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Rhode Island: Free government cell phones & Internet from Lifeline and ACP

Rhode Island may be the smallest state, but it faces the same big problems that the rest of the country faces.

The economy of Providence-New Bedford-Fall River, the state’s only significant metropolitan area, shrunk by of -0.4% in the first half of 2011. And as of March 2011 the state had the nation’s fourth highest rate of unemployment.

The state’s nickname is The Ocean State and that’s appropriate because its good citizens are drowning in this economy.

Luckily, the Lifeline program and the Affordable Connectivity Program are there to help unemployed and other unfortunate residents of the state. Rhode Island is blessed with a large number of players in the Lifeline program, all of whom offer government cell phones and free monthly minutes.

Thanks to these two great government programs, low-income Rhode Islanders can now look forward to free smartphones, unlimited talk, unlimited texts, and maybe even unlimited data.

Lifeline and ACP free government cell phone service providers in Rhode Island

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

How to qualify for Lifeline Assistance free government cell phones in Rhode Island

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

  • 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)

Rhode Island residents may also qualify if your Total Household Income is at or under 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. See chart below:

Income Based Eligibility for Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island

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.

Big things are in store for low-income residents of the smallest state. We said it earlier, but it’s worth repeating. If you qualify, you can get a free smartphone, unlimited talk, unlimited texts, and more data than you can shake the proverbial stick at. Check out all the plans and enroll now.

Latest Lifeline & ACP News for Rhode Island:

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?
25 more ways to qualify for a free government cell phone - Here's a quick, state-by-state summary of additional state assistance programs in which your participation means automatic qualification for the free government cell phone program.
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.
More choices for free government cell phones in Rhode Island - Here’s good news for Ocean State residents. Assurance Wireless is now offering eligible Rhode Islanders a free cell phone and 250 free monthly voice minutes per month.

See more cell phone news.

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

Comments

  1. david maroni says

    I receive SSDI but my income is above the annual income eligibility for 1 person, am I eligible for a free phone?

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      Do you participate in any of the government assistance programs that would make you eligible?

  2. Tayla says

    I live in RI and I have a free cell phone. However, where I live I get no service. Is it possible to switch over to another carrier and if so, how would I do that?
    The place where I picked up my cell phone is outside in front of a bldg. in Prov. so it is random day to day for what company you will get. I would not have known there were other carriers but one of my friends mom has a different carrier than I do and she went to the same place I did but on another day.
    I do not drive so I would have to get a ride and chance that day it will be a different server. Is there an easier way for me to get a different carrier?
    Thank you,
    Tayla

  3. Earl Elbey says

    Trying to reach you in the last month.No luck. I think I need application. for Rhode island.Could u mail the application to my home address? Since l can t reach you. I do have the other paperwork. Last time we communicated, your staff told me l only can have one service. My service with Stand up Wireless has expired I the last 6 weeks. I’m not on their list no more. As of today this person has no phone service from anyone. Check the record our.Please a ccommodate my request. Please kindly reply by email
    Thank you for your cooperation and support. Sincerely Yours,
    Earl Elbey

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      We are not a free government cell phone company, Earl. This is an independent informational website. So you have never communicated with us.

  5. Ileana Aviles says

    I need a cell phone becuase i got my daughter school be caling and my son doctor call me thatz why i need one right now please help me

  6. Denise Neves says

    My friend is on SSDI. She receives food stamps, and help paying for her Medicare (low income). She also gets heating assistance, and help paying for her landline. Being disabled, she needs a cell phone for when she leaves her house. That is Doctor appts. and grocery shopping. She is so afraid she will get stranded with her very old car and not be able to call for help. She cannot pay for a phone. Can you please help me to find out if she is eligible for a free cell phone? Thank you..

  8. Jamie says

    I have a straight talk phone that is inactive, i have the assurance phone and plan through the state. Can i switch my assurance over to my straight talk its an LG

  9. Aida Chavez says

    I’m a single mother with 2 kids ages 13 and 15 and they on IEP program and ssi grogram.are the hey aligible for free phone ? If so how do I get into grogram. Thank you the help

  10. Tami Lyons says

    My income is $1,009/month. How do I get a cell phone? By the income guidelines I qualify for a free government cell phone. My income is from SSDI and I receive SNAP food benefits.

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      Did you read the page above? All the information is on there. Click through the providers, check them out, and pick one.