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Colorado: Cell Phones from the Government

Good news: The free government cell phone program is now available in the Centennial State.

But before we get to the details, let’s pause for some pertinent Colorado trivia:

Colorado is the only state that’s ever turned down a chance to host the Olympics. Luckily, the state hasn’t turned down the opportunity to offer Lifeline Assistance, the free government cell phone program.

The LoDo section of Denver stands for Lower Downtown. But now that the free government cell phone program is available for Colorado’s low income residents, maybe they should rename it LowDough.

The word Colorado means “colored red” and, unfortunately, in these tough economic times, a lot of the state’s residents need the free government cell phone program because they find themselves in the red every month.

Katherine Lee Bates composed “America the Beautiful” after seeing the view from Pikes Peak. And now that the free government cell phone program is available in Colorado, a lot of the state’s residents are going to agree that America is, indeed, more beautiful than ever.

Colorado’s famous for the pioneer slogan “Pikes Peak or Bust”. Unfortunately, too many of the state’s low-income residents have already gone bust and desperately need the kind of help provided by a free government cell phone.

Free Cell Phone Providers in Colorado:

Here’s a list of all the Lifeline Assistance free government cell phones in Colorado. They all offer different plans with different numbers of minutes, different refill options, and serve different geographic areas. So click through them all and find the plan that’s best for you.

Lifeline Discount Companies in Colorado

If you qualify for Lifeline Assistance, but you find that none of the companies offer free government cell phones where you live, you have another option. The companies below, while not offering free cell phone plans, do offer substantial Lifeline discounts off their regular mobile phone plans in Colorado:

    NONE.

How to Qualify for a Free Phone and Service in Colorado

You are eligible if you receive benefits from any of these programs in Colorado:

  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps or SNAP)
  • Medicaid
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8)
  • Veterans Pension and Survivor's Benefit.
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance (BIA)
  • Tribally Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tribal TANF)
  • Tribal Head Start (only those households meeting its income qualifying standard)
  • Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)

Plus, you may be eligible under these state programs, until the new federal laws make them ineligible win 2017:

  • Old Age Pension (OAP)
  • Aid to the Blind (AB)
  • Aid to the Needy/Disabled (AND)
  • Colorado Works/Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

You may also qualify if your Total Household Income is at or under 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, as calculated in the table below:

Income Based Eligibility for Colorado
Members in HouseholdAnnual income
1 member$16,389
2 members$22,221
3 members$28,053
4 members$33,885
5 members$39,717
6 members$45,549
7 members$51,381
8 members$57,213
For each additional member add $5,832 annually

Latest News for Colorado:

How do Budget Wireless customers find a new free government cell phone company? - If you're one of those 800,000 abandoned Budget Wireless customers, what should you do next? How do you find another Lifeline company to replace Budget?
Companies dropping out: Trouble in the free government cell phone program? - Two of the top 20 LifeLine Assistance free government cell phone companies have now dropped out of the business. And two others have merged into a single company.
$3.7 Billion in Income Could Be Generated for the Poor by Making Lifeline-Subsidized Free Cell Phones Available to All Eligible Americans - $3.7 Billion in Personal Income Lost in States – Including CA, CO, HI, MT, NE, ND, OK, SD, VT and WY – Without Access to Program for Their Poorest Citizens.

If you have any other questions, please refer to the links in the sidebar.

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Comments

  1. I qualify for the service however the town that I live in (green mountain falls CO) does not deliver mail to the physical address, only to p.o.box. I have no choice in this matter. I’ve made numerous phone calls to no avail. Is there anyone who can help me?

    Reply

  2. I’m having trouble finding a stand thst gives you a free phone service! Unfortunately I’m homeless and can’t have one delivered! How to you locate these stands in colorado?

    Reply

    • We hate to be the bearers of bad news, Nicholas, but according to the rules of the Lifeline free government cell phone program you are not eligible unless you have a street address. The only way that we’re aware of around that regulation is to gain residence in a group home (a homeless shelter, for example). Good luck, my friend.

      Reply

  4. I AM OVERWHELMED AND CAN’T FIGURE OUT WHICH ONE IS FOR ME. i HAVE MY OWN SERVICE AT HOME WITH MY INTERNET AND AM HAPPY WITH IT, i NEED A MOBLIE FOR BEING AWAY .

    Reply

    • We can’t recommend one company over another, Susan. Sorry you’re feeling overwhelmed, but you need to read more on this website to help determine which company/plan fits your needs best.

      Reply

  5. I am currently living in N.Y. and have a free phone for low income person. How do I get this in Colorado when I move there in March 2018.

    Reply

    • It should continue to work in Colorado, but when your one-year anniversary rolls around, you will not be able to recertify. You have two choices. One, if your service provider offers service in both states, they may be able to switch you over. Two, you might want to take this opportunity to check out all the service providers in Colorado to see if one of them offers a better deal (more minutes, more texts, more data, better smartphone, etc). If so you may want to make the switch.

      Here are two articles you should read. First is an article that tells you exactly how to make the switch:

      https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/faq/how-do-i-switch-lifeline-providers

      And here’s an article that makes it easy to find all the service providers available in your new state:

      https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states

      Reply

    • Check out all the programs on this page, Tonie. We’re certain that at least of these plans will be available there in Greeley.

      Reply

  7. I have had a lifeline company for a few months but they have left me without a working phone since the start. I saw one area that says I can change companies every 60 days and another area that says I can only do it once a year. How often can you switch companies? I’ve tried fixing the situation with the company and they have just played games with me so I have filed complaints against them and asked to be switched companies as the resolution requested. Is there someplace here that says what network each company uses? I live in Commerce City, CO and a lot of companies have such weak signals that the phones are useless. Thanks

    Reply

  8. Yes. When i enter my zip code it tells me there is service in my area. When i go to the next step it tells me there is no service in my area. ..

    Reply

  9. everytme I fill out the form it says I qualify also my state . But when i fill out for a service provider it is constantly telling me I don’t qualify in my area!
    I no of several people who have or have had service here w the government phones.
    Why is th thing telling me I qualify an there is service in colorado just not in my area.

    Reply

    • We would assume that it is telling you that the company offers service somewhere in Colorado, but not in your specific area. It’s not an unusual situation, Kim. Have you tried other companies listed on this page to see if they are available where you live?

      Reply

  10. I started my app online. For a free phone instead of habing it mailed to me can pick it up at a qulink stand in colo

    Reply

  11. I was set up with Assurance Wireless at the end of 2016, and it has been a terrible experience. The phone is always breaking and freezing and the customer service people are terrible and don’t actually fix the issues. I would like to switch my service to Q-Link. How would I go about that? I know the rules state I can only have 1 lifeline phone, but I have no other way for my job and doctors to contact me during the switch if I must cancel it while waiting for my application to be approved/phone sent with QLink. What are my options?

    Reply

    • There are no options, Autumn. You can switch companies if you’ve been with your current company for at least 12 months. Otherwise, no switch.

      Reply

  12. I am presently on SNAP and Medicaid.
    Do you have any program to help with internet service for home use ??

    Thanks

    Reply

    • Good question, Barkley. You need to visit our other website, CheapInternet.com. We have a page dedicated to Low-Income Internet that tells you about all the plans available. Several of them are aimed at homes with children, but others are available to anyone. Check them all out carefully and then enroll with the one that fits your situation and needs best. Here’s that link:

      http://www.cheapinternet.com/low-income-internet

      Reply

  13. i qualify for a free cell phone. i am elderly. i live on my social security benefits, qualify for medicaid and food stamps. i cannot complete this form because you are not recognizing my physical address. i live in jaroso colorado. ups and fed ex deliver to this address. my mail comes to the jaroso post office were i have a po box **** i have no phone at all so i cannot call the 1855 qlink43 number. please help me. judy corlett

    Reply

    • Our readers run into this issue all the time, Judy. We asked our contact at the USAC how to solve the problem and they advised that the customer (that’s you) should contact the service provider to explain the situation. They say it should be relatively simple to solve, but we’d love to hear your experience. If you can’t call, contact Q Link by phone by email. Go to the company website, click on “Help Center” and then click on “Contact Us.” You will be able to communicate with customer service by filling out the email form provided on that page.

      Reply

  14. So I got a phone in Greeley Colorado Infront of the food bank and I locked my sim. How do I find out what carrier I have so I can call and get the PUK UNLOCK code? The phone is a Primo Plus C353

    Reply

    • There’s only one way to find out who your provider is, and it isn’t particularly easy, Sandra. Go to our “States” page and find Colorado:

      https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states

      Your only option is to start at the top of the list of 12 companies that offer free government cell phones in Colorado. Call each one until you find the one that is your service provider. They’ll know based on your phone number, address, social security number, etc.

      Reply

      • Thank you very much. I believe the lady said something about T-mobile was the provider. Don’t know. I’ll call around. Again thank you….

        Reply

    • Virtually every company allows you to BYOB (Bring your own phone) or BYOD (Bring Your Own Device). Different names for the same program. The problem is that not all cell phones are compatible with all cell networks. So the only way to find out for sure is to call your chosen cell phone company and ask customer service or tech support if your existing phone is compatible with their network.

      Reply

    • You can do it from the comfort of your home, Chris. Choose your favorite Lifeline service provider and apply online or by phone.

      Reply

      • We do not recommend enrolling at street tents or booths because they have been the scene of so much fraud and abuse. You’re much safer enrolling online or by phone, Krystal.

        Reply

  17. No sense in including the Viaero link on this page…
    “Lifeline Discounts are only available in Arkansas, Nebraska and Kansas”

    Reply

    • Thanks, John. We always appreciate it when our readers let us know about changes within the program. There are so many Lifeline Assistance programs and they’re constantly changing, so we occasionally miss an occasional update.

      Reply

  18. I am a single mother looking for help on getting a cell phone to help with getting a new job and help keeping in contact with my kids and emergenceys . thank you for your time .

    Reply

    • You’re on the right page, Jennifer (assuming, that is, that you live in Colorado). Check out each of the plans to see which one fits your needs best — the most minutes, most texts, data plan, etc. Then apply to that company. Easy peasy.

      Reply

    • What a delightful woman you are, Marilyn. What a reasonable, well thought out comment. Did it ever occur to you that they may actually not offer service in your area? If you spoke to the various customer service reps the way you spoke to us, we can understand why they said they didn’t offer service in your area.

      Wait. Is this a joke? Is Marilyn really my demented mother in law yanking my chain?

      Reply

        • First of all, Marilyn, WE don’t provide any service. We’re an independent website. But where did we say service was available in all parts of Colorado? If there is any state that doesn’t have service everywhere, we would guess it would be Colorado because of how mountainous the state is.

          Reply

  20. Hi! A coworker developed an phone app specifically for disabled homeless veterans and those with brain injuries from combat. Where could she go to be at the main focal point of where homeless veterans are picking up Obama phones?

    Reply

    • There is no single focal point, Lisa. There are thousands and thousands of homeless shelters utilized by veterans around the country. We know from our own searches that there is no single source of contact info for those shelters. Unfortunate, but true.

      Reply

      • Hello, I am a case manager for homeless veterans with a fairly large non profit in Denver. We often struggle with communication when our veterans do not have a phone. Is it possible to have a representative from your agency schedule monthly or bi-monthly visits our agency to get more of our vets enrolled with your services? We frequently host events and i think this could be a great opportunity to reach some of the people we work with that are apprehensive about asking for help.

        Lisa, I would love to discuss this app and network with you further if possible!

        Reply

  21. Are there larger phones available for disabled poeple who have difficulty managing the buttons of a smaller phone.,

    Reply

    • That sounds like a good idea for a very informative article, Ellen. Each company has its own policy on that issue. For example, here’s how Safelink answers the question in the very small type in its Terms & Conditions:

      “15. HEARING, VISUAL OR SPEECH IMPAIRED ACCOMMODATIONS.
      Any hearing, visual or speech impaired persons interested in applying for a specially equipped SAFELINK WIRELESS must call SAFELINK WIRELESS at 1-800-378-1684 and specify the need(s) to an agent and TracFone Wireless will make every effort to assist such customer in obtaining a handset that is in compliance with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations.”

      You’ll probably find similar answers from most of the free government cell phone companies.

      Reply

    • According to the rules of the free government cell phone program, accounts should be automatically closed if unused for 60 days. In reality, that doesn’t always happen. Keep your fingers crossed and contact your service provider’s customer service team by phone or online. Good luck.

      Reply

  23. My uncle, in the state of Colorado already qualifies for a free cell phone. The problem is, it’s too small. He’s a senior. The buttons are too small to see or press. Are there phones available within these programs that are large buttons, large numbers and/or display?
    Thank you.

    Reply

    • We are unaware of any companies that offer larger phones for the sight impaired. We’d suggest that you call the companies in your state to find out if any of them do. Good luck to you and your uncle.

      Reply

  25. I have an assurance account. What phones are able to be connected to my line? Are there any better phones than the nokia? Thank you.

    Reply

  26. I have applied, and I qualify for a lifeline phone from Access. It appears Qlink has taken the personal information I gave them so I could get information from their webpage (no “proof” given to them) and used this to say I have applied for a phone from them. I have contacted qstink many times demanding they stop any application they have forced upon me. I believe they are blocking my application with Access saying I have a lifeline phone with them already. How can I stop the crooks from qstink preventing me from getting a phone from Access? They apparently refuse to stop my “application”. Access and QSTINK have been no help with this for a month now. Do I have any recourse?

    Reply

  28. I’ve had Blue Jay service for about a year now. Service interrupted due to missing re application deadline. Been having trouble re applying. Will find out if service will be restored by 11-23-2015. Went to local Blu jay store to resolve problem. Should know by 11-23-15 if service restored. Not happy with Blue Jay. Can you provide info on another provider. Hate calling the Philippines five times to resolve issues. Please help.
    Thanks

    Reply

  31. I was wanting to know where I can pick up a free phone.. in Denver Colorado.. where the stands are at to get a phone can you please email me back please thank you god bless u

    Reply

  32. Is there any company at all that can help me by providing me a free government cell phone? I live in Southeast Colorado, which is a part of Colorado and the United States. I have been trying to gett Assurance Wireless to help me but they are unable to…my zip code is 81054…lots of people live here many of us qualify..Please help? My name is Carl.. my email is: mrbassdaddio@yahoo.com

    Reply

    • We’ve listed all the companies above that serve Colorado, in the United States. Have you gone to their websites or called them?

      Reply

  33. My daughter told me about a free cell phone that was available and I would be happy to receive one thru the mail. thank you so very much.

    Reply

  35. Hello
    I have read all the info. and I do qualify for a phone. Where can I find a vender to get one to speed up the process so I won’t have to wait a couple of weeks getting one through the mail? I live in the south Denver area ( Englewood ). Thank You Very Much, Bill Tackett

    Reply

  36. I need a phone for job contacts but do not have a mailing address. Is there somewhere I can go in person to get one?

    Reply

  37. I am on Medicaid so I think I qualify for a free phone? I live in Colorado. My questions is what kind of phone is it? Di I get the phone first and then look for a carrier. I am interested in wireless not land line

    Reply

    • You get what you get as far as the phone is concerned — the company use whatever they can buy at a discount at the time. You get the phone from the carrier, with service.

      Reply

  38. Does the Obama phones offer landline service ? If so , do you have website or toll free number? Not really interested in cell phone service. Thanks!

    Reply

    • Most all major landline phone companies offer a Lifeline discount. It isn’t free, but you get a goo discount. All you have to do is ask the phone company for the Lifeline discount.

      Reply

    • Well then, you came to the right place! Just scroll up to the articles at the top of this page and you’ll see links to information for all the free government cell phone companies in Colorado.

      Reply

    • You are on the page that lists the companies that provide phones for Colorado. Just contact any of them.

      Reply

  42. I really need an accurate answer to this question. No “I think” or “I believe” or “Just apply and see”. I am very short on time. My daughter is on the Childrens Extensive Support waiver in Colorado. The waiver waives the Medicaid requirement of low income so that a family can afford therapies, diapers, etc. Through this waiver, my daughter is on Medicaid and has a Medicaid number and card. Do we still qualify for a free cell phone? Also, my daughter is 6. Is this phone for the use of the disabled person? Or can it be for my use? We on’t have any cell phones because we can’t afford them, so even one would come in so handy. Thank you.
    Mel

    Reply

    • Yes. If she is on Medicaid, she qualifies. There is no “disabled” phone available. You get one phone per household and anyone can use it.

      Reply

  43. I have been trying for months and I get nowhere. I have no phone number or contact number to give them. I have called 12 times and gave my name and address slowly and waited for a application that never came. Can you help me. I am on s.s.i and I have government funded housing.

    Reply