Arizona’s Grand Canyon has been called the world’s biggest hole, but help is now available for needy Arizona residents who need to climb out of the world’s biggest financial hole.
Life Wireless and Assurance Wireless have officially opened their doors in the Grand Canyon State and are now offering Lifeline Assistance free government cell phones to the state’s low-income residents.
Lifeline was designed to help victims of the Great Recession land jobs, stay in touch with their medical providers, and keep in contact with their children.
Interestingly, the program offered by Life Wireless is slightly different than most of the other free government cell phone programs offered around the country, which usually offer a free cell phone and 250 minutes per month.
But if you get your free government cell phone through Life Wireless, you’ll also get voicemail, text messaging, call waiting, but only 125 minutes a month. (We haven’t been able to ascertain a reason for the reduced number of minutes, but we’ll let you know as soon as we find out or as soon as Life ups its offering.)
Assurance Wireless, on the other hand, offers the more traditional program available in most of the country: A free cell phone, 250 free text messages and 250 free minutes of voice service.
Assurance also offers other variations: The $5 Talk and Text Plan comes with a free cell phone, 500 text messages and 500 voice minutes. And if it fits your lifestyle better, they also offer a 1,000 voice minutes/1,000 text messages plan for just $20 per month.
Both companies, of course, are part of the government’s Lifeline Assistance program. To be eligible you must already participate in a federal assistance program (Medicaid, Food Stamps, etc.) or earn less than 150% of the federal poverty guideline.
There’s more good news if you’re a resident of one of Arizona’s Tribal Lands. You can qualify for a free government cell phone program is you also participate in:
- Federal Public Housing Assistance / Section 8
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Food Stamps
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- National School Lunch (free program only)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- State Child Health Insurance Plan/KIDCARE
- Medicaid/AHCCCS
We often comment that we’re big believers in the power of competition and now Life Wireless and Assurance Wireless are competing with Safelink Wireless, Tag Mobile and StandUp Wireless in Arizona, we expect all the competitors to improve their service and offerings.
Welcome to the Grand Canyon State, Life and Assurance. Now get out there and help as many needy Arizonans as you possibly can.
Barbara Haas says
So what do I have to do to get free cell phone. I already have Life Line assistance on my landline with Century Link. Our annual income for 2 seniors in our 70’s is 21,900. My husband had a surgery last week and our phone went dead and had no way to communicate with doctors or family. As Century Link has old equipment and takes a few days to get service back, I would like a back up. What other info do you need. We are also eligible and get food from the St. Mary’s Food Bank. We live in Oracle Arizona 85623.
Free Government Cell Phones says
You can only get one Lifeline assistance phone, so you need to choose between your current Lifeline home landline or a new free government cellphone. You cannot have both.
Rhonda Green says
I was told to go to an office to upgrade my phone. Where’s the closest store to 17th. Ave and Van Buren in Phoenix, As?
Free Government Cell Phones says
We don’t know which company you’re referring to, Rhonda.
Will says
Hi I am currently with assurance but have a not so very smart phone… Tiny screen. I wish to use the data but need a different phone. Assurance offers one choice, and wants $25 USD for a minimax android which is less than $20 on Amazon. I think a provider change might work best but how to do? And how to be sure of coverage in this very rural location? P.s. great site you have here!!!
Free Government Cell Phones says
Here’s an article that tells you which free government cell phone companies use which national cell networks:
https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/cdma-gsm-lte-phone-compatible-with-my-free-phone-network
Once you’re armed with that info, it will take a little homework on your part. Ask your friends and neighbors to find out what cell company they are with and to find out which of them is happiest with their signal and service. Then enroll with a Lifeline company that uses the network your friends and neighbors are happiest with. Good luck.
Kaleigh Saxon says
I need a phone asap. Please please help me find a location n we near 85306
Free Government Cell Phones says
You don’t need “a location,” Kayleigh. In fact, we urge our readers not to enroll at street events because they have been the scenes of so much fraud and abuse. Enroll online or by phone and make your transaction much safer.
C. Noe says
I got a Coolpad 3300A phone from a tent on the street in Phoenix, appx 2 years ago…it has been a great phone for Most of the time I have had it…
About 3-4 weeks ago, the entire service Crashed….every Google app QUIT working…
I did a factory reset…
It Still doesn’t work.
All I can get is the repeated notices that “this app has stopped working”…including every part of the phone!!
I contacted Best Buy– I had been told that they dealt with the Coolpad phones… Apparently that is no longer true.
My provider is Assurance wireless… I think…
Not certain of that…
I even called an 866- number, …they said that they could not obtain information on my phone because my number was “not active with their service”…or stated differently to the same means….
I do not understand why my phone, which had been very reliable to this point… Just Stopped working…
Please reply to me ASAP, for my personal information, etc., as that is my only operational phone service!
Anxiously awaiting your response!
Free Government Cell Phones says
It sounds as if you can still make phone calls on your phone. If so, call 6-1-1 on your free government cell phone. That will connect directly to your service provider’s customer service team. Good luck, C.
Anazo Landry says
I never got a chance to received my first SafeLink Smartphone because it was stolen recently from my mailbox. I have called the service and have it deactivated and this is the phone No# 504-408-****. However i have asked the service to resent me other phone if possible but i got denied because according to the service, i have already received one referring to the stolen phone that has been deactivated. but technically I never i did and has been deactivated. At this time i am still remaining without any phone at all.
Please Help.
Free Government Cell Phones says
Sorry to say so, Anazo, there’s nothing we can do to help you. Stolen phones are one of the real problems with the Lifeline program. Many customers find themselves in your same situation, but there are no provisions in the law to make exceptions in cases like yours.
William alling says
My phone was lost 520 971 ****
Free Government Cell Phones says
Here’s an article that tells you exactly what to do, William:
https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/faq/i-lost-my-phone-how-do-i-get-a-replacement
John decarie says
HOW CAN I GET ONE
Free Government Cell Phones says
READ THIS WEBSITE AND DO WHAT IT SAYS.
John decarie says
MY SSI CHECK HAS STOPPED COMING .
Free Government Cell Phones says
That’s far afield from the subject of free government cell phones, John. Not much we can do for you.
Jean Petty says
I qualify for a phone where can I get one in. Cohutta ga.thank you
Free Government Cell Phones says
Here’s our Georgia page. It will tell you about all the companies and plans available in Georgia:
https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states/georgia-government-cell-phone-providers
Check them all out because each plan differs in minutes, texts, data, and geographic availability.
Jonny says
I have an unlocked GSM phone can I get a SIM cards for any of these companies
Free Government Cell Phones says
It varies with each phone make and model, each company, and the network on which they operate. The only way to confirm an answer to your question is probably to speak to each company’s tech support team.
Patrick says
My wife and I are both Arizona life wireless customers and when we signed up we were told we would recieve 500 talk minutes and unlimited text no mms or days but recently my wife used all her minutes for talk and then she couldn’t even recieve text orsend them. What gives? These company’s get away with so much and we can’t do nothing to protect our selves
Free Government Cell Phones says
If any of our readers feel they have been misled by their Lifeline Assistance service providers, we urge you to register a complaint with USAC.org, the Federal Communications Commission, or the appropriate state public utility commission.
Benedict McDonald says
I have a phone with you already but it has stoped work my daughter droped it in the bath tub how do i get a, ew one
FreeGovernmentCellPhones.net says
You don’t have a phone from us because we are not a phone company, just an informational website. You need to contact the company for a replacement.
And tell your daughter to keep a phone away from water.
Desiree says
We were told it was a samsung 4g and it was free min text and data unlimited . It turns out no data and this is the phone we got in the mail JAX S1360. This is wrong
Janet Horton says
My son qualifies for a free phone. Is there a store where we can pick one up in Phoenix AZ?
Randy Carter says
Actually Life Wireless offers all of the things you mentioned but also offers 250 minutes or 750 texts at no additional charge. In addition, Life Wireless offers 100 extra minutes to current or former members of our military community
mike says
Assurance will never send you your phone I waited 9 months and never got it. Life wireless handed me a phone on the spot-working !
LEANN BARNHURST says
Need find have access to Arizona’s, Life Wireless or Assurance Wireless free cell phone application information, I’m qualify for the phone because of disablity loww income benefits received monthly. Please e-mail me with the web site to find this application so I may apply online. Thanks.
Free Government Cell Phones says
Go here:
https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states/arizona-government-cell-phone-providers
christine a stefankiewicz says
My wife has never worked and travels on public transportation for shopping,visitations and her friend suggested that she acquire a cell phone for safety,is she eligable for a free phone and minutes
t.y.
peter a stefankiewicz
mohsin Al robaie says
im SSI i need free phon
thankyou