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Why can’t more than one adult at an address get a Lifeline phone?

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This is an interesting question that comes up more often than you’d think, and unfortunately, tends to hit the most needy.

This is probably a good time to remind our readers that the Lifeline/Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is not intended to provide free phones to every member of a household. Its goal was to provide affordable communication services to low-income households that may otherwise not be able to afford them. The Federal Communications Commission decided that by limiting the number of Lifeline-supported phones or internet services to one per household, the program would be able to help more households access basic communication services.

If someone else lives at the same address as you and already has a Lifeline phone, you will not be eligible to receive your free phone. Sounds logical, at first. But the problem is that there are many situations in which people find themselves living with other adults who may already have a government cell phone.

For example, we had someone write us and say that he lives in a “home” with 300 other veterans, and someone there already has a Safelink Wireless phone — the other 299 could not qualify. Someone else live in a large house with three other couples and one person already had an Assurance Wireless phone.

Update: The Federal Communications Commission has addressed this flaw and it is now possible for people in group home situations, or multiple adults living in the same house, to qualify for the Lifeline/Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). If you live in a group facility or shelter, please see, How to qualify for a free government cell phone if you live in a group home or shelter (FAQ immediately below.)

Comments

  1. Carrie says

    Can I use the same address in get 2 phones for 2 people under the same address and living in the same home

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      Only if they do not share expenses. So if you each pay a share of the rent, each purchase your own food, each pay a proportion of the utilities, etc, you could qualify for an exemption from the “one per household rule.” Contact your preferred service provider for more informational

  2. Angela says

    Hello. I live in the same house with my mother in law. She has a safelink phone. Would I be able to get a lifelink phone with her having one through safelink?? I’m not sure if we would qualify as separate households in one house or not.

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      Here is the explanation directly from Lifeline:

      ——————————

      Only one Lifeline discount is allowed per “independent economic household” (household).
      A household is a group of people who live together and share money (even if they are not related to each other).
      If you live together and share money, you are one household. If you live together and don’t share money, you are 2+ households.
      One Household Examples
      A married couple who live together must share one Lifeline discount
      A parent/guardian and child who live together must share one Lifeline discount
      An adult who lives with friends or family who provide financial support must share one Lifeline discount

  3. Ellie says

    We live at the same address but it’s 3 apartments my mom lives in one I live in the other and some guy . Well my mom and the guy can’t get one ?

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      If it’s three different apartments, do they have different apartment numbers? If so, you can each qualify. If not, get out a magic marker and put numbers on each apartment and begin using them for your mail. Done deal.

  4. Darlene Houston says

    They lie saying now more than 1 person 8n the same house can now get free multiple life line phones

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      Who lied? We’re going to guess that you heard that from someone offering free cell phones at a street tent event. Correct?

  5. Shauna says

    I get lifeline asst. And my friend wants to also but she uses my address to get her mail but she don’t live in my home can she and I still get phone service this way

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      Maybe, maybe not. Does she have another mailing address (not a PO Box, but a street address) that she can use?

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      To expand on that last answer: It’s possible to get two accounts at the same address, but you must be able to prove that you are “separate households” living at the same address. That will be difficult, if not impossible, to prove if she doesn’t actually live there. That being the case, she will need a different street address (not a PO Box) in order to qualify.

  6. JONATHAN B KEEL says

    My daughters boyfriend used my address to get a phone. This is not his home and he doesnt pay the bills in my home. But now I am in a position that I am needing help with a phone and they are saying I cant get one because someone in my household already has one. But it is certainly not me, the home owner. What can I do? He should not have done this.

  7. Eva C Burris says

    Can my 19 year old daughter apply for her own free goverment phone after my free goverment lifeline service expires

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      We assume you mean that your daughter live with you. If not, she’s free to apply at any time on her own. If she does live with you, she can also apply if you do not have an account. And finally, even if you live together she can enroll IF (big IF) you can prove that you are “separate households” (meaning that you each pay all your own expenses).

  8. JOANNA says

    SO, I currently have safelink wireless, HOWEVER the original applicants name in charge of the account is not mine, but theirs bc they were the initial applicant who signed up for the service. They constantly threaten to cancel my service or get a new phone which I’m under the assumption will cancel my line… Im confused bc I definitely brought my own number assurance wireless when they gave me the phone. I just ported my number in. I REALLYdon’t want to loose my number & Id like to keep my safelink service HOWEVER I’d like to be the one in charge of my own account so I don’t loose my service & I am responsible for my own annual rectification.
    PLEASE HELP ME ASAP w/ the best course of action! Thanks.

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      This is one we’ve never heard before, Joanna, and we’re not quite sure what your situation is. How do you happen to have a phone that someone else signed up for?

  9. twila simmons says

    i accidently initialled the line that ask if i or someone in household already has obama phone…can i start a new application..i just want to transfer my services from my current carrier to assurance ..please help me..

  11. Maggie George says

    My son lives in a rental property that a past tenant had lifeline but evidently didn’t notify the when they moved. He is told the address all ready has a safelink phone. Landlord refuses to get involved. Is there anything he can do?

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      There’s nothing the landlord can do in this situation. Does your son have a written lease?

    • Warren T Hinkle says

      me and my wife are both on disability and we both need a cell phone can we both qualify for a government lifeline cell phone since we both are on disability.

      • Free Government Cell Phones says

        Unfortunately, Warren, the rules only allow one free government cell phone per household.

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      If you each pay your own bills, but your own groceries, have separate bedrooms, etc, you may qualify for an exemption to the “One per household” rule. If so, you would simply need to fill out an exemption form. But you should speak to your chosen provider’s customer service team for more information.

  13. Joanne bergen says

    Hi. I have had safelink for over 9 years and I have never had a problem. Recently they said I lost my safelink service because there was a person in. My same address that has a free phone also. I asked who and they gave me my mother in laws name. I didnt understand it so i went and asked her and she said some guy said she can get a free assurance phone. She said my daughter in law lives upstairs and gets a free one can I still get it. The man told her yes and signed her up . She didnt even need the phone but he convinced her and said you can always use a spare. She’s 70 years old and didnt know better. What are my options or am I not going to be able to do anything (rome ny)

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      Yes, Joanne, you have now hit upon one of the major flaws of the Lifeline free government cell phone program and understand why we tell our readers NOT to enroll at street events and to ALWAYS enroll online or by phone.

      Here’s what “should” happen. First, your mother-in-law should cancel her account so you can get yours back again. If she won’t cancel it, we have a question: When you say you live “upstairs” is it a separate unit, like in a duplex? If so, you should be able to explain that to your service provider and both of you should be able to keep service. If you live in the same unit, and share the address, can you prove that you live separately and pay your own bills? If so, you may be able to apply for an exemption to the one-per-household rule. Contact your service provider’s customer service team to discuss each of these issues.

  14. Frankie Smith says

    Can you apply/sign up using your true address but have the equipment shipped to a different address? My bf, David Jr., wants to apply but he is in the process of rerouting his mail elsewhere due to his mom snooping (she claims she “thinks” it’s mail for her husband, David Senior, regarding their mortgage, bills, etc. but we know better lol). And she’s one of those people that go so far left field with stuff. What we fully expect to happen when the phone arrives.. Mom: “Why are you spending money on a phone when you owe me money?!” *sells phone* lol…

    So, can he state his true address but add an additional address for shipping? Or, and he’s considering doing this, what if he starts forwarding his mail elsewhere via USPS? He is considering using my address (which has my current and active CA-LL account attached to it), a PO Box, or trusted friend (with no current CA-LL account)?

    Lastly, and I dont think USPS does this but just in case, if USPS notifies CA-LL of my bf’s new mailing address would that subsequently affect his benefits? Or would CA-LL understand it’s just in mailing address change and not a change of address in which he resides?

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      No, unfortunately, Frankie, the shipping address and your mailing address must be the same in order to fight fraud.

  15. ashton mason says

    My fiance and I both work and have a soon to be 2 year old. He does not hsve a phone because funds. Is there any way we both can qualify? At least for a little while..

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      Sorry, Ashton, but only one free government cell phone is permitted per household.

  16. SandieC says

    Just got a Safelink Android phone.. only problem I have is I took a picture and it came out ok. I went to take another picture, and it said “cannot read SD card”… No clue what the card is or looks like. Has anyone else had this happene and what did you do. Thanks in Advance.

    • D says

      An SD card is a little removable card in your phone that stores pictures, videos and other extra data. It extends the storage capability of your phone – allows you to put more stuff on it. It’s similar to the card you put in your camera to store your pictures. If you have an SD card and your settings are set up for this, then when you take a picture, that picture lives on that card. You could take it out of that phone, put it in another device (like your computer) and it would bring up your picture.

      Not sure if this will help you but a lot of things can be solved by rebooting your phone. Turn it off and on and see if the problem is still there.

      Here is the contact info for Safelink. They have chat at this link also. They can help you with technical support for your phone.
      https://www.safelinkwireless.com/Enrollment/Safelink/en/Web/www/default/index.html#!/contactUs

      You can also find information online by Googling the model of your phone and your error message (“can’t read SD card” etc). Someone else has probably had the same issue on the same model. You may find a video or an article. Here’s a link to one video that probably isn’t your model but may be similar. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iuNvG2zzq8

      Another suggestion if you really aren’t sure how to proceed would be to go into the store you bought the phone at, or a local wireless store or even the phone/electronics section of your local Walmart, or a nearby computer place, and ask someone who is not tied up, if they can help. Some people may be willing to help without charging you an arm and a leg.

      Good luck

    • D says

      One more note: it’s possible you don’t have an SD card and have to purchase it separately. Which you can do at the Walmart electronics section and they will put it in for you.
      Think of an SD card like putting a shed in the backyard, to store the stuff you 1) can’t fit in your main home, or 2) store your stuff so you don’t clutter your main living area. Photos and videos will take up space on your main phone and won’t “fit”. They need their own space to be stored. Hope that helps.

    • Mike Jones says

      Chances are your SD card could be bad, it happens just as it happen to me, if you just bought the card take it back or let the store put it in and test it cause some stores will not take electronics back once open, I bought an 8 pk batteries from Wal-Mart and all 8 are dead! Any question on your government phone go to the web not government free phone sites, you won’t find the right answer your looking for cause they make up there own Q-A so there for they have money and no nothing about being poor! Say it ain’t so when you know it is

  17. Shirley says

    I live with someone who gets lifeline service But we pay everything separate. We are both on fixed income . Im currently paying $40 monthly for cell phone . We have separate cases at Social Services etc. We live together cause we cannot afford a place separately so why can’t I get a life line phone ?

  18. Carol Bowie says

    My grandson is 12 and in middle school. I have a government phone. Why can’t I get one for him? He’s away from home at various times.

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      The rules of the program have ALWAYS allowed only one free government cell phone per household, Carol. If you got one for your grandson, how to they say no to someone with ten grandkids? Should they all get free phones?

  19. 2105596474 says

    What if I live at a temp address with somebody using a lifeline? Also. Which would u reccomend out of all the lifeline services available in texas.?

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      You will not be able to enroll in a free government cell phone plan as long as you are at an address that already has an active account. Sorry. Only one account per household.

      • Hannah Veenstra says

        Not true. Im currently enrolled and receiving my benefits but my ex is currently living with me and tells me today that he signed up and was approved today. So I’m obviously frustrated because it specifically says ONE PER HOUSEHOLD… but I guess he would have to activate his service in order for me to be kicked off mine.. I’m assuming but I can’t believe they would even approve him without even notifying me that someone was using my address to set up a account

        • Free Government Cell Phones says

          One of you will get cancelled sooner or later. You are correct that he never should have been approved because the identical address should have triggered a rejection. You need to contact your service provider’s customer service team ASAP to discuss this situation. Call 6-1-1 on your free government cell phone. Use the word “fraud” to discuss his enrollment.

  20. J says

    There’s no answer to the question. Two examples of a misunderstanding of terminology are given, neither of which provide an answer as to why more than one phone per address is not allowed.

  21. Sean says

    Someone on the bus set me up with a safetylink phone, i told her my brother is already enrolled in one of these free phone programs and she said i was still eligible, but now im reading here I’m not? my family is a single household, we earn our own money individually but also combine it to pay rent and expenses, so i think that counts as one house hold right? so how do i cancel this phone i just got? i don’t want to accidentally do something wrong because i was misinformed

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      First of all, to everyone: do not sign up with anyone on a bus. It’s bad enough signing up at the tents. Some “representatives” just want to earn their commission for a signup, regardless of eligibility.

      As for canceling the phone, you would just call up the company and ask them to cancel. However, since they approved you, you might want to rethink canceling it; maybe you do qualify. And with the customer service these companies have, who knows how long you’ll be on the line.

  22. Johnathan Wiley says

    Hi I recently went through the lifeline application form and found that it says I might be eligible for benefit, if I don’t share expenses in the same household with someone who receives a benefit as a separate member. Would this be correct.

  23. Janine says

    My husband just recently lost his job. We lost our apartment and ended up moving with family. Our phones has been disconnected and bills are now just not getting paid.. It is hard for him and I to look for work due to not having a cellphone/landline to get in touch with.. Is it possible to get two mobile phones in the same address? We currently had to move back in to my mother in law’s but they do not have any goverment program enrolled under her name. I on the other hand have Calfresh/Medical for our kids. Is it possible to have one phone for my husband so he can find work and one for me as well to look for work and to get in touch with my kids doctors/school/etc under one address? Thanks in advance

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      Unfortunately, Janine, one of the primary rules of the Lifeline free government cell phone program is “one per household.”

  24. Mark says

    I am on ssdi and have a phone through q link. My brother n law who is on ssi and snap lives with my wife and I, but is separate household. Is he able to qualify for a free phone through the government? And, I’ll add, that it can be proven that he is separate household through paperwork.

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      Yes, based on the rules of the program, he should also be eligible for a free government cell phone at the same address. He will need to fill out an additional form and you can get that form from any free government cell phone service provider.

  25. Ashley says

    my mom has a assurance wireless phone and i was wondering if i still could get a safelink phone

    would be nice to know if my mom is ok when she leaves the house and i have no phone for her to call me or me to call her

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      You cannot have more than one free government cell phone accounts at one address UNLESS you can prove that you are separate households. In other words, you will need to prove, for example, that you pay rent for your room and don’t share food or other family expenses with your mom.

  26. Lisa Harkless says

    I had been with Budget but they switched me to enTouch. I’m not sure when this switch occurred. I was told in December that enTouch did not yet have my information but to check back after January. I had asked them how I could get a smartphone from them. I recently saw an ad for Qlink and saw I could get a smartphone and how many minutes, text and data so I applied and thought they said they would switch my service however they did not they just initiated service. A couple days later I changed my mind after talking to enTouch who informed me they couldn’t get me anything because it showed I had 2 phones on the lifeline plan. I told them what I had done and the lady gave me a number to call if I truly wanted to stay with enTouch and that I would need to cancel with Qlink if that was what I wanted. So I called and canceled with Qlink and told them at that time I had not received their phone but would return it when it arrived. The rep several times told me all the things she hated to see me miss out on, but I stated I wanted to stay with enTouch if I could get a smartphone because I just had surgery on my hand to help me with my severe arthritis in my thumbs and have had a flip phone from when I started with Budget and it is too painful with my arthritis. I finally found the number with a customer service I believe with Lifeline and was told I had to go with Qlink and I’d have to stay with them for 1 year. I told this customer service person I had no knowledge that I would have to stay with them a year and had cancelled them because I didn’t want to get in trouble for having 2 lines and didn’t even have the Qlink phone yet. I was again told that I had to stay with Qlink for 1 year and that was my option. If Qlink said anything about that when I applied I have no memory of it because I had just had surgery and was very heavily medicated. Can I be forced to stay with Qlink for a year? How can I get out of this mess? I just wanted to stay with enTouch and get a phone I could use. HELP!

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      Chad from enTouch does a great job of monitoring our readers’ comments, so check back and see what he can do for you, Lisa.

  27. ShellieW. says

    So many typos with these smart phones lol. I meant to say am I correct about the want and need part and that I added a additional line not a smile

  28. ShellieW. says

    Ok so I see so many posts about people wanting this and wanting that but do not see as many needing this and needing that. There is a huge difference between want and need an incorrect? Ok so here is my question. I am a single parent that is going back to work soon thankfully. My 10 year old daughter has to walk home from school when I am out on interviews or when I am able to get back to work. Before I lost my job I had my phone and added a smile line for her so she could call me while walking home so I knew she was safe. Call me over protective but it’s my daughter and I love her and care about her safety while I am away. Things are just not like the days my grandparents talk about and kids come up missing every day. Now I have this government program that I am very grateful for thank you so much but I wonder if it is considered a need and not a want when you ask to apply for a second phone that your child can use to ensure that child arrives and returns home from school safely and that way I can focus on work instead of wondering about my child or taking time off to go take and pick her up from school. Can you help me out with the answer to this please??

  29. Chris bash says

    I am homless and I’m only needing to use an address for mailing purposes is this allowed?

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      Homeless can only qualify for the free government cell phone program if they are residents of a shelter. Crazy rule, because it punishes those who need the service most, but that’s the way it works.

  30. Marissa.Matt says

    My boyfriend (who I live with) was going to apply for a free safelink phone but his cousin had stayed here for a little while. He never LIVED here but took that advantage to use OUR address for HIMSELF to get a safelink phone. We didn’t know this until he tried to apply. We only know his name and our address (of course). We don’t know the number he used as his safelink number or his SON or his birthday actually and that’s the bad part. I called safelink company and tried to get this settled. But I can’t because “we don’t have his SSN or BIRTHDAY or the SAFELINK PHONE NUMBER HE USED”. And no one has a way of contacting him. We don’t even know where he is at anymore. So what are we supposed to do? How are we supposed to solve this? I’m think about going to the sheriffs office. Also, we DID talk to him ONCE after he had left and had asked him to cancel it or whatever but he stated he couldn’t and didn’t have it anymore because someone stole it or he gave away or whatever. So what are we to do??

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      Call back in to customer service again. Ask to speak to a supervisor. Ask them to help you clear up the confusion on the National Lifeline Assistance Database (NLAD). This is not an unusual situation and the Lifeline Assistance companies are supposed to work to clear them up.

    • Pete The Florida SafeLink Guy says

      SafeLink does provide an opportunity to qualify for a phone at an address that was already registered.

      Just apply online or with an agent and answer the Household Worksheet Questions:

      Do you share expenses?

      Does anyone in your household have a lifeline phone? (for example… someone renting a room is not a member of the same household)

      Do other adults live with you at your address? (again… someone renting a room is not a member of the same household)

      Therefore… if you can answer “No” to these questions, your address will qualify.

  31. David r wright says

    If I can how could I get my kids a government phone I have 3 and they need them bad.

  32. Virginia Myers says

    Why is my address invalid? I have went to the 911 center in my area to verify I have the right address but still the system still says it’s invalid! My electric company service uses the address I was trying to submit so what’s the problem with my physical address here?

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      No way for us to know, Virginia, but it sounds like a glitch in the system. We hear this problem from readers rather frequently. Have you spoken directly to customer service in an attempt to clear up the problem? If not, that should be your next step.

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      You’ll need to do a little research to answer your own question, Sandra. Google the make and model of your phone plus the words “user manual” to find the user manual you need. Then look up the answer to your question.

  34. Chris says

    Someone lived in my house before but has since moved. I can’t sign up now. How can I fix this. I don’t want to get anyone in trouble for fraud or anything.. Thank you

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      This is an ongoing problem for many potential free government cell phone customers. Have you spoken to your chosen service provider’s customer service team about the problem? That’s where you should start.

  35. Vicki Cohan says

    This makes not sense. I’m disabled and my husband is my caregiver.
    If I have my free phone for emergency use, when he leaves the house to go get my medications etc., and I have an emergancy, I have no way of contacting him.
    There needs to be exceptions to this policy.

  36. Clainesse Lewis says

    The people before me had phones. They moved. Now I need a phone. What can be done??

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      Are you saying that your address shows up as already having a Lifeline Assistance account?

  37. Carmela says

    My 22 year old son who is on SSI and Medicare, received a brand new iPhone as a gift. It is not activated yet. Can he activate it/register through Lifeline?

  38. Meghan E Carney says

    Me and my 3 year old are our own household and we rent out a room to another adult that has a phone that they registered to my address. How come I can’t get a phone for me and my daughter why do u use addresses and not Welfare accounts to keep track of making sure only one is issued to each person. Completely unfair. How am I supposed to call to make doctors appointments for me and her and to call my new job and them get ahold of me. Why should me and my daughter suffer when we should be eligible for the benefit of having a phone but it’s impossible when this is how it’s kept track of. Why wouldnt you use our Welfare record numbers ???

  39. Ciara Smith says

    Why can’t both spouses in the same house get phones. What if I need my husband to pick up kids from school and I’m at an appointment.if I’m the only one with a phone…how’s that going to work. I think both parents need to be able to have them! You never know when there is an emergency for one or the other. Phone doesn’t work both ways if there’s only one phone!

  41. vincent potter says

    i am homeless and a nother person at that address has a govorment assistance phone but it is just my mailing address so what can i do?

  42. Tracy says

    If someone uses my home address for their mailing address and they have a free phone would i be able to qualify for a free phone or no?

  43. Lauber says

    Who would a person call to report a government cell phone that was assigned to an adult to use and it was given to their minor grandchild to use?

  44. toshua says

    I have a safe link phone for my food stamp case. My son is 18 yrs but still in school. He keep getting letters from peach care for him to apply for one. Can he get one also under peach care? Thank you for your quick response.
    Ms. Toshua J.

  45. Amber Craig says

    I am requesting information I have a lifeline phone for 2 years now and recieved a text stating my benefits are me canceled due to another phone listed with my address. I am not sure who is using my address and wished I was notified before they canceled my benefits on my line. How do I find out how is using my address for a lifeline phone?

    Thank You
    Amber

    • SS Skin says

      This happened to me too! I don’t know who is using my address…You think that person would have to prove something before they cancel yours! SMH

  46. Heather Smith says

    Hi. I worked at a “Veteran” housing facility in Florida that housed 165 men who I had to apply for them on the computer to get their “Free Government” phone. On their application, I decided to put “room” numbers in the “apartment” section since they ALL lived at the SAME address, and it worked! Every single “Veteran” that I applied for (117 of them) got a SafeLink phone! Also, There are quite a few of “Free Government” phone services out there and my mother lives with me and I have a SafeLink phone and she has an Assurance phone, so there are ways around it. So if someone applies to one service, and someone who lives with you applies to a different carrier, then it works!! Hope I could help! Good Luck!

    • FreeGovernmentCellPhones.net says

      Heather, that’s great news that you were able to get the phones for all the 117 veterans!

      As for the part about two people at the same address applying to different phone carriers, it may have worked for you for some reason but it won’t work as a general rule anymore. Each phone company must check with a national database of Lifeline participants to avoid duplication. Millions of people had service deactivated last year as they weeded out more than one phone at an address.

  47. Jean Holton says

    I have had my lifeline service for over 4 yrs and 2 weeks ago I went to recertify and gave them my new address and everything was was working fine until now. When someone calls my phone they are getting a recording that says that the number has been changed/disconnected or no longer in service and then the last thing it says is (switch to 30610-1) I was able to use my phone yesterday and now I can’t. Is this stating that I am out of minutes until November.

  48. Lindsey Morgan says

    I have been with a lifeline service for over a year I’m trying to renew my lifeline but can’t because they say someone is using my address who can I call or what can I do to get this taken care of because I live alone and would like to continue my service with the company I’m with

  49. Lynne says

    Safelink just dropped me today because they magically came up with two additional government funded phone accounts at my address, treating me like a cell phone juggling slim ball. It’s just me, my elderly parents and the land line they’ve had since the 30’s. I got no warning, my phone number was changed so I can’t even buy minutes and keep my account *YOU HAVE NO RIGHTS* BE WARNED*

    • Lisa VerBeck says

      I’m in a similar situation. I’ve had Safelink for about 3 years. I left my son’s father in the middle of May and moved in with my brother (who lives in the house my parents bought in 1977). When I called to change my address my service was disconnected (and I had over 200 mins that I had bought, they werent the free ones) because they said someone else at that residence was receiving a lifeline phone (even though no one in my family has a lifeline phone, and like I said, my family has owned the house since 1977). The National Lifeline Accountability Database (they keep records of everyone who receives a lifeline phone and includes all the different companies who provide them, i.e. Safelink, Assurance, etc.) did an investigation and my phone was turned back one. Just a few weeks later I had to re-certify and when I submitted my information (with the same address), I got a message said, AGAIN, someone else was receiving a lifeline phone at that residence so my application was denied. That was back on 7/6 and it still hasn’t been turned back on. When it happened the first time it only took about a week before my services were restored. Anyway, I stumbled upon this trying to figure out how to get my phone back on since you cannot contact the NLAD and the USAC can’t help with this issue (I found that out the first time this happened). Then only thing I found was http://www.fcc.gov/guides/lifeline-and-link-affordable-telephone-service-income-eligible-consumers At the bottom, under “More Information” the second paragraph tells you how to contact the FCC. Although I did the first time this happened and they said they couldn’t help me, but they referred me to the USAC, who referred me to someone else. When they open on Monday I’m going to call and be much more aggressive in getting the issue resolved. Also, I want whoever is fraudulently using my families address and the FCC, USAC, and another dept (can’t remember who) weren’t willing to help. I did, however, get referred to the Federal Trade Commission who was willing to open an investigation. I live in Ohio so I contacted the office in Cleveland at 216 263-3455, so if you would also like to have them investigate who is using your address they’ll be able to give you the number for the office near you. Hope the website helps, like I said I’m calling Monday, if they give you any crap and say they can’t help you, refuse to accept it, stay firm but polite, and ask to speak with a supervisor. (Sorry so Long!)

  50. Tonya says

    It isn’t fair that someone else shouldn’t get a free cell phone . How would know if my family and friends are ok and safe? I tried different websites and it says Lifeline this and that . I am tired of this!!!

  51. shannon says

    If u are on someone elses foodstamps and they dont want one can u get one even if ur name is not on the card but ur on the foodstamps

  52. Rachel says

    It would depend on if they pay for their own food out not. If they split the cost of food, it’s 1 household. But if they eat separately, regardless of all the other bills’ percentages, then it’s considered 2 households (@least @ the depot of job & family services in oh)

  53. Venessa Delgado says

    Hi I have a phone from verizon that Isnt in service, can I use that one?

  54. The Black Wolf says

    Hi,I’m the oldest to my grandparents and I’m corrently doing odd jobs. My grandpa has Safelink,but
    it’s no goo if I can’t get in touch with him when I’m gone. How am I gonna know if he’s ok? I can’t read people’s minds. Because if I could I’d ask the goverment what’s the bright idea! There should be one for the head of household and one for those who need it to reach others in cases like this.
    You sure don’t get foodstamps without a shit load of paper work,so why is the phones so different?
    There should be a limit though,I agree with them,but,there should be an additonal paper to sign if there is other family memebers livling with you other then your own,that you were nice enough to take in.
    But then get screw because one of them has this so called nifty phone,but you also need one too.
    It wouldn’t pay for me to be in the big house,because I’d shake things up and make them get off there asses and do something other then demanding people to give what they can’t! You want peace,freedom,justice? Then ok,smart ass,where the hell is ours?! Can we truly say we have freedom?
    Hell no! Pepole have forgotten what life is all about. War isn’t the awnser for everything. I wake up one day and notice I’m outta peanut butter & jelly,oh no,now I gotta turn this into a freakin war. That’s just bull shit! How many more innocent men & women gotta go get killed off and have there families told they want be coming back? And here’s something else,what’s this shit about the wonderful men & women who go off to fight,and “IF” they survive,they come home to find they aren’t being treated with any kind of respect. And they can’t even get any help. Isn’t there turn yet? I never been in war,and no one in my family has ever been in it. But I have friends who are going through this,and I’m the type of person who feels other’s pain.

  55. Ebo Racito says

    U can receive 1-Cell phone from each company @ a single address/household.
    So, If 1-person already has a Safelink for example, the other can use another company like Reachout, pending what state ur’ in & what provider’s cover service in ur’ State.

    • manna says

      I had assurance wireless and live in michigan. I heard the same thing about signing up at two different company’s. I can’t find out how people are doing that! We have just lost two jobs, and both cell phones plus our internet and landline. Its all based on Lifeline thought the government so I cant see how anyone could do that. Our friend lost his home and moved in with us and he changed his address to ours and lost his government phone from reachout. we would love to know how to get both of ours back. we are two different familys!

      • emerald vixen says

        This shouldn’t matter. My dad in law lives with us and he has one and my family has one also. I called them and they told me if you live together you can still qualify as long as you are different households

  56. William Anderson says

    I’m dieng, I need this phone,, The other person lives with me at the same house why cant she have a phone at the same adress ???,

  57. Ammer says

    My Sister is ill and have heart problems. and trying to get her a free cell phone. but due to roomate has a free phone she can’t get one. there is no way for us to keep communication open. Can she use another family members address

    • Elise Pini says

      This is the worst company ever to deal with, their not American and they don’t understand us, every month I have to call for my minutes it’s such a hassle on the phone and hour all all they say is I navigate over and over 2 hours later we hung up and they decided to put a message on for my callers and say by customers request they don’t want any incoming calls really what’s the sense in having a phone then they decided for me that I didn’t want to make any out going calls and now I can’t make calls or get them , when all I asked was for my monthly minutes, they don’t understand anything and they take it upon themselves to do what they want and not what you called for, the month before she kept me on the phone for almost 2 hours and got no where again , this company does what they want not what you need done! Where do they find these people at I’ll never know but they make it very difficult for you to deal with this company! Then they took it upon themselves to suspend my phone. Ridiculous.

      • Free Government Cell Phones says

        The only problem with your comment, Elise, is that you didn’t mention which company you are referring to.

  58. E. Green says

    i am on permanent disability but my husband, who is head of household, is not. Does this mean I do not qualify because I am not the head of household, though I am on Medicaid in PA?

  59. rather not give says

    what happens to the LifeLine Phone when the person passes away? Is it deactivated and why?

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      Yes you can. But if you already have one, why do you need a free one too?