A wise man (we’re not sure who) once said, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” In other words, if something is needed, someone will figure out a way to provide it. That old adage has once again been proven to be true in Minnesota.
In this case, someone has figured out a brilliant new way to get much-needed free government cell phones into the hands of low-income Americans who need them most.
Credit goes to FreePhoneMN, an authorized distributor of free government cell phones through Life Wireless and the federal government’s Lifeline Assistance program. What was FreePhoneMN’s brilliant innovation? Instead of merely offering the free cell phones through the mail, FreePhoneMN came up with the brilliant idea of distributing free phones to Minnesotans via local public libraries.
Why didn’t someone think of this before? It makes it simple for would-be customers to prove their eligibility and it makes it quicker for those in need to get their free government cell phones.
As the company says in a recent press release, “Lifeline-supported free cell phones will be distributed at two library location in Anoka County. While held in library meeting rooms, this is not a library sponsored program.
“There will be a distribution at the Rum River Library, 4201 Sixth Ave. N., Anoka, Saturday, June 23 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and at the Columbia Heights Public Library, 820 40th Ave. N.E, Columbia Heights, Thursday, June 28 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.”
How cool is that? Until now, Life Wireless had distributed free government cell phones in the traditional manner (via the U.S. mail) in Arkansas, Illinois, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Rhode Island, Puerto Rico and West Virginia. But now its added Minnesota to the roster of states in which is does business and consumers will reap the benefits of increased ease and speed of receiving the phone they so desperately need.
Qualifying for a free government cell phone is really pretty simple. All you need to do is show proof of participation in another government assistance progam, such as Temporary Assistance to needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Food stamps, Medicaid, Senior citizen low-income discount plan (offered by the local gas or power company), Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA), or Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
Take proof of your participation plus a government-issued picture ID that shows your current address. You could walk out of the library with a free wireless cell phone with no monthly charge and no service contract and up to 250 minutes of airtime every month at no charge.
Far be it from us to attempt a joke, but this may be the first time in history that people have been encouraged to talk in the library.
Source: ABC
Danielle says
What if my drivers license doesn’t reflect a current address and I’m going to be homeless?
Free Government Cell Phones says
Unfortunately, Danielle, you cannot qualify for the free government cell phone program if you do not have a street address. It’s crazy, we know, but those are the rules.
Kimberly kruse says
how do i get the data to work, where can i get the apn settings?
mary sanchez says
How can I pick up a free cellphone from u guys with my ID and EBT card
FreeGovernmentCellPhones.net says
Start here.
lynette says
Where are phones being given in minneapolis during the month of may 2015?
FreeGovernmentCellPhones.net says
No really can predict. You need to CLICK HERE to get a list of all the companies in your state and contact them to find out. But it’s easy to simly order online or on the phone.
rainympatricca says
I live in albert lea mn would like a free phone how
William Lawrence says
I am on Minnesota general assistance.I need a phone I can afford. with my fixxed income. I tried the prepaid phone,I was using all my money just to keep minutes on the. phone I recently. had surgery. on my left arm leaving me without work.My right shoulders not. any better ..I got all the papers. to prove I’m eligible. for the program. Thank you and I want to get one. I look. forward. to working. with your. staff. William. Lawrence.
Margie H says
I really like the free phone thing really helps people
talk to one another and when your car breaks down
that when the phone comes in handy so I like the free phones
and I can’t afford to pay for a phone these days from t mobile
or any other company
Barb Biegler says
This company will misinform and lie to you. They told me I DID NOT need to send my broken cell in so I threw it away. They are now telling me I need to send in $20.00 to receive a replacement cell. FREE is not free to the government. BEWARE of this company.
Jim says
How can you afford the Internet each month, but not a cell phone. This program is a waste of tax payer dollars. Why not stop complaining about the free phones and get a job.
M. Falla says
You are a real idiot. If you had actually taken the time to read THE WHOLE POST, you would’ve noticed in plain English that she said, “This has been a nightmare to me as I am running around to get to a computer and I am disabled and in pain”. So, why not take your own advice and stop complaining about people supposedly ‘wasting tax payer dollars’ without even taking the time to see who your complaining about?
KATHY GRANT says
I received this phone and it only worked for two weeks. Would not take a charge for nothing…yeah I called Life Wireless and was told to submit a replacement form, and was told there would be no cost for that one time replacement….never received any acknowledgement that they received the replacement form and then told me there were fees existing on my account of $25.00 and who ever I talked to at customer service “telling me the phone replacement was free” was misinformed……wouldn’t want there job…..and didn’t know where the existing fees had come from …..really ……. I’m glad I didn’t put my life on this wireless nightmare!!!
Gail Johnson says
I already did
Gail Johnson says
I would really appreciated a free cell phone. I have one now that I got when working which cost me $36.00 per month. I only get #738.00 a month SSI and own my home. I don”t know if I can make ends meet every month. It”s really scary. Thank you
demetra says
Awesome
Kay Olson says
I received a free government cell phone on 8/17/12 because I qualified on the spot as a low income person. I gave the rep all the info and she supposedly activated the phone and I plugged it in as told and it was plugged into three different outlets and it still won’t charge. I’ve made 5 calls to the toll free no and no one can pull up my acct. I am very frustrated to say the least and it was a very cheap, poorly made Huawei phone and it took me several minutes to get the battery out. I was told that I needed to get a replacement form off the internet and then when I went to the site it is not printable off the site. I looked up my account under my name which is very common and it said I had 12.50 worth of charges and had made several phone calls and the phone hasn’t even turned on. This has been a nightmare to me as I am running around to get to a computer and I am disabled and in pain. Other people that I know received a much nicer phone and I feel that I qualify for that phone given all the hassle and hours spent on this. Please help me. The no. that I was given on the lifewireless phone was 218-576-4229. My phone no. now is 218-428-2808 that I could be contacted on. Please help me resolve this matter as I’ve had the phone a week now and haven’t even been able to turn it on. My name is Kay Olson and I live in Duluth, MN. Please restore my faith in this program because I am very unimpressed at the moment. Thank You for your assistance.
larry mcdonald says
I received a huawei flat phone that that battery could not beremovedMy fr
My friend got a flip phone, that was ten times the phone
Iwould like to receive that phone.
Email me and we can begin the process.
.
Melanie says
Go to this page : http://www.freephonemn.org/events for locations and distribution dates of phones.
The website is : http://www.freephonemn.org/
Dia Vang says
The dates listed above had already passed. Where do I find out future dates and locations? Also, it was not clear what other ways can someone apply for the phone. It said to click on your state then a form can be filled out and send in but I see no step to get to a form from the Minnesota page.