Who Qualifies for a government cell phone?

If you just landed on this page from a search, you should read, Free Cell Phones from the Government?, and at the end there is a link that will bring you back to this page.

There are a few rules and restrictions to the Lifeline phone service and not everyone qualifies for this the free phone from the government, but many people do. Sadly, with the economy as it is, millions more qualify each year.

How do you qualify for your own free cell phone and up to 250 minutes each and every month? It’s really quick. Checking if you qualify is really simple. And like we said, if you do quality, it’s absolutely no cost to you.

Although private cell phone companies verify your information, send out the phone, and manage your account, this is a federal government-sponsored and regulated program, so the requirements are very similar from company to company. Please be aware that there may be small differences depending on the state in which you live, but those differences are pretty minor. The major mobile phone companies that provide the phones are Assurance Wireless, Safelink Wireless and ReachOut Wireless.

Each state has its own very specific requirements, but overall, you qualify if:

(1) You already participate in another state or federal assistance program. This is the part that varies from state to state, but you most likely qualify if you are participating in programs such as food stamps (SNAP), public housing assistance, Medicaid, Section 8 housing, Supplemental Security Income, and other programs.

OR

(2) Your household income is at or below 135% to 150% (according to your state) of the federal poverty level and/or the Federal Poverty Guidelines:

The default is 135%, but it is 150% for Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island andTexas.

2011 Federal Poverty Guidelines X 135%

Poverty levels multiplied by the 135% that the Lifeline program uses in most states.

Size of Family Unit	48 Contiguous States and D.C.	Alaska	Hawaii
1	$14,702	$18.360	$16,929
2	19.859	24,813	22,856
3	25,016	31,266	28,782
4	30,173	37,719	34,709
5	35,330	44,172	40,635
6	40,487	50,625	46,562
7	45,644	57,078	52,488
8	50,801	63,531	58,415
For each additional person, add	5,157	6,453	5,927

AND

(3) Only one Lifeline account allowed per household.

(4) You must have a valid United States mailing address. (Sorry, post office boxes are not acceptable because your cell phone must be mailed to a valid street address.)

Those are the basics of qualifying. Pretty cut and dried.

Posted via email from Global Politics