U.S. Cellular Lifeline Discount Cell Phones

U.S. Cellular does business in 26 states, but only offers Lifeline programs in 15 of those states.
They are Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Missouri, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.

The discounts vary widely. You can get a $9.25 monthly discount in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

You can get a $11.25 monthly discount in West Virginia.

You can get a $13.50 monthly discount in Maine, Nebraska and Oregon.

And you can get a $34.25 monthly discount in Oklahoma (but only if you live on current or former native lands).

Sounds great, right? Not so fast.

How do we put this nicely? Well, let’s just be blunt. U.S. Cellular isn’t serious about its Lifeline Assistance program. It’s price are high. It’s services are limited. And it’s add-ons are preposterously priced.

Other than that, we recommend U.S. Cellular highly.

Let us explain why we’re giving U.S. Cellular such a harsh review. What the company calls its Essential Lifeline Plan offers 300 minutes for a relatively high price of $29.99. If you want Wide Area Unlimited Incoming Call, they charge you another $6.00. If you want Wide Area Night & Weekend Minutes (Starting at 9:00 p.m.), that will be another $6.00. And if you exceed your monthly allotment of minutes, they will charge you an exorbitant $.49 per additional minute.

Features included are Voice Mail, Call Waiting, Caller ID, Call Forwarding, Three-Way Calling and Incoming Text Messages. Those features are free.

And then there’s this block of fine print down at the bottom of U.S. Cellular’s Lifeline web page:

PLEASE NOTE: Prospective customers must have a billing address within U.S. Cellular’s licensed markets to be eligible for service. A new agmt. with a 2-yr initial term (subject to a pro-rated $150 early termination fee) and credit approval required for all new lines. Use of service constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions. $30 activation fee waived only when ordering online. $15 equipment change fee. Roaming charges, fees, surcharges, overage charges, and taxes apply. A Regulatory Cost Recovery Fee (“RCRF”) applies; this is not a tax or government required charge. The RCRF may be up to $2/line/month and is subject to change without notice. The RCRF is currently $1.40/line/month. Network coverage and reliability may vary. Usage rounded up to the next full minute. National rate plans: U.S. Cellular reserves the right to terminate your service if less than 50% of your overall minutes in each of three consecutive billing cycles are used in U.S. Cellular’s licensed markets. Family Plan: Limit 5 lines per account. Monthly charge of $10.00 per line applies to lines 3-5. Mobile-to-Mobile rate applies to calls you make or receive to and from other U.S. Cellular customers in your Mobile-to-Mobile calling area (see map for details). Roaming indicator on your phone must be off for Mobile-to-Mobile rates to apply. Unlimited incoming calls are not deducted from package minutes and are available only when receiving calls in your calling area. Calling area differs from national calling area. Night and Weekend Minutes valid Monday through Friday 7 p.m. to 6:59 a.m., or 9 p.m. to 5:59 a.m. (depending on calling plan) and all day Saturday and Sunday. Night and Weekend Minutes are available throughout your rate plan calling area. Mobile-to-Mobile rate applies to calls you make or receive to and from other U.S. Cellular customers in your Mobile-to-Mobile calling area (see map for details). Roaming indicator on your phone must be off for Mobile-to-Mobile rates to apply. Other restrictions apply.

Let us translate: “You may think you’re getting a deal because this program is called Lifeline Assistance, but we are going to nickel and dime you until we have extracted every last nickel and dime out of your pocket, purse and/or wallet.”

Hey, U.S. Cellular, have you forgotten that the Lifeline Assistance program is intended to help the nation’s neediest citizens? Have you forgotten the concept of public service?

Contact:

U.S. Cellular
8410 W. Bryn Mawr
Suite 700
Chicago, IL 60631-3486
888-944-9400
Website: www.uscellular.com

Latest News on U.S. Cellular:

Safelink Wireless Customer Support (160)
- Here's an article that will tell you all about PUK codes, Chunxia: https://www.fre egovernmentcell phones.net/what -is-a-puk-code- and-how-do-you- find-it – [click to read]
- Hi, I didn't know why, but my phone's SIM card suddenly locked, so now my phone isn't working at all that I can't make calls or receive calls...It showed something like I need to get ... – [click to read]

10 Surprising Facts about Free Government Cell Phones (304)
- Why were you denied service, Michael? What reason did they give you? – [click to read]
- Hi, could you please help me find the law about why the government phones program was put into effect. I do believe that theres a law that states a citizen must have access to community ... – [click to read]

What are the three Safelink plans available? Some states up to 500 minutes & Unlimited Texts (385)
- That's a pretty crazy answer they gave you, Nellie. If your phone doesn't work where you work, it makes far more sense that the company has fewer towers and weaker signal there. If that's the ... – [click to read]
- I have a safelink phone but can only use it in my home town where I registered it. I work 6 miles out of town& can not use it. Safelink keeps telling me it's because ... – [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? (541)
- We strongly urge all our readers to enroll by phone or online instead of enrolling at street events, Monica. – [click to read]
- I live in fort smith arkansas and would like to find a location please – [click to read]

The 2016 List of Leaders: Who's who in the free government cell phone business (114)
- It's impossible for us to know what the signal strength will be in any particular local area, Travis. – [click to read]
- Is airvoice wireless any good I have it and haven't had many problems its threw,AT&T but does seem to lose service a lot even sitting at home but comes right back on – [click to read]

Safelink Wireless Free Cell Phones (988)
- Yes, it certainly sounds as if you qualify, Grady. You need to check out all the plans available in your state to make sure you find the one that fits your needs best. Here's where ... – [click to read]
- Yes I just moved down to fla and staying with a friend im disable for a few years now I only get 919.00 monthly do you think I could do this – [click to read]

AT&T to offer high-speed, low-cost internet for low-income Americans (545)
- No cable TV plans are available, Maria. But you can find all the low-income internet plans here: https://www.che apinternet.com/ low-income-inte rnet – [click to read]
- Need cable n internet – [click to read]

How to file a Lifeline Service Complaint (111)
- #Beyond FRUSTRATED WITH SAFELINK WIRELESS!! I WILL BE FOLLOWING UP WITH SOME OF MY LOCAL GOVERNMENT OR SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP ME!! My nightmare with SAFELINK WIRELESS started back at the end June 2017. I ... – [click to read]
Older »