4. Q LINK WIRELESS

Q Link Wireless is a telecommunications company based in the United States that offers free wireless service to Lifeline-eligible customers in Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Benefits:

Lifeline-eligible customers can receive the following benefits from Q Link Wireless:

• Free unlimited talk
• Free unlimited text
• Free unlimited data
• The ability to bring your own phone and number

A new tablet for just $10.01 (through EBB)

The exact amount of free minutes and data depends on the state. The tablet you may receive depends on phone availability.

How To Apply?

Simply follow the simple steps below to enroll:

• Go to qlinkwireless.com.
• Read the offer carefully and confirm that you are Lifeline-eligible and a resident of a state where Q Link provides its services.
• Select ‘Get it now.’ You will be taken to a sign-up page.
• Enter your ZIP code and email address, then click the ‘Get it now’ button.
• Follow the instructions, submit the application, and provide the necessary information and documentation.
• Allow a few days for the service provider to contact you.

5. SAFELINK WIRELESS

Tracfone owns SafeLink Wireless, a Lifeline-supported service. This top Lifeline provider has millions of customers in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Connecticut, DC, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and West Virginia.

Benefits:

This Lifeline provider offers qualifying customers a long list of appealing benefits:

• Free unlimited talk
• Free unlimited text
• Free unlimited data
• Free 10 GB hotspot
• A free smartphone

The exact amount of free minutes and data depends on the state. The smartphone you will receive depends on phone availability.

How To Apply?

To apply for the SafeLink Lifeline program, complete the following steps:

Please go to afelinkwireless.com/Enrollment/Safelink/en/Web/www/default/index.html#!

• /newHome.
• Enter your ZIP code in the search box above and click the ‘Start’ button.
• You’ll be taken to their online application form. You will be asked to provide some information and possibly documentation to prove your eligibility.
• After you submit the form, the provider will contact you to let you know what you need to do next.

6. STANDUP WIRELESS

Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wisconsin are among the best Lifeline providers.

Benefits:

StandUp Wireless offers the following benefits to Lifeline-eligible customers:

• At least 1000 minutes of talk
• Unlimited texts
• 4.5 GB of monthly data

The exact amount of free minutes and data depends on the state.

How To Apply?

Follow these simple steps to apply for these benefits:

• Go to standupwireless.com.
• To begin, enter your ZIP code and email address in the boxes provided above.
• Select ‘Begin application.’
• Follow the instructions, enter the required information, and then submit your online application.
• Through the National Verifier, you can qualify.
• Allow the provider a few days to review your application and contact you.

7. TRUCONNECT

TruConnect is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) and one of the best Lifeline and EBB providers in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Puerto Rico, and the United States. The Virgin Islands

Benefits:

Customers who are eligible for a lifeline may receive the following benefits from TruConnect:

• Free unlimited talk
• Free unlimited text
• Free international calling to select countries
• 14 GB of monthly data
• A free Android phone or Wi-Fi hotspot.

The exact amount of free minutes and data depends on the state. The smartphone you will receive depends on phone availability.

How To Apply?

To apply for the TruConnect Lifeline program, follow these steps:

1. Go to truconnect.com.
2. Enter your ZIP code and email address, then click the ‘Enroll Now’ button.
3. TruConnect’s online application form will be required of you.
4. After you have submitted your application and provided all of the required information and documents, you will be notified whether or not you qualify.

If you are successfully enrolled in any of these Lifeline programs from the best Lifeline providers, you will receive a free SIM card (and, in some cases, a discounted device) and will need to activate the SIM card in order to begin enjoying the discounted monthly services. Simply contact your Lifeline provider’s customer service to learn how to activate your SIM card.

8. AMERICAN ASSISTANCE

Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, West Virginia, and Wisconsin are among the states where this Lifeline provider provides services and plans.

Benefits

• The monthly co-pay is $14.95.
• 4.5 GB of information
• 500 minutes of voice time
• Text is unrestricted.

The exact number of free minutes and data is determined by the state. You can also add minutes or data to your Lifeline plan by purchasing a top-up plan. Lifeline customers can also get a free smartphone from American Assistance.

9. ASSIST WIRELESS

This provider offers free government phone plans in Arkansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, and Oklahoma.

Benefits

• Unlimited talk
• Unlimited text
• Unlimited data

The exact amount of free minutes and data depends on the state. Assist Wireless also allows you to refill your talk, text, and data. At Assist Wireless, Lifeline-eligible customers can also get a free phone.

10. EASY WIRELESS

This Lifeline provider only operates in a few states – Oklahoma, Kentucky, and Missouri.

Benefits

• Free unlimited talk
• Free unlimited text
• Unlimited data and hotspot

The exact amount of free minutes and data depends on the state. At Easy Wireless, Lifeline-eligible customers can also receive a free smartphone and even an 8-inch tabled (this is a limited-time offer available through the Affordable Connectivity Program).

11. FEELSAFE WIRELESS

Lifeline services are available in the following states: California, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Wisconsin.

Benefits

• Free exchange of ideas
• Unrestricted text
• Unrestricted data
• Wi-Fi finder and map for free

The exact number of free minutes and data is determined by the state. You can also add more minutes with the provider. Lifeline-eligible customers can also get a free cellular phone from Easy Wireless.

12. LIFE WIRELESS

Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin are among the states where this free cell phone provider has many subscribers.

Benefits

• Text is unrestricted.
• There are no charges for nationwide calling, roaming, or domestic long-distance calls.
• Waiting for a call
• Voicemail
• Calling in threes
• Plans for low-cost recharge

Customers of Life Wireless may also be eligible for a free phone. The provider’s free phone plans differ by state. Click on your state of residence at lifewireless.com/plans to see the exact number of minutes and data you can expect to receive.

13. TAG MOBILE

Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, West Virginia, and Wisconsin are among the states served by Tag Mobile.

Benefits

• Talk time is unlimited.
• Text is unrestricted.
• 8 GB of LTE data for free

The exact number of free minutes and data is determined by the state. In addition, the provider provides a variety of Lifeline top-up plans that allow customers to add minutes and data.

HOW TO QUALIFY FOR A LIFELINE PROGRAM?

To be eligible for any of the best Lifeline providers, you must live in one of the states where they provide their services. You must also be Lifeline-eligible.

To be eligible for Lifeline, you must meet the FCC’s criteria, which is the same for all Lifeline providers. A household is eligible for Lifeline if it meets one (or more) of the following criteria:

• Eligibility based on income
• The household’s income is less than 135 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
• Eligibility based on program

The household receives federal assistance through programs such as:

• Medicaid
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA),
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• The Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit

A household can also be Lifeline-eligible if a member participates in one of the following Tribal Programs:

• Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
• Head Start (only households meeting the income qualifying standard)
• Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tribal TANF)
• Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations

If you or any of your household members meet one of the criteria above, your household can get one Lifeline benefit from one Lifeline provider. Note: Only one Lifeline benefit is available per household. The benefit is non-transferable.

WHAT DOCUMENTATION IS REQUIRED TO QUALIFY FOR THE LIFELINE PROGRAM?

When you apply for a Lifeline program at any Lifeline provider, the provider will automatically try to confirm your eligibility and the accuracy of your provided information. If they are unable to do so, you may be required to provide proof of your identity, address, or Lifeline eligibility.

You must provide an official document that includes both your name and address to prove your identity/address. You may be required to provide the following documents to verify your identity and address:

• A valid driver’s license
• ID
• Passport
• Number of Social Security
• a state identification card
• Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) with name and date of birth

To demonstrate your income-based eligibility, you must provide an official document containing your annual income as well as your full name. You may be required to provide one of the following documents to prove your income-based eligibility:

• State, federal, or tribal tax return from the previous year
• A current income statement or a paycheck stub from your employer
• Benefits Statement from the Veterans Administration
• Statement of Benefits for Unemployment or Workers’ Compensation
• Letter of Participation in General Assistance from the Federal or Tribal Government
• Divorce decree, child support award, or other official document containing information about income

To prove your program-based eligibility you will need to provide an official document that shows your participation and your full name. In order to prove your program-based eligibility you may be required to provide one of the following documents:

• Benefit award letter
• Approval letter
• Statement of benefits
• Benefit verification letter

WHICH PHONES DO LIFELINE PROVIDERS OFFER?

The majority of the best Lifeline providers provide basic to mid-range Android smartphones for free or at a reduced price. However, some businesses provide discounted or free government iPhones.

The discounted or free smartphone you can expect from your Lifeline provider is determined by the provider, the state, and availability. Nonetheless, some Lifeline service providers provide the following discounted or free smartphone models:

• LG Stylo 4
• LG M150
• LG K30
• Motorola E5
• Motorola G Power
• Samsung Galaxy S7
• Samsung Galaxy S9+
• Samsung Galaxy J3
• Samsung Galaxy A10
• Alcatel Dawn
• Kyocera Hydro Reach
• ZTE Prestige 2
• NUU Mobile A3
• NUU Mobile A5L
• Blu Advance

CONCLUSION: Top Lifeline Providers

In some areas, some communications companies offer Lifeline-qualified individuals discounted rates and plans.

In some states, companies such as ATT, Verizon, and US Connect offer these plans to people who are struggling financially. To learn more and to ensure that you are getting the best deal for your needs, call your local provider’s customer service hotline.

FAQs on Government Lifeline Providers