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Iowa: Free government cell phones (with Internet) from Lifeline and ACP

A Gallup survey measured the Economic Confidence Index in every state and showed that the state of Iowa felt better about the future than the citizens of any other state.

The survey asked about both national economic conditions as well as local economic conditions – including things like hiring activity in their workplace.

Despite the fact that Iowans are relatively upbeat about the future, there are tens of thousands of people in the state who are having financial trouble right now. The state’s unemployment rate is good compared to the rest of the country, but the state still has far too much poverty.

But there’s good news for needy Iowans. You may qualify for a free cell phone, and free monthly minutes. unlimited talk, unlimited text, and unlimited data. It’s all thanks to the Lifeline free government cell phone program and the Affordable Connectivity Program’s free internet. What a combo!

How to qualify for Lifeline Assistance free government cell phones in Iowa

Here’s a list of all the Lifeline Assistance free government cell phones in Iowa. 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 Iowa

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 Iowa:

Lifeline Cell Phone Eligibility in Iowa:

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

  • 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)

In Iowa, you may also qualify if your Total Household Income is at or under 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Take a look at the chart below where we shows the income levels at this calculated rate for you:

Income Based Eligibility for Iowa
Members in Household Annual income
1 member $18,347
2 members $24,719
3 members $31,091
4 members $37,463
5 members $43,835
6 members $50,207
7 members $56,579
8 members $62,951
For each additional member add $6,372 annually

How to qualify for an ACP free government phone and unlimited service in Iowa

It’s even easier to qualify for ACP service than it is to qualify for Lifeline service. The USAC website spells it all out:

Consumers qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) through participation in Lifeline or a Lifeline-qualifying program, having an income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, through participation in ACP-qualifying programs,  such as the free and reduced-price school lunch or breakfast program (including the Community Eligibility Provision), WIC, through award of a federal Pell Grant, or through participation in a participating service provider’s existing low-income program.

What are you waiting for? Choose your favorite service provider and favorite plan and the future is, well, almost unlimited. Unlimited talk, unlimited text, and unlimited internet.

Latest ACP and Lifeline News for Iowa:

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.

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

Comments

  1. Michelle Majeres says

    I have an assault victim staying in my home recovering from his injuries . His phone and other items were stolen . Would he be eligible for a free phone?

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      Where did you get the phone? Did you buy it or get it from a Lifeline company?

  3. Tara says

    Ive had qlink, the cell service was terrible so I switched to SafeLink and im still having the same issue. I live in southeast Iowa and was wondering if anyone could point in be right direction of a different company to go with

      • Laura says

        Same problem here I am in Midwest, Iowa, I have tried qlink and safe link. It’s possible that I have a problem setting it up because I’m switching from Verizon but no instructions anywhere

  4. Ricky Newberry says

    Hello my name is Ricky Newberry And I was with Stand up at the beginning and then something happened with my phonee it stopped working and when I spoke with a customer repersenative they said that my phone service had gotten switched or something and now I have no phone or service and now I have to go where theres someone always around and I prefer to be able to stay at home sometimes

  5. Elizabeth Giorgenti says

    I’m not “tech” savvy…how do I get government cell phone assistance service

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      You don’t need to be tech savvy, Liz. Just check out all the companies and plans listed on this page to find the plan that fits your needs best. Then enroll with the company/plan using the contact info we provide. It’s really pretty simple.

  6. SHERRILL A AQUINO says

    I had to switch to a different govt. Phone in 2015.
    I do not like this svc and all 3 phones I’ve had have needed replaced and this yr + last year the replacements don’t work properly.
    Prior to this I had Assurance (2013-2015) and want to know if I could switch back to Assurance?

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      Yes, you can switch service providers every 60 days if you wish.

  7. Linda Wood says

    My sister is currently in a care facility, on Medicaid. Would she be eligible. She lives in Marion, Iowa
    How does this work?

  8. Thomas Evensizer says

    I’m a 43 year old disabled man who lives in fort dodge iowa, & I’m planning on moving to Mason city Iowa soon are there any discount wireless companies here or there and which are they. Also how to contact them.

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      You can find all the contact info you need by clicking on any of the companies listed on this page. Good luck, Thomas.

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      We are unable to track service down to the local area such as you request, James. But you can easily contact the companies list on this page to ask if they serve your area.

    • Aly says

      I think Iowa used to provide a free phone if you received Energy Assistance to heat your home. Does that still qualify you for a free phone? Also, is SSI the same thing as being on Social Security Disability?

      • Free Government Cell Phones says

        Here’s how DisabilitySecrets.com describes the two programs:

        “The main difference between Social Security Disability (SSD, or SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is the fact that SSD is available to workers who have accumulated a sufficient number of work credits, while SSI disability benefits are available to low-income individuals who have either never worked or who haven’t earned enough work credits to qualify for SSD.

        “While many people don’t distinguish between SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance), they are two completely different governmental programs. While both programs are overseen and managed by the Social Security Administration, and medical eligibility for disability is determined in the same manner for both programs, there are distinct differences between the two.”

        State-based assistance programs no longer make you eligible for the free government cell phone program. Here’s where you can find all the current ways to qualify:

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

  11. Chris Carter says

    I’m looking for a company that isn’t save link or assurance witless. Im very frustrated with the two
    I’m looking for a free phone or nice cheap phone around 40-50.00.that has Free data with option to buy more. I would very much apperciate this sence I’m really over whelmed with all the offers…Sioux City Iowa
    Thank you.

    October 21 2017. 11:57 pm

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      You’re on the right page, chris. According to our count, Iowa has eleven different companies offering free government cell phone plans. Take your choice and enroll with the one that has the plan that fits your needs best. Good luck.

  12. L king says

    Do not use stand up wireless they have gave me the run around, I was approved over two months ago and they never sent me a device and they just told me I received my device and it was deactivated by an agency in Iowa. Not sure who. And I never received anything.
    I was then told I would need to reapply. I have given them a copy of my dl. And my insurance card. Now I’m afraid I have been scammed..

  13. N. L. Bryson says

    South Dakota only has one free lifeline company and that is Budget Mobil… I was notified that they are going out of the business. What can we, in South Dakota do? How can we get lifeline mobile service?

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      Budget has been the only free government cell phone offering service in South Dakota. Now that Budget is going out of business, many of its customers have been picked up by enTouch. We don’t know if that is true in South Dakota.

  14. Leisa Nolte says

    What if I am didn’t know about the free cell phone offer till now. The current cell phone provider I have wants to charge me $300.00 to get out of my contract. Is there any way to get out of this?

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      Unfortunately, it sounds like you signed a contract for a paid cell phone. The company is not obligated to let you out of your contract, but we would suggest that you call your service provider and ask to speak to a supervisor. Explain your story and ask to be let out of your contract. As a friend of ours always says, “If you don’t ask, you don’t get.” It’s possible that they may let you out of the contract. Not probable, but possible.

  15. Troy Raudabaugh says

    I have had 2 lifeline companies, Safelink and Budget mobile.. I cancelled both because of you can’t reach anyone live in customer service, if you have a problem with your phone. Budget Mobile was the worst. Because the phone they sent me didn’t work right from the day I got it.. And could never get them to send me a different phone. I think because it’s free to those who need it, we should just accept what we get, and be happy about it

  16. Sherri says

    To get customer service using this service is NOT easy , nor functional for elderly .
    You will get text and calls from previous owners bill collectors n freinds plus she gets many calls from Mexico , does not know who they are. Plus goes against HER MINS.
    Course the service is zero to hardly able to use because it doesn’t connect to all cell towers.
    Your customer service hardly able to communicate and takes over a hour to get your point across .
    The phones are NOT easy to use for me let alone a elderly person , must cost 5ents to make .
    I’ve never ever seen such a joke to get help oh and if your older and don’t know anything about charges that will be charged to you , because buttons do not do what you want ect . Be prepared .
    This is the biggest scammers I see OUR goverment plays a part in.
    Do not use . Do not buy into.

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      A couple comments, Sherri. First, we have no idea which company your comment was aimed at because you didn’t say. So no one in a position of responsibility will ever see your comment nor know which company wronged your friend. Second, WE are not part of the problem. We are an independent website not affiliated with any of the free government cell phone companies.

  17. Daniel says

    I have no income…on food stamps…have rent assistance and can’t afford a phone…how do I go about getting one of these phones

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      It sounds as if you qualify based on income and also because you participate in the food stamp program. So go through the companies listed on this page to find the company and plan that’s best for you. Then contact that company through the contact info shown on that company page. Good luck, Daniel.

  19. Valerie Frericks says

    this is not getting me any where ask all those quertions and dont get any where but back to the same old stuff…. you asked b 4…

  21. tina says

    What is the number so that my neighbors can get a phone. They dnt have internet so I really just need a number. Thank you.

    • FreeGovernmentCellPhones.net says

      Each link in the article above goes to a cell phone provider’s page where you will find the phone number of that company.

  22. John scott says

    My father is in a rehabilation center, has a land phone I had put in and pay for, it has local calling only. As I live out of state would he be able to get a free phone to call long distance? As he could call and I would call him back as not to use up his phone time. If so how would this work and how to get this. Would there be any cost? Thank You John

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      Each company has different plans, you should check on each provider’s website for his state to see.