You can qualify for a free government cell phone by participating in a number of federal government aid programs. But the way most people qualify is by receiving food stamps (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, or SNAP).
On our “Do You Qualify?” page we said, “There are a few rules and restrictions to the Lifeline phone service, and while not everyone qualifies for this free phone from the government, if you’ve got financial problems you most likely are eligible.” Check out the whole page for yourself.
Turns out we completely underestimated just how easy it is to qualify for a free government cell phone because we completely underestimated how easy it is to qualify for the food stamp program.
Rob Undersander, a wily Minnesota retiree, has clearly demonstrated that the eligibility rules for SNAP are are so lax that anyone — even millionaires — can qualify for the program. How does he know millionaires are eligible? Because he has a million dollars in the bank and has been legally receiving food stamps for a full year.
A few years ago Undersander had one of those moments of clarity that had never before been experienced by anyone else. Although millions of low-income Americans and tens of thousands of bureaucrats had pored over the rules and regulations of the SNAP program for decades, no one else had ever noticed that low income was the only bar you needed to hurdle to receive benefits from the food stamp program. Simply stated, no one gave a rat’s ass how much you had in the bank as long as your annual income was low.
Here’s how FreeBeacon.com explained it:
A retired engineer with a seven-figure nest egg but no real income, Undersander decided to perform an experiment to determine if someone as well-off as he and his wife could obtain the benefits.
“I’ve got the [SNAP] form in my hand and I’m thinking of my financial situation, and I said ‘you know, I just can’t believe this,'” Undersander told the Washington Free Beacon by phone earlier this week. “So I went down to the second floor of the Sterns County Courthouse, stood in line a little bit, handed in the application and three weeks later I’m getting food stamps, a balance on my EBT card.”
Although he was not invited to formally testify, Undersander was in attendance at a Thursday subcommittee meeting designed to look at “broad-based categorical eligibility” for benefits like SNAP.
Undersander maintains he did not falsify any portion of his application, and that therefore everything he did was completely legal. He says he also carefully tracked and donated all of the monies he received from the program back into his community to benefit the needy.
House Democrats, however, were not happy.“And let me just also say for the record, I think if someone intentionally defrauds the federal government, they ought to go to jail,” said Rep. Jim McGovern, a Democrat from Massachusetts.
Was Undersander guilty of defrauding the food stamp program? He followed all the rules and did it intentionally to expose the absurd flaw in the system.
“When I filled out that form, I used an abundance of honesty and caution,” Undersander said. “I was honestly hoping it would be denied.”
Unfortunately, Minnesota is not the only state that tests income, but not assets, in order to determine food stamp eligibility. It is thought that 33 other states have similar tests.
As you might expect, opinions of Undersander’s actions widely varied.
Some politicians insist that he followed the program’s rules, so he can’t be accused of fraud. Others say he intentionally defrauded the government and should pay a steep price.
Every single day we receive dozens of emails and comments from readers who desperately need access to, but cannot get, free government cell phones. Their stories are heartbreaking and we are forced to tell them that there is nothing we can do to help them.
So in this case, we agree with the Republicans who insist that eligibility requirements must be tightened in order to reduce fraud and abuse and to get resources to those who are in such great need of assistance.
Our bottom line:
Give Undersander a standing ovation and a hero’s parade. He brought attention to a glaring problem that left wing politicians would rather ignore. The tighter they make the food stamp regulations, the less fraud and abuse the program will suffer. And if there is less fraud and abuse in the food stamp program, there will be less fraud and abuse in the Lifeline free government cell phone program.
Tighten up the rules, reduce fraud, increase the number of truly needy American who get free government cell phones.
It ain’t rocket science.
David Costantini says
I’m in Philadelphia PA and I need a free phone but I don’t need any phone service. I know I qualify. What can I do
Free Government Cell Phones says
This is one we’ve never heard before.
Tsong Ming says
In my state, there is a list of qualifying questions that concern the assets that you own : house, cars, and how much cash you have on hand, in the bank and invested in stocks, etc.
I live in Kentucky and there is no loophole here.
Although, I do know of a few able bodied 20 yr olds, who have never worked and they are on disability, this is wrong.
Free Government Cell Phones says
We would imagine that the restrictions in your state were added after this story came to light.
Kristie L Sousa says
If you know people that are able-bodied adults that could be working at some type of job BUT aren’t and they receive permanent SDI benefits the it is your duty as a citizen of this country to report them! What they are doing is committing FRAUD…..and its disgusting to me that people do that crap. Its APPALLING. The younger generations today are some of the laziest most worthless people I’ve ever seem. It’s a disgrace.
Jspurg says
Please clarify the fact that the individuals are “able bodied” yet on disability. Are you their doctor? Do you personally know these people.
My guess is that they may “appear” able bodied, but have non-visible disabling conditions.
Or maybe your just jealous of them because you failed to qualify for disability.
William J. Barnes says
I am looking for free phone for my mother she is 68 years old. Her name is Isabelle Barnes and my name is William J. Barnes . I would like if someone would contact me about this. Thank you! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🦂✌️
Free Government Cell Phones says
That’s not how it works, William. You need to contact one of the companies that provides free government cell phone plans in your state. Here’s where you can find them all:
https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states
scott johnson says
i cannot get another phone from budget mobile. i live in south dakota is south dakota the only state to refuse a phone??
Free Government Cell Phones says
You can’t get another phone from Budget Mobile because the company does not exist anymore. But you can find all the other companies service South Dakota at this link:
https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states
Wayne M Hinklin says
How is it that Millionaires can qualify for SNAP? They get food stamps and more than likely get more than I do. I’m a disabled veteran and only receive $15 a month. How is that fair to me and to the others who actually need the SNAP benefits.
Tsong Ming says
It is not fair, and while most millionaire do not get food stamps. They definitely get government welfare benefits when they purposely file bankruptcy to avoid paying lawsuits, taxes, or using one of several companies that they own as a loss leader.
People should be more aware about these things before voting crooked people into office.
V. Knight says
“He brought attention to a glaring problem that left wing politicians would rather ignore.” Here we go! Left wing, right wing, Republican, Democrat…THAT’S the real problem. Too much finger-pointing and politicking and not enough paying attention to the job at hand. Just find the loopholes and close them up! Quit trying to close off benefits to those who need them and making political points in the process. Pay attention to what you’re doing when you make the rules! Mr. Undersander did us a large favor. Instead of beating up on him, maybe they should HIRE him as a proofreader.
Free Government Cell Phones says
We think that’s pretty much what we said, V. We called him a hero and said they should throw a parade in his honor.
Tsong Ming says
Good Grief,
Don’t drink the Kool Aid.
As I typed above while most millionaires do not get food stamps. They definitely get government welfare benefits when they purposely file bankruptcy to avoid paying lawsuits, taxes, or using one of several companies that they own as a loss leader.
People should be more aware about these things before voting crooked people into office.
I suppose you will not post this. but if you are a fair unbiased person/people? then you will definitely post it.
Free Government Cell Phones says
Why wouldn’t we post it, Tsong? You stated your position in a very fair way. We rarely edit our readers comments except for abusive language and we even let that slip through occasionally.
Of course, most millionaires don’t get food stamps. This story was about a guy who was trying to make an extreme point.