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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, enTouch Wireless, or any of the smaller players, you will need to submit to proof that you are eligible for the free phone and service.

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. Henry says

    September 15, 2022 at 2:14 pm

    If the application service does not allow you to upload attachments to your application, then you will probably need to send in a paper application with the proof copies.

    Web based programming sometimes leave out options that are needed by some users that was overlooked. If that is the case, then the mailed application would be your last resort.

    Reply
  2. Tonya turner says

    September 15, 2022 at 7:00 am

    How to i show proof, of snap or medicaid tgeres no where to upload this to show this. Im qualified but then denied over and over. How do i show proof.

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      September 15, 2022 at 8:58 am

      Have you spoken to a service rep from the company you are attempting to enroll with? If you have the required documents, you should be able to take a photo of the required documents and attach it to the application.

      Reply
    • Henry says

      September 15, 2022 at 2:13 pm

      If the application service does not allow you to upload attachments to your application, then you will probably need to send in a paper application with the proof copies.

      Web based programming sometimes leave out options that are needed by some users that was overlooked. If that is the case, then the mailed application would be your last resort.

      Reply
  3. Janet says

    July 6, 2022 at 1:08 pm

    Lifeline wants proof of income uploaded.I can’t do that.Is there a physical address I can mail the application and proof of income to?

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      July 6, 2022 at 1:27 pm

      Depends on your service provider. Contact your service provider by phone or online to find out what your options are.

      Reply
  4. Jen says

    March 17, 2022 at 12:15 am

    What if I have no job at all last year and don’t file taxes. Or any other of the ones listed

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      March 17, 2022 at 12:25 am

      You’ve stumbled upon one of the glitches in the Lifeline system. If you have no way to prove your income (or lack of income), you cannot qualify.

      Reply
    • Henry says

      March 17, 2022 at 3:27 pm

      Are you enrolled in any social service program? If someone else is providing for your daily living expenses such as a relative or live-in lover, then you likely will not be able to qualify.

      Reply
      • Free Government Cell Phones says

        March 17, 2022 at 4:45 pm

        Oooh, let’s hear more about this live-in lover. We need to spice up this website just a bit.

        Reply
  5. LCB says

    February 19, 2020 at 9:06 am

    I anticipate my SS will be above the income limits next year. How do I keep my phone and phone number if I need to transfer to a regular Tracfone account?

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      February 19, 2020 at 1:54 pm

      Tell your new service provider that you want to “port over my current phone number.”

      Reply
  6. Kristy L Logan says

    September 22, 2019 at 11:50 am

    I live in a homeless shelter. When I try to order a phone, it tells me it can’t send it here because numerous ones have come to this address. How can I get a free phone? I get SNAP. I am in the process of trying to get SSI. I don’t have an income. I’m waiting on housing, but not sure how long that will take.

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      September 22, 2019 at 2:32 pm

      You need to speak to a customer service rep and tell them your situation. You definitely qualify for an exemption (and therefore qualify for a phone) under the group home rule. If the service rep doesn’t understand that, ask to speak to a supervisor. And be persistent. If the first company won’t help you, call another one. Here’s where you can find all the companies offering free government cell phone plans in your state:

      https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states

      Reply
  7. Ricky Agnew says

    October 5, 2018 at 7:53 am

    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
  8. Rudi D says

    April 27, 2018 at 2:21 am

    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
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      April 27, 2018 at 4:27 am

      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
      • Shelby says

        April 17, 2021 at 5:33 pm

        Which programs would we be eligible for if we have no income?

        Reply
        • Free Government Cell Phones says

          April 17, 2021 at 9:43 pm

          All of them. All the free government cell phone plans are income-based. So, no income makes you eligible for all of them.

          Reply
  9. Sandra burt says

    April 26, 2018 at 12:54 pm

    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,

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      April 26, 2018 at 2:24 pm

      Do you participate in any of the programs that will make you eligible, Sandra? Here’s where you can find all the non-income based ways to qualify:

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

      Reply
  10. Christian Blount says

    April 9, 2018 at 4:30 pm

    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
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      April 9, 2018 at 6:10 pm

      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
      • Ronnie collins says

        January 4, 2019 at 5:45 pm

        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

        Reply
        • Free Government Cell Phones says

          January 4, 2019 at 6:14 pm

          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
  11. Robert L. Turner says

    February 12, 2018 at 7:42 pm

    I am a veteran, and I qualify salary wise, but I am not sure where to start????? What do I do first?

    Reply
  12. Joe Silvestri says

    February 10, 2018 at 12:07 pm

    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
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      February 11, 2018 at 12:13 am

      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
  13. mary j. pridgeon says

    June 6, 2017 at 12:01 pm

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

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      June 6, 2017 at 1:54 pm

      Look up the service provider you are enrolling with on our “Providers” page. We provide contact info on each service provider’s page. Here’s a link:

      https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/free-cell-phone-providers

      Reply
  14. Jessica scott says

    May 3, 2017 at 6:22 pm

    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

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      May 4, 2017 at 4:40 am

      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
  15. Jarrah Mays says

    April 28, 2017 at 6:10 pm

    Can you get a free phone with no income?

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      April 28, 2017 at 6:32 pm

      Yes. But you’ll need to be able to prove that you have no income.

      Reply
      • Brie says

        May 17, 2017 at 12:49 pm

        How do you prove that you have no income?

        Reply
        • Free Government Cell Phones says

          May 17, 2017 at 4:20 pm

          We get this question every once in a while and we are not sure what the answer is, Brie. Have you filed taxes in the last few years?

          Reply
  16. susan young says

    September 16, 2016 at 2:09 pm

    Where do I fax or mail my proof of eligibility for recertification?

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      September 16, 2016 at 6:35 pm

      Check your service provider’s page. Contact info can be found there:

      https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/free-cell-phone-providers

      Reply
  17. Wansa O Puckett says

    June 26, 2016 at 3:56 pm

    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
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      June 26, 2016 at 4:20 pm

      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
  18. jimmy white says

    January 24, 2016 at 8:58 pm

    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.

    Reply
  19. Maira says

    June 30, 2015 at 9:30 pm

    How can I show prove or where do I send prove that o get foodstamps

    Reply
  20. Dan says

    March 31, 2015 at 10:43 am

    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?

    Reply
    • iamlee says

      May 16, 2016 at 1:26 pm

      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
  21. Deepak says

    April 12, 2014 at 10:37 am

    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

    Reply
  22. RHONDA says

    May 30, 2012 at 9:57 am

    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

    Reply
  23. teresa slaughter says

    January 27, 2012 at 3:16 pm

    help we get food stamps and we qualify for free phone and and assistance on our heating bill

    Reply
  24. dennis cotugno says

    January 4, 2012 at 12:55 pm

    How do i certify for my low-income cell phone. I got the phone and i got the text message informing me that i have to certify and i go to http://www.cintexwireless.com/certify but thats as far as i can go, i need the exact link so i can type in my phone #

    Reply
  25. Dawn Arvik says

    August 18, 2011 at 9:32 pm

    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

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