How Do You Get One?
If you made it here, you are obviously interested in applying for a free government cell phone. If you have not already, we strongly recommend that you read our free cell phone overview and qualification sections. If you have already these sections and are ready to move on, then read ahead.
Applying for a free government cell phone is straightforward. The application process is relatively short. You will be asked to fill out a 1-2 page application and provide proof of income of participation in a federal or state assistance program. It is critical that you fill in all of the required fields on the application forms and submit the requested supporting documents. Failure to meet either of these requirements will endanger your application. So read these instructions carefully and follow the steps laid out exactly.
There are several local companies that provide free government cell phones and three large national companies that service multiple states. These companies are Assurance Wireless, ReachOut Wireless, and SafeLink Wireless. Hopefully, one of these companies provides service in your state. If none of these companies provide service in your state, you can check with some of the smaller statewide providers to see if they provide service in your state.
Below are the three steps you need to do in order to get a free government cell phone:
- Step One: Determine if one or more of the national companies currently provide service in your state.
- Step Two: Visit each companies’ and review their eligibility requirements, programs, and cell service they offer. If all of your questions are not answered on their website, don’t hesitate to contact them directly to get all the details ironed out before submitting an application. Companies typically offer anywhere between 60 and 250 free local and national minutes with their service. So check each company servicing your state to make sure you get the best plan possible. Remember, companies do offer more minutes at an additional fee.
- Step Three: Once you have selected which company you want to apply to, fill out their application form completely and submit it to the mailing address or FAX stated on the application form. If you have trouble at this step, please do not hesitate to call the company ask for help. If you apply under the income requirements guideline make sure to include the requested supporting income verification documents. If you have the option of filing under either the family income requirement or the assistance program requirement, file under the assistance program requirement, because it is easier (less forms to fill).
The next step is to check your state of residence for the exact requirements in your state.
I am on disability and in my budget I cannot afford a pre-paid cell phone let alone a land-line phone. My income is $750 per month and am barely making ends mest. I need a phone to keep in contact with my daughter who got a scholarship for college. We share a car which will end soon as she is working 2 jobs now and schooling is keeping her busy ! Please help me obtain a cell phone. I had a Safelink phone but I lost it and they wont replace it. HELP !!!!!!!!
Hello Gary,
Thanks for posting your question. If Assurance Wireless or Reachout Wireless offer service in your state, you can try canceling your contract with Safelink and signing up with either Assurance Wireless or Reachout Wireless. You can not sign up for two Lifeline phones at the same time. So it is important that you cancel your Safelink phone before applying for a new phone. Please me know if this advice was helpful. Good luck.