Assurance Wireless, a brand of Sprint Nextel, has expanded into Pennsylvania, offering free cell phones to low-income residents. This now puts Assurance Wireless into 21 states and the District of Columbia, advancing quickly against the entrenched Safelink Wireless, a brand of Tracfone.
Eligible customers in Pennsylvania receive a free phone, and 250 free minutes of voice service per month. Phones come with standard features such as voice mail, and customers can pay to add text messaging or additional voice minutes.
Assurance Wireless is funded by the federal government’s Universal Service Fund’s “Lifeline Assistance” program, and was created to help needy Americans find jobs, stay in touch with relatives, and save money.
Pennsylvanians receiving assistance from one of the following programs may qualify for a free phone from the government:
- Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Medicaid, Food Stamps/SNAP
- General Assistance
- Free school lunch program
Someone may also qualify by having household income less than 135 percent of the federal poverty level, which is $14,702 for a single person and $30,173 for a family of four.
debra feldman says
May 22, 2019 at 11:22 amtried to get this plan from sprint but put on other plans and lead astray. also told i could return the phone in 30 days and signs up everyware. denied. now being billed for stuff i cant afford. sprint will lie to get your business. went for free phone for low income. signed up for other plans and charged to join sprint. dishonest practices. signed up for senior plan not low income. and they said 30day guarentee and no questions asked denied this also. laughed at and told tough luck. dishonesty so will absorb the cost but will not pay for second billing.
Free Government Cell Phones says
May 22, 2019 at 12:21 pmSprint is not a free government cell phone company. It provides the national cell network for most of the companies, but does not participate directly. Sounds like you got sucked in by an unscrupulous agent.
Jerrie Bixler says
March 11, 2019 at 5:44 pmHi I recently got dropped because my phone Port broke, can I go to a Sprint store in my area And get a new phone
Free Government Cell Phones says
March 12, 2019 at 9:25 amDepends on whether your service provider offers a Bring Your Own Phone plan. Check with its customer service team to find out. And, of course, make sure the phone you buy is compatible with the Spring network before you purchase.
Pearl says
February 6, 2019 at 7:04 amI have aTerra Com phone, and I tried to put wifi hook up phone stopped working. I want to recover service if possible.
You can reach me (618)558-****
Thank you
Free Government Cell Phones says
February 6, 2019 at 8:16 amYou need to contact TerraCom customer service, Pearl. This is an independent informational website, NOT a service provider.
Jennifer L Reagan says
January 30, 2019 at 8:13 amMy mother passed away and had one of these phones. How do I contact one to make sure it is disconnected?
Free Government Cell Phones says
January 30, 2019 at 9:14 amCall 6-1-1 on the phone and you will be connected to customer service. Sorry for your loss.
melissa says
December 12, 2018 at 3:49 pmHow can I get a free sprint government phone?
Free Government Cell Phones says
December 12, 2018 at 4:14 pmYou’ll need to enroll with a company that uses the Spring national cell network. You can find out more about that from the article at this link:
https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/cdma-gsm-lte-phone-compatible-with-my-free-phone-network
debra feldman says
May 22, 2019 at 11:25 amdid at sprint in walmart. salesman led astray and sold me the new senior plan instead of the low income plsn.
Device Bkaclmonimg says
August 29, 2018 at 6:42 amIs this the service that is o ly available for retired low income people who are former medical personnel or teachers? That’s the service I once had paperwork for but list and can no lo get find. How do I get that info again?
Free Government Cell Phones says
August 29, 2018 at 9:02 amNo, Lifeline free government cell phones are for anyone who meets the eligibility requirements. Here’s where you can find all the different ways to qualify:
https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/basics/qualify
Thomas P Jancewicz says
August 10, 2018 at 4:20 pmHow do i apply for a free phone
Free Government Cell Phones says
August 10, 2018 at 5:23 pmGo to this page and check out all the plans available in your state. We provide contact info for each of the companies. You can enroll online or by phone:
https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states
Pauleta Holloway says
December 29, 2017 at 6:11 pmHow can my brother who has low income apply for a free phone? He doesn’t have internet service because he can’t afford it? He did call and they told him he has to apply via internet!
Thank you,
Pauleta
Free Government Cell Phones says
December 30, 2017 at 3:21 amFor a free phone, check out the eligibility rules at this link:
https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/basics/qualify
To find all the companies and plans available in your state, check this link:
https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states
To find out more about low-income internet plans, check out our other website, CheapInternet.com
JOANN DALPIAZ says
September 4, 2016 at 1:42 pmI HAVE A FREE GOVERNMENT PHONE. SPRINT IS THE COMPANY; KYOCERA IS THE MAKER. I CANNOT GET SERVICE AND NEED TO TAK TO SOMEONE. JOANN DALPIAZ
Free Government Cell Phones says
September 4, 2016 at 2:03 pm“Sprint” does not have a free government cell phone program. Is it possible you mean your service provider is Assurance, which is a subsidiary of Sprint?
Geneva jones says
May 16, 2018 at 1:41 pmPhone doesn’t work can’t get call or call out
eddie yanez says
June 15, 2016 at 6:06 pmI lost my phone please disconnect immediately
FreeGovernmentCellPhones.net says
June 16, 2016 at 7:37 amContact the company.
Martin rosales says
April 27, 2016 at 6:22 pmHow can I disconnect my government phone
Free Government Cell Phones says
April 27, 2016 at 6:47 pmYou have several choices, Martin.
1. Contact your service provider by phone or online to cancel.
2. Do not use your phone for 60 days. It will be automatically cancelled.
3. Do not recertify when your one year has expired.
Eva Souchet says
August 1, 2017 at 4:38 pmSo if we don’t like the service with a provider, we have to wait a full year to go to another lifeline service?
Free Government Cell Phones says
August 1, 2017 at 6:50 pmYou only need to wait for a year IF you have data service as part of your free government cell phone plan. If you have cell phone service only, you can switch service providers after 60 days.
Donna Webb says
February 28, 2016 at 10:19 amAre there any free cell phones for a single senior woman who has a disability amount social security payment of $1700 per month? All I had seen were people on medicaid, SSI, etc. I am disabled, having recently suffered a stroke and am interested.
Free Government Cell Phones says
February 29, 2016 at 6:31 amRead our “Do You Qualify” page: https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/basics/qualify
It sounds as if your income is too high to qualify, but you should contact companies that do business in your state to confirm that.
Laurie says
January 27, 2016 at 6:16 pmI dont have a home phone i am looking for a job i have no income and i need help i lost 3 job offers due to they had no way to get a hold of me help plz
Deborah says
September 2, 2015 at 4:36 pmi’m on a very low income. can you help me get a free cell phone. something plain. via. email. as per .. thanks..
larry says
February 19, 2015 at 6:14 pmI qualify for a free cell phone how do I apply
FreeGovernmentCellPhones.net says
February 20, 2015 at 11:57 amStart here:
https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states
julie gillings says
February 17, 2015 at 4:47 amiPhone compatible in PA??
Timothy Toroian says
January 9, 2015 at 8:14 amHave health issues and need mobile phone when away from home.
jose carranza says
December 13, 2014 at 6:09 pmIm interested in getting the touchscreen model cell phone do you guys provide it?
Annette Robinon says
December 11, 2014 at 4:58 amIs there a automated number IF can call to put minutes on my Sprint Nextel phone with a credit card over the phone?, if yes please email me the automated number, thanks!
Helen Lawville says
October 27, 2014 at 1:26 pmI am on social security disability, food stamps and my income is 799.00 monthly rent is 725.00. I am on list. waiting fo a bilateral lung transplant, at end stage COPD. I must have phone so Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania can contact me ASAP a when a lung comes a available! Please help
Brian Eric chambers says
October 14, 2014 at 12:00 amI need a phone ASAP I have a very sick person that I take great care of I had to leave my full time job to care for this person can someone please help me my family walked away from me I’m not doing this to gain any kind of money I just would love some help from anyone please email me at
******@icloud.com It would me the world to me n this poor person nobody has given us an help as much as a dime please I’m begging for the help of this poor person her family just walked away from her . Thank you so much for anything that you may do to help god bless u all thanks so much. Brian. Chambers Northeast PHILA 19135
merle weimer says
August 26, 2014 at 5:19 pmI kneed A cell phone ! The problem I have is I always crake the faces on them .. I don’t have that problem with A flip phone .. So can I get A flip phone .. thank you
Brenda Carrozzi says
May 10, 2012 at 3:58 pmwheres the form to feel out
linda says
April 26, 2012 at 4:31 pmhow can i get this??
linda says
April 26, 2012 at 4:30 pmHow can i get this service??
linda says
April 26, 2012 at 4:31 pmSprint Nextel’s Assurance Wireless Lifeline Cell Phone Program Expands into Pennsylvania
Govt Taxpayer says
August 3, 2011 at 10:09 amThis type of “program” is exactly why the Federal Government is running up trillions of dollars of debt annually. Another example of waste and chock full of FRAUD opportunities. Charities should pay for this, not my tax dollars.
OBAMA MUST GO!!!!!!!!!
Free Government Cell Phones says
August 3, 2011 at 10:55 amWe’re not taking sides politically, but the phone is definitely not an “Obama Phone.”
https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/faq/obama-phone
Newswoman says
August 6, 2011 at 8:09 pmYou need to take more government classes…this law was started by Reagan!
Wrong says
November 13, 2012 at 2:48 pmThese phones where a round long before Obama, Google it
Nicole says
December 1, 2012 at 10:06 amYour an ass wipe, do you know that!!!! Before you put all the blame on Obama know how the government works!!! For something to pass you must take a vote on it, his name is present on paper but there is a lot of people behind that signature!!! As far as charities go, as soon as you donate 10,000 dollars or more a month I will be with you 100 percent!!!! Your going to need that amount at minimum, there are millions or even billions of families using this service to stay in contact with their own families and jobs, But you wouldn’t notice that because your such a Obama Hater!!!!! Lord, I hope God bless you with some common since cause at least the government is trying to help the United States instead of in other countrie’s business. I’m done, just think before you type!!!!!
Free Government Cell Phones says
December 1, 2012 at 3:48 pm“Billions” of families using the free government cell phone program? There are only about 312 million people in the U.S. So, billions is impossible.
Dawn Stocker says
June 21, 2011 at 12:53 amIf I can recieve a free cell phone this will be great
Dawn Stocker says
June 21, 2011 at 12:46 amI would like to thank you ALL for this help when we are in a slump .Hoping everyday things will turn around
Dawn Stocker says
June 21, 2011 at 12:42 amit is a great help the goverment is willig to help the lower classj familys all knows how hard things have been for evertone
Dawn Stocker says
June 21, 2011 at 12:34 amhelp with phones threw the goverment is something the low class familes is some greatvthk
Dawn Stocker says
June 21, 2011 at 12:29 amI am a sigle mother of 4 .I think think this life line program is great
Dawn Stocker says
June 21, 2011 at 12:25 amI am a single mother of 4 an .I think this life Line cell phone is a great help