Free Government Cell Phones

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Can I have more than one Lifeline phone? A home and a cell phone? Two cell phones?

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You wouldn’t believe how often people ask us this question. The good news, we guess, is that people are so happy with their one LifeLine telephone that they want another one.

Unfortunately the answer is no. You can only have one Lifeline account per household. Take your choice of landline or cell phone. You can have one, but you can’t have both.

If the term “Lifeline” is throwing you off, we’ll explain. Lifeline is the government program instituted by the Federal Communications Commission that provides discounts on basic monthly service for qualified heads of households. Originally, it was applied just to landline phones, but it now includes mobile phones such as those distributed by Safelink Wireless, Assurance Wireless and ReachOut Wireless.

Remember, this is one phone per household only.

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  1. If you are going to ask "how do I get a cell phone?" go here instead.
  2. If you are going to ask "how do I get a replacement phone," go here instead
  3. We are not your cell phone company. All technical questions should be asked of your vendor.
  4. Your comments are moderated, and we will manually approve those worth publishing within 24 hours.

Comments

    • You probably cannot get it back if it’s already been cancelled, Mary Ann. Call your former service provider and find out the status of your account. You may need to re-enroll.

      Reply

    • There is no free landline service, Rosa. The Lifeline landline program only offers you a $9.25/month discount off the cost of regular landline service.

      Reply

  4. I am not getting service days, it says nlad update pending since April 2017. I’ve had to purchase service days with tracfone

    Reply

    • We’re not your service provider, Neal, so we have no idea what’s going on with your account. Have you called customer service?

      Reply

    • You can’t, Kari. You’ll need to cancel your free government cell phone and apply for a landline. But keep in mind that Lifeline doesn’t provide free landlines. They provide discounts, but not freebies.

      Reply

  6. Hello, My daughter lets me use a phone with her account. However, am I able to get a government cell phone for myself as well?

    Reply

    • If you live in the same household, no, you cannot. Only one free government cell phone is permitted per household.

      Reply

  8. Can my mom have a lifeline house phone (land line), but also a cell phone (not lifeline funded) for emergencies when she is on the road?

    Reply

    • Yes. The rules say only one Lifeline phone per household, but there are no rules about how many paid phones you can have.

      Reply

  9. I have a line with life wireless, can my sister have a lifeline in a cellphone that she already owns?
    we live in the same adress.

    Reply

    • If you can prove that you share expenses and are not one family unit, she should be able to get an exception to the “one Lifeline account per household” rule.

      She can also use her current phone IF (a big IF) her phone is compatible with her service provider’s cell network. She should speak to customer service or tech support prior to enrolling to confirm whether or not it is compatible.

      Reply

    • You can get a landline as part of the Lifeline program, but it will be discounted, but not free.

      Reply

  11. Very unhappy…. My mother and I both have disabilities and are the ” Only ” ones that actually live at our address…. My son and his family was staying with us temporarily…. My mother has had her Safelink for years, while moving from Florida to Tennessee to Ohio to now (bought) our home in West Virginia. I too had a Safelink phone (from Florida, 2010) also but somehow got cancelled out because of hers so I never have a phone to use for emergency when I have to go out of our house even though we are 2 separate incomes/households. Now, I was told that since we were actually separate I could apply to Assurance. I did, I explained the situation and was approved until, other names, SS# and DOB’s began popping up. I called Safelink to file a complaint, shut down her/their phones, have investigated, something—-Anything done so that I can receive a much needed phone. Only to find out by a rude, heavily accented customer service agent who said she was the manager/supervisor and the very last person I’d be speaking with about this when I asked to speak with someone else after having to repeat myself not once, not twice but 3 different times the reason for my call (everything I’ve typed thus far) that there’s nothing I can do without her/my daughter in-laws SS#…. What??? Really??? I don’t have, Why would I have and Who does have their daughter in-laws social security number? I have full name, date of birth and her free-Government phone number. I have my proof of eligibility, my State issued Identification Card w/My address, Bills for This/My address in My name, Mortgage-Tax-Etc in My name for My Address but come to find out; There’s Nothing I Can Do…
    For all those reading this… If you allow anyone at all use your address for any reason whatsoever, you may one day find yourself unable to use your Castle-American Dream’s address for yourself.
    Have a Beautifully Blessed Day

    Reply

  12. I just apply for a free phone, however when I apply for a free cellphone it said that they were going to send me a California lifeline apply to fill in & send back however I been reading in here & other places that is only 1 application per household, my parents have it on their house phone, my question is can I still apply for the California lifeline and get the free Cellphone with my name or not

    Reply

    • Unfortunately, Daniela, you have analyzed the situation correctly. Since your parents have a Lifeline discount on their home phone, you cannot get a free government cell phone if you live at the same address.

      Reply

    • We do not profess to know much about Lifeline home service, Irene, except that it is NOT free. The best you can do on Lifeline home service is a $9.25 monthly discount off your regular bill.

      Reply

  15. I think one phone per house hold is total BS. My mother has a Assurance Wireless and I’ll be at home alone and who knows what could happen… someone could break in and who knows what. I got forms for Safelink and not seeing the point of me getting them when we are only allowed to have ONE phone in the house.

    Reply

  16. How do I get a free land-line phone not a cell phone for a low income elderly woman because she can’t hardly keep up with her cell

    Reply

    • The Lifeline program does cover land lines, Regina. Unfortunately, those phones are only discounted, not free. It’s a bit more complicated than this, but she would basically save about $9.25 off her regular bill.

      Reply

  17. Hi.
    My friend’s wife seperated from him & has moved to a new residence.
    She currently has full control & use of the cell
    Phone.
    Can he qualify & obtain a phone for himself?
    Thank you,
    JM

    Reply

    • He should be able to because the rules say only one free government cell phone per household. If he lives in a different household, he should be able to get his own phone. If the phone now controlled by his ex-wife is in his name, he may have a problem. If that’s the case, he should contact the service provider and explain the situation.

      Reply

  18. My application is “under consideration” by Assurance Wireless. I don’t know how long it will take to be processed.

    At present I have no phone.

    If I get a land line phone before acceptance will I be able to use the same number? I need to know the number I will be using in the future so that I may notify my correspondents.

    Reply

  19. I like to switch to Safelink because of bad sound with Assurance Services. I was told to cancel services with Assurance, before I sign in with Safelink. . I don’t know how to do this cancellation of service.

    Reply

  20. I have read two different articles, one said there is a new ruling that says you can now have two lifelines per household. The other says no only one. Both from (another website). sooo…. Which is it yes…Or no????

    Reply

      • So you mean to tell me that I can’t have a cell phone AND the lifeline? Lifeline only works in the home. If I go out in public it won’t work. I need a cellphone!

        Reply

        • Sorry, but the Lifeline regulations clearly say that only one Lifeline discount is allowed per household.

          It may be that you were signed up with the wrong cell phone company, Nancy. Before you enroll with a Lifeline free government cell phone company you need to make sure the company you want to enroll with has a strong signal in your area.

          Reply

  23. On an account, what does pending NLAD mean? Also if there are single adults in one household who pay their own taxes, individually, is each individual qualified for a free cellphone or landline?

    Reply

    • Unless each of those adults has their own address (such as Apartment #1, #2, #3, etc), they will be restricted to one free government cell phone for the entire household.

      Reply

        • It means that the applicant’s name is currently being checked against the National Lifeline Assistance Database (NLAD) to see if you or anyone else in your household currently has a free government cell phone.

          Reply

    • No, Mary. Safelink does not offer landline phones. But do you mind if we ask why you want a Safelink landline when there are so many other alternatives?

      Reply

  25. The idea of providing free cellular service and cellphone is a great one, but how is a household (even if it’s merely a couple) expected to share but 1 phone between them? On a dedicated landline, Lifeline at least includes all family members sharing a single phone and its extensions. With only one phone per household, that would mean that if one family member takes the Lifeline cellphone with them to the grocery store, then the remaining family members at home would be without any way to make, or receive a call.

    Reply

    • What should the limit be, Chris? Should a family with 12 gets be able to get a cell phone for each parent and child in the house?

      Reply

      • Well, of course not. That would be starry-eyed thinking. But this existing program, while forward thinking and helpful for the financially challenged, appears to primarily benefit individuals in need rather than households. Therefore I’d say that a household of one receives their 1 phone, while a household of two or more qualifies for a maximum of 2, which then makes sharing among family members a more realistic option, particularly if these are refurbished phones. I’d additionally suggest with regard to the household of 2 or more that in the case of those phones, they perhaps be limited strictly to cellphones without internet connectivity, thereby reducing data costs. To me, that sounds like a fair and sensible potential alternative.

        Reply

        • Your proposal is 180 degrees off from where the Federal Communications Commission is taking the program, Chris. It’s requiring all Lifeline companies to offer more minutes and more texts and more data plans. Ahhhh, well, no one said government programs had to make sense.

          Reply

  26. Have never had a cell phone, don’t even know how to use one, but I need to as I drive and I’m elderly/disabled – if the car breaks down, I’m too damn old to just stick out my thumb, lol. My Calif Landline has been on for over 30 years – if I switch to a free cell phone, would I be able to keep my old number? Thank you 🙂

    Reply

    • You can keep the old number, Hamstergirl, but you an only receive one Lifeline discount. So you’d need to cancel her discounted home phone in order to get a free government cell phone.

      Reply

    • You’ll need to contact a landline company. We don’t cover any of them here at FreeGovernmentCellPhones.net, so we cannot give you any contact info. But are you aware, Jennifer, that your home landline will not be free? You will only get a $9.25 discount off regular landline pricing.

      Reply

  28. Hello, my name is tressa paul. I was living in kansas city, mo. I am now living in the mountains in southern Missouri where my safelink phone does not get service anymore. I was really wanting to change it to a landline. I can’t talk to my parents or the kids can’t talk to grandparents and other family. Also need to be able to talk to school. Not sure how to do this. Have to send an email since I have no service anywhere around here. My email is ***********.

    Reply

    • The only way to get your question answered, Tressa, is to check which service providers have strong signals in your area. We are preparing an article that tells you which cell phone networks each of the free government cell phone providers use (they do not have their own networks, but piggyback on the national cell networks like Sprint, Verizon, etc). It will take some homework on your part.

      First you’ll need to check which service providers offer cell phones in your state. You can find that info here:

      https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states

      Then you’ll need to go to their websites to find out if their service is available in your area. Most of the websites allow you to plug in your zip code to determine if they serve your area. If not, you’ll need to contact their customer service team to find out. While you’re communicating with them, also ask which cell networks they use.

      Reply

      • Ive already determined that this mo. Safelink phone, does get service in southern Missouri like it did in northern Missouri. This area gets Verizon better. Up north, you could get any provider. I was in kansas city, so it wasnt a problem there. My question was I want to cancel my cell service and get a landline if they do service this area. But if I can’t get cell service with safelink at 65681. Wonder if I can get landline. So I need to call safelink. Goodness, what a pain without service. Thank you

        Reply

        • Neither Safelink nor any of the other free government cell phone providers offer landline service. Please keep in mind, Tressa, that your home landline phone will not be free — you will just get a $9.25 discount off your regular landline phone bill.

          Reply

    • Talk to your home phone service provider before doing anything, Jennifer. They can undoubtedly explain the process. But please keep in mind that the Lifeline program offers free cell phones, but only discounted home landlines. To be specific, most service providers discount your regular bill by $9.25 per month. Not nearly as good a deal as you can get with the free goverenment cell phone program.

      Reply

  30. I currently have a cell phone (that I pay for) but am interested and qualify for getting a Lifeline cell phone. Can I transfer my current cell number to a lifeline phone?

    Reply

  31. I have a regular cell phone; then I received another cell phone, but I would very much to keep this more digitally functioning type of cell phone & simply “port” this same number to the number & information that I currently have. However, I find that many people know very little. What they are doing is just making things more complex instead of more convenient. So how can I “port” over MY cell phone number, to a newer, more digitized number while maintaining the same number? If it should prove impossible there may be no reason for making the switch at all: What do you think?

    Reply

    • Just to clarify, are you saying that you want to replace your free government cell phone with a different phone that you bought or were given? If so, it may not be as easy as you think. Not all cell phones are compatible with all cell phone networks. So you’ll need to call your service provider’s tech support team to find out if your new phone will work with your service provider’s network.

      If they are compatible, it should be a simple as switching your SIM card to your new phone, but you should also verify the proper way to do it with tech support.

      Reply

    • Yes, if you qualify and enroll with one of the Lifeline free government cell phone companies (Safelink or any of its competitors), you will be able to cancel your regular cell phone service.

      Reply

    • Contact the provider of the phone you do not want. Do it immediately because you will get caught in the national database sooner or later and this will help you avoid problems.

      Reply

  35. if I have a roommate living in the same household is that person allowed to have a government too late phone?

    Reply

    • No. The Lifeline Assistance program limits you to one free government cell phone account. All applicants are checked against the National Lifeline Assitance Database to make sure they only have one cell phone.

      Reply

    • First time we’ve ever been asked that question, Jaye. This website focuses on free government cell phones, Jaye, so we are not experts on landlines. That being said, the process should be the same. Contact your preferred landline company, explain your situation, and they should guide you through the process and do everything necessary to transfer your service.

      Reply

  38. Can I have a home phone that I pay for myself (no lifeline credit) and a government cell phone as long as I am using only one lifeline credit altogether?

    Reply

    • Yes. The only limitation is that you cannot have more than one Lifeline account.

      Reply

  39. My application was denied by state of ca.l forgot to mail in my application on due date. Plus i had 3 virues on my govt. Phpne now deactivated
    Can you reapply for new application.
    Ps. My tag mobile was shutdown

    Reply

    • As long as the government’s Lifeline Assistance data base accurately shows that your account has been closed, you should be able to apply with another company. Only one phone is permitted per household.

      Reply

  40. I already have a life Wirless phone and lost my phone got anther free phone what phone number will they disconnect the old one or the new one.?

    Reply

    • We need a little more info, Melissa. Did you get the new phone from the same service provider specifically to replace your lost one? If so, no problem. If you applied and received the phone from a different service provider, you need to call your first service provider and cancel that account ASAP. If you don’t, you run the risk of losing both accounts.

      Reply

  41. I currently live in Delavan, WI an I do not get ANY service whatsoever in my area… Is there another company I could go through that offers service in my area so I can actually USE my phone??

    Reply

    • Each of the free government cell phone providers transmits its calls via one of the large national networks (such as T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T, etc). Figure out which of those companies has the best signal strength in your area. You can probably do this by asking your friends and neighbors what service they have and if they are happy with the signal strength. Then click on the States link at the top of this page. Look at the list of Lifeline service providers in your state. Each of these companies will reveal on their websites what national wireless network they use. Then all you have to do is call the Lifeline provider that is paired with the service provider that offers the strongest signal in your area. Yes, we know it sounds complex, but it’s probably the simplest solution to your problem.

      Reply

  42. I didn’t realize u could not have two phones. So I have a safelink and applied for qlink and it will b here in a few days. What will happen to my safelink if I activate the qlink?

    Reply

  44. I have a landline account with ATT and get lifeline discount, I want to change it to Safelink smartphone cellphone plan which is free. what are the steps I have to do..Safelink told me to apply on their website for lifeline even though I told them I have lifeline already. I applied and waiting for the result. Do I need to call ATT and cancel my landline first? will be a long time gap between this switching?

    Reply

  45. I have a landline phone with lifeline,but I need a cell phone with lifeline,how can I SWITCH the lifeline to the other without going without no phone service at all,health problems and a child in school,I need to be able to be reached,

    Reply

  46. Hi,
    On Feb.26th,2012 uses said something different that they r allowed to have more then 1 gov.cell phone in a household

    Reply

  47. I have a landline phone for 10 years without lifeline service and thinking about getting it disconnected because I can’t afford it.

    I would like to get my landline phone number switch to my recently received lifeline cell phone to keep my 10 years worth of medical, business, family and friends contacts, Is this possible?

    If so, how can I get my landline phone number transfer to my recently lifeline cellphone?

    Reply

  48. I lost my assurance wireless phone. I need another one. I would love to have a home phone instead of wireless please. I receive SSI & SSA , with food stamps. Can you help me please.
    Helen McGraw

    Reply

  49. I applied for a safelink phone my 11 year old daughter who is now in middle school.
    How do I get another phone for her twin as he goes to another school and I need to be reached if they need me.

    Reply

  50. I have a free phone through Assurance, can I switch too Safelink? A Sales rep for safelink is in my neighborhood, can i just tell him i lost my phone and sign up with him for a safelink brand? Will that automatically cancel my Assurance for me? I’m not trying to have two phones. Just switch over to have the 500 minutes promo. Please help. Thanks

    Reply

  51. I have a question. There are three people in our house. My mom already has an access wireless phone which is a part of California Lifeline Program. My dad doesn’t have a phone. Can he get another phone such as budget wireless phone which is also a part of California lifeline program?

    Reply

  52. Can I get a free phone for my 15-year-old kid (born in 2000) who has Medicaid? I’ve tried to apply online but all websites only allow to enter birth year 1997 or earlier.

    Reply

    • a simple guess would be that you are suppose to be 18 to fill out the application… 1997 -2015 would make sense???

      Reply

  53. I wasn’t aware that my choice was a free cell phone or a home phone when I ordered a home landline phone last year. I prefer the free cell phone. I really have no use for a home phone. I’m disabled, receiving SSI and I use public transportation to get to my appointments. I was recently jumped from behind in L.A. without provocation and, I didn’t have a cell phone to call 911 for help. The people there at the time, watched as I was being attacked. By the time the police arrived, the female that attacked me, got away. Can I please switch out the home phone for a cell phone. I don’t have the money to buy a phone. Please help!

    Reply

    • Cancel your home phone, or at least cancel the Lifeline discount on it, and then call one of the companies we list to get a cell phone. By the way, and cell phone without service will still call 911 — it’s the law. So you can at least for the moment get your hands on an old phone someone is no longer using and keep it on you, charged.

      Reply

  54. I live in the home with my elderly father. Since he is in & out of the home back & forth to appointments alot & I travel out of town from time to time, can we both have a LifeLine?

    Reply

    • Only one Lifeline phone is allowed per household. “Household” is defined as any individual or group of individuals who live together at the same address as one economic unit. An “economic unit” is defined as “all adult individuals contributing to and sharing in the income and expenses of a household.” (Note for others: Lifeline support is available to eligible low-income consumers living in group living facilities. Lifeline applicants may demonstrate when initially enrolling in the program that any other Lifeline recipients residing at their residential address are part of a separate household.)

      Reply

  56. I applied someone approved me and sent me a niu phone without instructions or name , it was mailed from ohio . was it you

    Reply

  57. I was with one lifeline provider and got the phone, but now they do not service my area, so I am with another lifeline provider and they provided me with a phone. Now the original phone I wanted to bring over to my new provider, so that’s 2 cells with one lifeline provider, is it possible, or do I just throw away a hundred dollar cdma phone?

    Reply

  59. I received a free phone from Q-Link Wireless a little over 2 years ago. I dropeed it and broke it. It was so bad I could not see the screen. I ended up donating it to a womans shelter but don’t remember the phone #.

    Reply

  61. It has almost been a year since I have an ” Assurance” cell phone. Recently a dealer of ” Safe Link ” as me to
    subscribe for a ” Safe Link ” cell phone. This I got within a week. Now I have learned that a HOUSE HOLD
    can have only one Life Line support cell phone. Do I have to return one of my phones.?
    Please answer me soon and I will make what ever amends necessary.

    Reply

    • If you don’t recertify your Assurance phone at your annual time, that service will just expire. I don’t think they will care to get the old phone back.

      Reply

  64. i need to knowhow i can find out how i can disconnect other lifeline phones that are supposidley in my name amd address. i never applied for the nlifeline before till just a few months ago.

    Reply

    • I have a similar question. Our lifeline service was disconnected because they said we had another lifeline service, but we dont. We did a long time ago, but it was disconnected. How can we find out where we have service so we can either get another phone through that service, or disconnect to sign up for another one….

      Reply

  65. In NC if someone has a landline phone, are they eligible to receive a Lifeline cell phone or is only for people who do not have a phone at all.

    Reply

  66. You stated that I must contact my local phone company if I would like to apply for a LandLine service.
    My question is: Can you provide me with the name of my local phone company? I live in the city of Stockton, California. San Joaquin County. We used to have Pacific Bell they are no longer around and now I don’t know who to call? Thank you so much!

    Reply

  67. SafeLink states something was mailed out for verification 8-19 and I never received it. I cannot apply elsewhere with this application in process and with 5 phone numbers for them, and after sending many e-mails, I still know nothing. It may have to do with my landline, which has Lifeline. How do I remove Lifeline? It sounds so very easy but it has been anything but.

    Reply

  68. I have a lifeline cell phone already, and know the deal about two lifeline benefits. May I have another cell line if it is NOT Lifeline supported? Like one of those $10 / month pay as you go plans?

    Reply

      • Thank you! That answers my question. I have my old barely working 2010 reachout cell that hasn’t been on Lifeline for years but I keep because the number is on many resumes and business cards so I use it for voice mail only. I am now reapplying because I qualify and I had spent YEARS trying to update my address on my old account when I moved and finally gave up and just starting reloading my phone at the NON DISCOUNTED price just to keep the number. So now, if I understand correctly, I will be getting a working phone with the CA LIFELINE service and can STILL have the old phone number to receive calls on. Just wanted to make sure that the OLD cell minutes and NON LIFELINE REACHOUT number doesn’t get interrupted or get taken away since my sister was nice enough to put unlimited minutes on for me to get calls for interviews as I job hunt. Aaaaaaaah! Exhausted.

        Am I correct in my understanding then?

        Thanks.

        Reply

    • I would like to know the answer to this as well. Can we use an existing cell phone number when we sign up for the free cell phone service here? Please answer, I really want to know.

      Reply

  71. Since you can only have one phone on the lifeline service, it is better to get the cell phone that way you can have it for home and on the go.

    Since the lifeline service only allows one phone per household, anyone in the home who needs a mobile phone and qualifies for it can just use the address of a friend or family member who doesn’t have lifeline services. I know someone who needed a phone really bad and used a friend’s address

    Reply

      • That’s ridiculous! With all that our government has to worry about in the world imagine worrying about 2 people who both qualify who are only roomates getting a barely discounted price on phone service. This is an example of the problem. Absurd priorities!

        Reply

  72. I have landline @ home with Lifeline, can you recommend a cell phone service? Need a cell phone when i am away from home, going to Dr. I am on SSD, low income. Live in Missouri. Any assistance would be appreciated.
    Thanks

    Reply

  74. I am about to apply for the Free Gov’t Cell Phone from Safelink; but I have just one question first. Are we able to retain our current cell phone number?

    Thanx for a speedy reply

    R. Scull
    slotdoc@*******.***

    Reply

  75. I pay rent where I live.But I also pay for her phone. I.m on dissability, and so is she, why cant she get a phone ? By living in the same house or adress? It”s not like we are married..

    Reply

  76. I have tried calling customers service on many occassions, been on hold for about 30 minutes then hung up on. Well i lost my cell phone about a month ago during a moving process and wanted to know how do i go about receiving another one?

    Reply

    • I keep seeing this question, ”can we transfer our existing cell phone number to.these free phone services?” but I have not seen an answer yet. So again, I ask, Can we use our old cell phone numbers when signing up for the free California phone services? An answer to this question would be rather nice since so many would like to know as well. It matters to those of who us who have asked and keep waiting for a reply. Thank you

      Reply