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Minnesota introduces fantastic new way to distribute free government cell phones

July 23, 2012

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

Tagged as: Life Wireless, Minnesota

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Comments

  1. MP says

    August 11, 2022 at 8:08 am

    How can I help a family get a phone that is on SNAP and MNCARE but no SS#s so I can’t fill out the online forms. Is there a phone number to call instead? Thanks!

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      August 11, 2022 at 10:07 am

      We provide contact info on each service provider’s page. You can find all the providers and plans in your state at this link:

      https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states

  2. Joyce Anderson says

    May 13, 2020 at 1:35 pm

    I need a free cell phone…how do I get one? I live in Minneapolis, MN. This page states that you can get one at the library but the libraries are closed now because of COVID19. how do I go about getting one?

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      May 13, 2020 at 1:54 pm

      That’s what this website is all about, Joyce. Click around to get a feel for the website, then check out all the plans available in your state at this link:

      https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states

      Check them all out carefully to find the plan that fits your needs best. Then enroll in that plan using the contact info we provide for each company.

  3. Marla Lehmann says

    March 24, 2020 at 10:43 am

    I don’t have Facebook, can I still get a free phone?

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      March 24, 2020 at 5:23 pm

      Absolutely. Facebook has nothing to do with being eligible. Here’s an article that tells you all the ways you can qualify:

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

  4. Danielle says

    June 20, 2018 at 2:37 pm

    What if my drivers license doesn’t reflect a current address and I’m going to be homeless?

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      June 20, 2018 at 10:17 pm

      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.

  5. Kimberly kruse says

    November 20, 2015 at 10:03 am

    how do i get the data to work, where can i get the apn settings?

  6. mary sanchez says

    May 28, 2015 at 9:38 am

    How can I pick up a free cellphone from u guys with my ID and EBT card

    • FreeGovernmentCellPhones.net says

      May 28, 2015 at 5:54 pm

      Start here.

  7. lynette says

    May 26, 2015 at 12:03 pm

    Where are phones being given in minneapolis during the month of may 2015?

    • FreeGovernmentCellPhones.net says

      May 27, 2015 at 7:20 am

      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.

  8. rainympatricca says

    April 19, 2015 at 12:13 pm

    I live in albert lea mn would like a free phone how

  9. William Lawrence says

    February 2, 2013 at 1:05 am

    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.

  10. Margie H says

    January 11, 2013 at 7:18 am

    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

  11. Barb Biegler says

    November 26, 2012 at 1:03 pm

    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.

  12. Jim says

    October 20, 2012 at 7:50 pm

    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

      October 27, 2012 at 9:52 am

      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?

  13. KATHY GRANT says

    October 19, 2012 at 2:57 am

    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!!!

  14. Gail Johnson says

    September 26, 2012 at 7:43 am

    I already did

  15. Gail Johnson says

    September 26, 2012 at 7:42 am

    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

      December 19, 2015 at 3:41 pm

      Awesome

  16. Kay Olson says

    August 24, 2012 at 2:23 pm

    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.

  17. larry mcdonald says

    August 6, 2012 at 3:39 pm

    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.

    .

  18. Melanie says

    July 24, 2012 at 12:56 pm

    Go to this page : http://www.freephonemn.org/events for locations and distribution dates of phones.

    The website is : http://www.freephonemn.org/

  19. Dia Vang says

    July 24, 2012 at 8:48 am

    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.

Previous Post: Assist Wireless offers free government cell phones in Arkansas, Maryland and Oklahoma, other states coming soon
Next Post: The biggest problem with the free government cell phone program? People like this. (And it’s not an Obama Phone!)

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