Good news. The answers to those two questions are yes and yes.
However, you must specifically request that you current number be switched over to your new Lifeline account and there are some very specific words you need to say in order to make it happen.
During your first conversation with a Lifeline customer service rep, say the words “I want to port over my current phone number.”
It doesn’t matter if you’re enrolling in the Lifeline program for the first time or switching from one Lifeline service provider to another, you must say those words. In fact, it might be a good idea if you said it several times during your conversation with that customer service rep — once at the beginning of the call and again at the end just to confirm that your instructions have been heard and acted on.
So repeat after us:
I want to port over my current phone number.
I want to port over my current phone number.
I want to port over my current phone number.
Excellent.
