What is Lifeline phone service?

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The Lifeline phone service is a government mandated and sponsored program that provides qualified consumers with discounted (often free) monthly telephone service. It can be either a home landline or a cell phone.

If you qualify for the Lifeline program, you can save a minimum of $10 on your monthly phone bills. Please note that your savings depends on which state you live in and which phone companies offer this service in your area. You can find out if additional discounts are available by contacting your state’s public utility commission.

As it relates to the free cell phone service from the companies you see on this website, this is the specific program that pays the cell phone companies like Safelink Wireless, Assurance Wireless and ReachOut Wireless to provide you with free monthly service on your phone. It’s the Link-Up program that pays the companies for the phones.

Comments

Joeann Ramey says
December 1, 2016 at 4:24 pm
How do i port out from NewPhone Wireless?
Reply
- Free Government Cell Phones says
  December 2, 2016 at 12:45 am
  It’s pretty easy to switch from one free government cell phone company to another, Joeann. Here’s an article that tells you now to do it:
  https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/faq/how-do-i-switch-lifeline-providers
  Reply
Amber Wellman says
August 11, 2015 at 11:50 pm
Can I get a discount on my Verizon Wireless phone? I live in Washington state and my family receives Indian Health and Assistance.
Reply
Lana says
March 28, 2015 at 7:33 pm
I had a safelink for almost 4 years and it was stopped Oct 2014..I dont know why as I CANNOT call Im deaf..I did get the yellowvenvelope and NOTHING changed..I am disabled with cerebal palsy,am getting food stamps.am on Section 8 low income housing..I did write to safelink in florida,NOBODY is living with me. I need a new phone as I dropped it on a sidewalk. Lana ***** **** Clark apt Sioux City Iowa 51104 Are you going to help me I have also written to tracfone,safelink,assuran c e,
Reply
Gary says
May 6, 2014 at 6:37 pm
To Jacky O. Go to menu. Then go to Settings & Tools. Scroll down to Phone Info and #1 is My Phone Number. Have you tried going to FAQ section for other possible answers?
Reply
jacqueline osborn says
April 16, 2013 at 4:56 am
How do I know when my minutes have been added. They are suppose to be added on the 16th of every month & as of yet, they have not been. Also, how do I find my phone number? I have other questions I need help with, but don’t know how to go about getting it!
Reply
jacqueline osborn says
April 16, 2013 at 4:53 am
How do I know when my minutes for the month have been applied? How do I find my phone numbers? I have other questions but don’t know how to get any help?
Reply
Hi My name is Barb Hoffpauir says
February 11, 2013 at 2:29 pm
Hi Sev My name is Barbara Hoffpauir I’m 49 and live in Springfield Mo, I don”t sign,I can bearly spell and will be moving to KC Mo soon God Bless
Reply
Severino Abuyen says
July 3, 2012 at 12:59 pm
Hi My name is Severino Abuyen. I here in Delano,California. I am deaf, 48, and American Sign Language.
I ask you. I go to doctor sometimes. I can’t hear and My mom with me at doctor spoke….. I want to interpeter in Video Phone this is laptop…… I can text/pic/video messages, chat online internet, and call i711.com interpeter to call hearing. Ps I am looking forward to hearing from you. 🙂
Thank you,
Sev Abuyen
Reply
Severino Abuyen says
July 3, 2012 at 12:59 pm
Hi My name is Severino Abuyen. I here in Delano,California. I am deaf, 48, and American Sign Language.
I ask you. I go to doctor sometimes. I can’t hear and My mom with me at doctor spoke….. I want to interpeter in Video Phone this is laptop…… I can text/pic/video messages, chat online internet, and call i711.com interpeter to call hearing. Ps I am looking forward to hearing from you. 🙂
Thank you,
Sev Abuyen Hi My name is Severino Abuyen. I here in Delano,California. I am deaf, 48, and American Sign Language.
I ask you. I go to doctor sometimes. I can’t hear and My mom with me at doctor spoke….. I want to interpeter in Video Phone this is laptop…… I can text/pic/video messages, chat online internet, and call i711.com interpeter. Ps I am looking forward to hearing from you. 🙂
Thank you,
Sev Abuyen
Reply
TOWANDA JOHNSON says
September 22, 2011 at 9:54 pm
i received a lifeline phone that is defect number is not working what should i do i need the phone but number 8 wil not work..
Reply
- David says
  August 27, 2014 at 3:07 pm
  how do i get internet on my G R cell phone
  Reply
  - Free Government Cell Phones says
    August 27, 2014 at 9:07 pm
    What is a G R cell phone?
    Reply

Frequently Asked Questions for the Lifeline Program and Cell Phones (646)
- We can’t check into it because we are not your service provider, Rexanne. We do not have access to your account because we are NOT a Lifeline service provider. This is an independent informational website. ... – [click to read]
- my address is not being right out in they used to be hotels now apartment s with own address I can send in mail my name's Rexanne Chapman ••• ••••••••, •••••• •• •••••. if you ... – [click to read]

Is any phone compatible with my free phone network? (760)
- It depends on who your Lifeline service provider is and whether the iPhone is compatible with its service. Call customer service to get the most accurate answer. – [click to read]
- Can I use a iPhone 6s that was on a cricket service with my lifeline free government service – [click to read]
- Sorry, Rachel, but we cannot. We don’t know who “reconnect” is and we are not affiliated with your service provider. – [click to read]

FCC rule change allows more than one free government cell phone per household (155)
- They should not charge you for a phone that never worked. If that’s really the case, you should call the company’s customer service team and ask to speak to a supervisor. – [click to read]
- Why does qlink charge the poor to replace a phone that they sent me that never wirked since tbey sent it to me i would love to get a gov phone that works i am ... – [click to read]

Access Wireless Free Government Cell Phones (1464)
- Some Lifeline companies also offer other low-cost plans, but what you’re proposing generally is not possible. Check with your Lifeline company to see if it’s something it offers. (Sorry, but due to the volume of ... – [click to read]
- I've lost my government eligibility and I want to know if I can just buy minutes every month and keep my phone and number or because I have someone in my household who has medicaid, ... – [click to read]

USAC eliminates port freeze: Now you can switch free government cell phone companies any time you want (57)
- There’s no way for us to know why you are receiving the requests because we are not your service provider. Safelink is a service provider and the USAC is the organization that governs the free ... – [click to read]
- I recertified for my SafeLink account in December, yet I am getting messages from USAC requesting additional documentation. Why? are SafeLink and USAC the same company? – [click to read]

Iowa: Government Cell Phones (32)
- Sounds as if she would qualify, but here’s where you can check to make sure: https://www.fre egovernmentcell phones.net/basi cs/qualify – [click to read]
- My sister is currently in a care facility, on Medicaid. Would she be eligible. She lives in Marion, Iowa How does this work? – [click to read]

Question of the day: Is there a website with all the dates and times of places where you can get a free government cell phone? (819)
- We haven’t given a full answer to this question lately, so this seems like a good time to do it again. We strongly urge our readers NOT to enroll at street events, Landon, because they ... – [click to read]
- I need to find a tent in Victorville California April 19,20 – [click to read]
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