Free Government Cell Phones

Lifeline phone service provides free cell phones to America's financially disadvantaged

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How will I prove my income-based or program-based Lifeline eligibility?

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With any Lifeline application, whether a landline or a cell phone, whether from SafelinK Wireless, Assurance Wireless, ReachOut Wireless, or any of the smaller players, you will need to submit to proof that you are eligible for the free phone and service under the requirements for each state.

If you are claiming state or federal program-based eligibility, such as Medicaid, food stamps (SNAP) or housing assistance, you will need self-certify, under penalty of perjury, your participation in one of the programs listed for your specific state. Depending upon your state and the cell phone company you’re working with, you may have to provide documentation proving your participation in the program.

If you are claiming income-based eligibility, you must self-certify, under penalty of perjury, your total household income and the number of people in your household. In addition and in all cases, customers must present documentation of income. You can use any of the following:

  • a paycheck stub or your current income statement from an employer
  • last year’s state, federal, or tribal tax return
  • an Unemployment/Workmen’s Compensation statement of benefits
  • federal or tribal notice letter of participation in General Assistance
  • a divorce decree, child support, or other official document
  • a Social Security statement of benefits
  • Veterans Administration statement of benefits
  • retirement/pension statement of benefits

Learn more about how to qualify for a lifeline cell phone.

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Comments

  1. I logged on the qlinkwireless.com site and uploaded my proof of eligibility ,as my lone star(food stamp card,my medicare card and my proof of disabiliy income (yearly statement by the SSA. my monthly income is $1,230….all the documentation and cards are readable ..do i qualify according to their requirements?

    Reply

  2. I am unemployed. I don’t have any source of income. I don’t have insurance. I don’t have any participation with any government program. How do I provide proof to qualify for this service?

    Reply

    • Unfortunately, you fall through the major crack in the Lifeline free government cell phone program. Even the USAC admits that there is no way to prove zero income, but the best they can tell us is that “they are working on it.”

      Since you qualify for many of the programs that make you eligible, why don’t you enroll in one of them?

      Reply

  3. What if you don’t earn enough to pay income tax, ? Is this considered below poverty level? We don’t file we’re 77 in bad health . Do not file income tax, what is the amount allowed for 2 people we do get fuel assistance,

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  4. So I started the application on line for the free cell phone from Q Link Wireless through the Federal Lifeline Benefits Program, and I am having trouble with the proof of income or proof of participation in a government program.
    Last year I was incarcerated and couldn’t work or make any money so I don’t have any pay stubs, w2, or even a tax return. I am currently at a halfway house for a couple more months and I do not have food stamps, Medicaid, or any other government program. How do i show proof of having no income
    Please help me figure this out.

    Reply

    • Unfortunately, Christian, you have stumbled upon one of the biggest flaws in the free government cell phone program. We’ve discussed this with the USAC and its only answer is, “We are aware of this problem and we’re working on it.” We can only hope that they come up with an answer for this problem very soon.

      Reply

      • I don’t have no income I receive food stamps and uploaded my proof of foodstamp my id and my social security card so now what do i do

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        • This is a real problem with the free government cell phone program, Ronnie. There is no way to prove your income is low enough if you have no income. This won’t do you any good, but the USAC says it is aware of this flaw in the program and they are “working on it.”

          Reply

  6. What if last year’s W-2 is alot of money but you had a drastic life event and no homeless , jobless in a state that’s not home staying with a friend .please help

    Reply

    • Unfortunately, Joe, you have stumbled upon one of the worst stumbling blocks for Lifeline applicants. We’ve discussed this issue with the USAC and they admit that they have no way for an applicant to prove zero income. However, you can be eligible for a free government cell phone in lots of different ways other than income. Do you participate in any federal government assistance programs? You may be eligible. Here’s where you can find all those eligibility rules:

      https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/basics/qualify

      Reply

  7. where do I send my proof of qualification…copy of Medicaid card,snap card,proof of address,ss card and drivers license?

    Reply

  8. What if you have no job for 2 years and not gotten gov assistance in over a year and have no income period what can you do to qualify then

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    • Then it’s going to be tough to prove that you’re eligible, even though it certainly sounds as if you are. You should contact one of the service provider’s customer service teams to discuss your very unusual situation. Please come back and let us (and our readers) know what they had to say.

      Reply

  11. Have been trying to get a safe link phone since May. The proof of income requirements say a social security benefit statement will work. But they won’t except mune because it’s a yearly statement instead of monthly. I draw 13,056.00 a year. How hard is it to figure out my monthly income. I don’t get monthly statements just yearly. So I can’t get a phone. I’m 82 years old and I can’t get help for a phone.

    Reply

    • You have lots of options if Safelink isn’t working out for you, Wansa. Here is a link to our “States” page. Click on it and then click on your state. You’ll find a list of all the companies offering free government cell phones in your area. No reason to continue banging your head against the wall with Safelink when you have so many other choices:

      https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states

      Reply

  12. I’m retired with net monthly income of $1700.00. After paying child support of $420.00, rent of $430.00, electric and gas bill of about $ 80.00, gas for my truck and food of about around $400.00 and auto mobile home insurance of about $42.00. I don’t have much left if my truck need service or to provide maintenance for my mobile home. Will I meet the standards to get a free cell phone. I live in Georgia and retired from the military after serving for more than 21 years.

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  14. I have been out of work for 10 yrs now. I briefly took care of and elderly couple but other than that I have been without a job. I am 51 and have been unemployable because I have a criminal record. I am not on government assistance . I haven’t worked so I have no pay stubs . So my question is how do I show these cell phone companies proof of income?

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    • I have the same issue, I do not receive unemployment benefits and currently live with friends/family. Can anyone tell me how I can prove this?

      Reply

  15. Many people abuse the free phone deal, but some of us did not abuse it. I had a deiscion to make. If I chose the free cell phone I couldn’t continue with the assistance with my local phone bill. That would mean I wouldn’t have help with costs if i would to move to another residence. thanks for mentioning the Senior service from Tracfone. I do wonder what level of income you yourself have. I get $1108 a month. And there are many seniors out there like me. What about those who aren’t one of the most ?When we were made to choose between help with our landline assistance and the free cell phone we were told in the mailing we would be allowed to keep the minutes on our phone, and then could pay for more minutes. Well, they put our time balance to 0 (I had hrs.) and there were no customer service folks we could ask about this. Our government chose to use people in India to handle the calls and there was no room to discus anything, just the message that was instilled in them. I only used about 15 minutes a month, to call for a return trip by a van service when going to doctor’s appointments. I have many appointments and find van services very undependable, and have had to wait as long as 4 hours for a return ride. Having the cell phone allowed me to be proactive and keep checking on the ride. Don’t include those of us on very fixed incomes in those taking advantage of the government, or of being freeloaders

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  16. Just moved here I have a government phone from another state, but i want to get one here and let that one go. The only prove of income i have right now is that my unemployment has been denied. Can i still get a phone here

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  19. Dawn Arvik NO LONGER gets food stamps but still gets this free phone so WHYY is she allowed to continue getting it. She earns ALOT on her job so public aid stopped her food stamps. You can verify this as she lives in Grandridge, Illinois. Thank you

    Reply