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$3 a month! Incredibly cheap (but not free) cell phone plan infrequent-calling seniors

November 7, 2016

Unfortunately, the simple fact that you’re a senior citizen is usually not enough to make you qualify for a free government cell phone. But don’t despair because several companies offer low-cost plans that make cell phone plans affordable.

Jim Miller, the Savvy Senior guy, has done it again. He’s complied a list of inexpensive cell phone plans for senior citizens (especially those whose phones aren’t glued to their ears like cell-addicted teens).

In other words, these plans are aimed at those who only use them once in a while or in case of emergencies. Here’s a quick summary of Miller’s discoveries:

T-Mobile’s crazy cheap plan

For seniors who are light/infrequent cell phone users, “prepaid” or “pay as you go” plans are the way to go if you want to save money. With these services, you buy a certain amount of minutes (for talk or text) that must be used within a specified period of time.

Lots of companies — even a few free government cell phone companies — offer low-cost pay-as-you-go or pre-paid plans. But no one offers one as good as T-Mobile.

The Savvy Senior explains the T-Mobile plan:

For just $3 per month, this plans provides any combination of 30 minutes of talk or 30 text messages. If you want more, you can pay an additional 10 cents per minute/message when you sign up, or you can make adjustments later. You also don’t have to worry about overage charges with this plan, because once you reach your talk/text limit for the month, the phone stops working. And, if you have a compatible device, you won’t need to purchase a new cell phone.

But what if you’re a bit more talkative? What if you need considerably more minutes and texts each month and don’t want to deal with the hassle of paying as you go? Well, the Savvy Senior has a couple plans for you.

Pure Talk USA: Senior talkers and texters rejoice! Take a look at this company’s Senior AddVantage Plan. For just $10 per month, you get any combination of 300 minutes of talk or 900 text messages. And the news gets even better because you can bring along your own unlocked phone.

Doro PhoneEasy 626: Many of our senior readers ask if any of the free government cell phone companies offer senior-friendly phones. (You can read our standard answer here.) But Doro ups the ante by offering a senior-friendly phone featuring large, raised buttons that make it much easier to make calls and type text messages. It also features an easily accessible emergency call button. Doro PhoneEasy 626 phone costs $50 and calling plans begin at a very affordable $10 per month. The plan is available through ConsumerCellular.com.

Free government cell phones

No need for us to dwell on this subject because that’s exactly what this website is all about. Every single page of FreeGovernmentCellPhones.net is jam-packed with the kind of information low-income Americans need to get free talk, free texts and, in some cases, even data plans.

For more information on how to qualify, click here.

For more information on the free government cell phones in your state and the plans they offer, click here.

h/t: Senior Savvy

Tagged as: seniors, T-Mobile

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Comments

  1. stephen sciuto says

    June 20, 2022 at 3:55 pm

    06-20-22
    The Oregon P.U.C. Puc.rspf@puc.oregon.gov
    Sent me a appoval lettet of the Oregon Lifeline.service.
    I have a ASSURANCE WIRELESS acct# 971212****
    What do I do now?
    End of message.

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      June 20, 2022 at 4:15 pm

      See our answer to your other comment.

  2. Mike Davey says

    April 28, 2020 at 6:03 am

    SafeLink had phone sent to me via general warrex I guess,it’s sent ups.But sent to wrong place my fault it should be sent to : Michael Davey (address deleted) .Old sick need phone what to do?

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      April 29, 2020 at 3:16 pm

      You need to contact SafeLink customer service, Mike.

  3. Stacey Cronin says

    April 9, 2020 at 6:09 pm

    Please tell me how and were i can be eligible for a free goverment cell phone as a senior 63 yrs of age? My e-mail address is, *******@gmail.com

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      April 9, 2020 at 7:44 pm

      The eligibility rules are all spelled out here:

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

      All the plans available in your state are at the following link. Make sure you check them all out carefully to find the plan that fits your needs best:

      https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states

  4. Sofia T. Guilas says

    June 1, 2019 at 3:46 pm

    Im looking for a $3/year phone plan by T-mobile, referred to me by my brother in Virginia.yes,I repeat $3/year phone plan and thats what hes using then and now .

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      June 1, 2019 at 4:20 pm

      We know nothing about any $3 per year phone plans. But you really should read the article on this page.

    • Lisa M Earley says

      August 16, 2023 at 8:10 am

      It’s the prepaid T-Mobile

      • Henry says

        August 16, 2023 at 2:04 pm

        There is an Ultra Mobile PayGo plan offered by T-Mobile for $3 per month (not year). You get 100 minutes of talk, 100 text messages, and 100 MB of data each month. You have to pay extra for additional minutes, texts, and data.

        I have a legacy T-Mobile prepaid plan that is $10 per year (minimum refill minutes). That comes out to about 83 cents per month. I rarely make calls on the 2G candy bar phone and starting next year, I will need to replace it with a 4G phone.

        • Free Government Cell Phones says

          August 16, 2023 at 2:30 pm

          $3 per month is just about what that plan is worth.

  5. Ronald Massey says

    December 18, 2018 at 11:20 pm

    I need a smart phone to do things. I don’t have a phone now

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      December 19, 2018 at 6:34 am

      You need to enroll with one of the companies offering free government cell phone plans in your state, Ronald. Here’s where you can find them all:

      https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states

  6. Nettie Weaver says

    June 30, 2018 at 2:46 pm

    Upon seeing the Doro PhoneEasy 626 I was prepared to really like it. No, indeed I do not. It will not transmit your speech well. Sounds quite garbled to the one receiving it. It did not cost a lot so I threw it away.

  7. Nettie Weaver says

    June 30, 2018 at 2:42 pm

    The Doro PhoneEasy 626 does not work well. your speech is garbled to the person you are calling. I did not pay much for mine so I just discarded it.

  8. Jack Ellis says

    May 1, 2017 at 7:53 pm

    I recently added a monthly plan to a Saflink phone #. I did this online the rates they have are some of the best in the government cell phone bussiness. The problem is i was charged twice on my card account.According to their Website the transaction was not completed.What a lie! I was charged twice.for the same transaction.An email was sent by Saflink confirming the plan i paid forwas added to the account.If you do bussiness with Saflink prepare to be ripped off.

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      May 2, 2017 at 4:45 am

      That’s a very harsh assessment, Jack. Things happen. How about if you call customer service (6-1-1 on your free government cell phone) to get the problem corrected.

      • Steve says

        July 23, 2017 at 9:16 pm

        Call your bank and tell them this double charge is for the same thing billed twice, and have then investigate it.?

        They should credit back your account right away while they look into it.

        Safelink’s money goes to Mexico’s richest man by the way…
        Steve

  9. vera blake says

    March 4, 2017 at 10:20 am

    my sister is in a nursing home and her way of communicating with family and friends is with a cell phone, her dgt got her an Alcatel one track Assurance 5474. my sister is 81 years old and has a good mind. the phone is so small she cannot handle it. her fingers most or crooked. the msg coming in is so small she cannot read them.so it I always breaking the charge. is there anyway she possible get a larger one that she can handle. she is distrauth over this phone HELP

    • vera blake says

      March 4, 2017 at 10:28 am

      please someone help me get answers

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      March 4, 2017 at 11:42 am

      Ask and ye shall receive, Vera. Here’s an article we did about the free government cell phone companies’ policies for speech/hearing/visual-impaired customers. Sounds like your sister qualifies.

      https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/government-cell-phones-hearing-vision-speech-impaired

    • Steve says

      July 23, 2017 at 9:42 pm

      @dorothy
      @vera
      @ anyone else look for great customer service and cheap rates…
      try getting a seniors phone with big buttons and more screen space, if it’s on Sprint and can be used on Tello – they offer Bring Your Own Phone and have a pay go plan or credit – if you fund it and make two calls-texts in 6 months your balance carries over for the next 6 months with the same 2 something requirement in the next 6 month to carry over. Switch to a regular plan or back to pay go credit at any time.

      Build Your Own Plan with what you need or don’t use as much.

      Tello . com has refurbished smartphones at $59. HTC Desire 626,
      and Refurbished: $69 Samsung Galaxy Prevail LTE those two have $10 and $16 off right now, but there are others refurbished under up to $90. and higher too.

      Pay As You Go Rates:
      US calls 3¢ /min
      US texts 1¢ /SMS
      US data 2¢ /MB

      Steve

  10. dorothy gatewood says

    February 23, 2017 at 6:27 pm

    I have a Qlink phone and was told I couldn’t change to another provider to get more minutes because I am locked in with them for a year. I started off with 500 minutes in November. On February 1,2017 the plan was changed to 350 min and 500mb data. I don’t like this plan because I use my minutes to make doctor appointments, to call for medically needed transportation to dialysis 3 times a week and other agencies that help me be able to live alone at home with their assistance. Most times these agencies will put you on hold til they can get to you. This new plan is not Senior citizen friendly. I don’t have internet to make wifi calls nor do I understand how to use the apps they suggest using to stretch the 350 mins. I feel scammed because I thought upon getting this phone I could cancel the service at anytime if I didn’t like it or want it. Now I’m stuck with 350 min and 500mb that I do not know how to use. My grand daughter is helping me with this post today. Do all the government plans automatically lock you in with what ever carrier you sign up with?

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      February 23, 2017 at 7:24 pm

      According to new rules that went into effect on December 2, 2016, Lifeline customers are required to stay with their free government cell phone service provider for 12 months.

      • dorothy gatewood says

        February 26, 2017 at 3:02 pm

        So, there are no other options for the 65+year old customers with no wifi or computer skills who at this point would be better off with a landline phone? Are we prohibited from switching from wireless to a landline phone?

        • Free Government Cell Phones says

          February 26, 2017 at 3:25 pm

          No, you are not prohibited from switching, Dorothy. But while the Lifeline cell phones are free, the home landline phones are merely discounted by $9.25 per month.

          We’re a bit confused, however, by your other question. There’s no need for any computer skills to operate a free government cell phone. Although some of them come with data packages, you use them just like any other phone and do not need to access the internet with them.

          • dorothy gatewood says

            February 28, 2017 at 10:43 am

            This is from the Q link website: When your phone is connected to Wi-Fi, you can…1.Make calls with app-to-app services like WhatsApp and Viber. 2. Download movies & music to play and listen on your Q Link phone, without using up your data streaming them.3.Surf the web for homework, health information, job searches, and more.4.Send & receive emails to get updates from your child’s school, hear about job offers, and get help from Q Link Wireless’s friendly support team….The above 4 items are a ‘copy/paste’ from my Q Link account. Wifi is definitely a must to extend the 350 mins per month and the 500mb? So, my question is if you are a senior citizen and just don’t know how to do the four steps out lined above, then what? If you have no internet connection, you have no wifi connection! Since when is it ok to slam customers with a 1 year contract without giving them the opportunity to accept or say no? I feel scammed and so do a lot of other people with Qlink. This is just wrong.

          • Free Government Cell Phones says

            February 28, 2017 at 10:48 am

            You’re not alone, Dorothy. Many readers have complained that changing the 30-day contract to a one-year contract was the worst change made on December 2, 2016. (Yes, we know it’s not technically a “contract,” but it seems fair to call it that when you cannot switch providers for a one-year period.)

  11. ALEXANDER POSTOLOVSKY says

    November 16, 2016 at 12:59 pm

    CAN I GET A CELL PHONE WITH THE 10 DOLLAR A MONTH IF MY WIFE IS ALREADY IN THE FREE LIFELINE PROGRAM ?

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      November 16, 2016 at 1:39 pm

      Which $10 per month program are you referring to, Alexander? Only one Lifeline free government cell phone is permitted per household.

  12. LScott says

    November 7, 2016 at 12:15 pm

    Will Access wireless be offering 500 free minutes by 12/01/2016.

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      November 7, 2016 at 1:40 pm

      No one has yet revealed any of their post-December 1 plans. We’ll keep a close eye on the situation.

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