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Utah: Free government cell phones (Internet, too!) from Lifeline and ACP

When you hear politicians bragging about how quickly Utah’s economy is recovering, keep in mind that many citizens of the state are having trouble putting food on the table in these tough times. That’s why we are happy to announce that the Lifeline program has officially come to the Beehive State thanks to long time provider Safelink Wireless, and as of July 2011, Assurance Wireless.

Now Utah’s needy can get the free smartphones and the free monthly minutes they need to help them call potential employers, to keep in touch with their kids, to contact their doctors. As if that weren’t good enough, ACP gives them tons of internet service to sweeten the deal even more.

Lifeline and ACP free government cell phone service providers in Utah

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

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 Utah:

sorry none

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

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

  • 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 addition, you may also qualify if your Total Household Income is at or under 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Our table below shows the income limits for Utah, already calculated for you.

Income Based Eligibility for Utah
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 Utah

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.

Free smartphones. Free talk. Free texts. Free internet service. This is the future that awaits you when you enroll in Lifeline and ACP programs. We cannot think of any reason to wait. C’mon, Utahans, sign up now.

Latest Lifeline and ACP News for Utah:

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?
Assurance Wireless Adds Free Cell Phone Service in Utah - You can now get a free cell phone and 250 minutes of service monthly in Utah, through Assurance Wireless (and still Safelink Wireless).

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

Comments

  1. R.T. says

    Is there a way to find out where they are giving out the phones on a particular day instead of having to call or doing it online?

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      As we’ve said at least 1,000 times, we urge or readers NOT to enroll at a street event. Do yourself a favor and enroll online or by phone.

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      “Unlimited” is truly in the mind of the beholder, Rocn. Most offer “unlimited” up to a certain level of usage and then they throttle back (reduce the speed) on all usage after that point. You’ll need to do a little research to figure out how that compares to your specific usage.

  3. Tonya Morrill says

    I just wanted to tell you that, in addition to providing valuable information that was easy to navigate and understand, reading the comments and your replies made my whole day!😊

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      Always nice to be appreciated, Tonya. We think we’re hilarious, others disagree wholeheartedly.

  4. juan garcia says

    half of these providers do not provide or are no longer eligible to serve the state of utah. not sure where you got the list from but it needs some updating. standup and tempo are not qualified by the state to allow telecommunications in utah and that was just a couple of weeks ago. can find no information about life wireless and safelink no longer provides phones just a sim card

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      We are currently in the process of revising listings for all the service providers, but StandUp just informed us that they still offer service in Utah.

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      The sales function varies widely from company to company, Andrea. You’ll need to contact each company’s corporate headquarters to find out how each company handles it.

  7. Mark says

    I’m on disability and receive Medicare, Do I qualify. My check after deductions is approximately a little under $1,400.00. per month. I can’t drive and food deliveries cost too much for my budget unless absolutely an emergency. I broke 5 ribs and tore muscles I both shoulders waited 2.5 months before I got groceries. I lost over 30lbs pounds and after a month lost my appetite and food turned into an enemy that I no longer wanted.

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      It sounds as if you qualify, Mark. But here’s what we want you to do: Check the link below to find all the companies and free government cell phone plans offered in your state. Check the carefully and look at every one to find the plan that fits your needs best. Then use the contact info we provide to contact the company of your choice. Here’s that link:

      https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states

  8. Ben Dillman says

    Why are there no locations to sign up for, activate,and receive the lifeline phones in Salt Lake City, UT?

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      We strongly urge our readers to enroll online or by phone. Avoid the fraud and abuse common at street events.

  9. Patrick Perry says

    I have had 4 traumatic brain injuries. I go in circles all day long.

    I need a phone with a large screen and a stylus.

    I can’t remember how to find you again.

    T-Mobile and Walmart made my apple phone stop working 2 months ago.

    I understand California users have stylus phones.

    Any suggestions for long Internet, talk and texts?

  10. Patricia says

    And yes I have a phone I got from the state a few months ago I forgot about it and found it I was wondering if I could get it turned back on can reach me at 385-285-**** thank you

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      You have a couple problems here, Patricia. (1) we are not a Lifeline service provider, so we cannot help you. (2) Your service was terminated because the rules of the Lifeline program say that service must be terminated any time a phone goes unused for 30 days or longer. (3) You’ll need to go through the enrollment process from square one with one of the service providers listed on this page.

  12. Mike Allen says

    Just got off the phone with Safelink. Had a cell phone since 2012. Trying to recertify. I was told I can’t . I need to communicate with the Utah administrator? What is the contact information? Is that a thing or am I getting the run around

  13. juan says

    i cant seem to find a place that shows what different providers essentially provide in minutes in Utah. is there some place to compare company x with company y i know some companies only do 350 min while some do 750 and others do 1000 but there is no place to find to compare, can anyone help?

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      Jeez, Juan, we provide you with links to all the companies and their plans, and provide a summary of those plans. Is it really too difficult to click from one to another and write down all the info you need?

    • KELLY KIRK says

      In my experience in the past 7+ years of having a government phone with a few different providers. The minutes they provide seem to be pretty standard across the board in my experience. 250-500 mins a month that’s don’t roll-over. Reset each month. The option to buy more of course. Now where it differs the most is data. Some don’t provide data unless you pay, though some provide 500mb of data free every month (Q-link Wireless) is one example. But if you want to talk to anyone in person or really talk to anyone for support..with them it’s non-existent. That’s why as soon as my time lapses I’m switching providers. But hope that answers your question.

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      Contact your service provider to find out what makes and models of phones are available, Doug.

  15. Jim Morkin says

    I am 87 years old / widower / no other family / live alone / under 1500.00 month income which includes small Va pension.
    Do I qualify?

    I now have a Tracfone with significant minutes … can I transfer those minutes to your phone service?”

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      We do not have good news for you, Jim. Check out the income limits shown on this page and you’ll see that your income is a bit higher than what’s allowed. And if you did qualify, you still couldn’t transfer the minutes into the free government cell phone program from a non-free government cell phone program.

      But please check out all the other ways you can qualify. We’re hoping that you qualify through one of the ways shown in the article at this link:

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

  16. Danielle hansen says

    I have turned in 2 app.got a letter needing documentation again I sent it both times and stii have not received phone It has been almost a year of waiting I sent in the paper app with documentation.

  17. Janice Lee Stewart says

    I am nearly 58 years old, on SSI and food stamps.I live on below poverty income, and 163 dollars food stamps, received monthly; please know Im grateful. It’s hard to maintain quality of life, at any level. My health is poor, getting around to a phone has become a burden. I no longer take public transportation due to my health capacity limitations. Access to a phone and Internet services would be a key factor in restoring a huge part in gaining self efficancy and putting my affairs in order.

  19. J.R. says

    Can you tell me if the qualifying income is based on taxable income or full income before taxes, etc?

  20. terisha spellman says

    I live in a small city that don’t have house to house mail. All of this city gets their mail at a p.o.box. it really sucks for us low income family’s please help

  21. Denise Platt says

    I had a phone through Safelink and when I had to re sign up I was told that they could not give me the benefit because I have a PO Box address. That is how I get my mail. I live in an apt on my mothers property and her address won’t work either. Why am I being penalized because of this. I need the phone just as much or more than anyone else that qualifies. Isn’t there some way to work this out?

    • FreeGovernmentCellPhones.net says

      There is a site some people built, called FreeGovernmentCellPhones.net. You should try that.

  23. janet sypolt says

    I have my own cellphone however cant afford phones for my daughers to whom are special needs. I would like to always be able tp get intoch with them when they arr away from home. My 12!year old was. A parade a coupleof weeks a go. I could find her after parade was over i had to find police to find her took almost three hours to find her. I am on ssi and ssocial security disabilityboth my girls recieve ssi. We get less then want you say limit for house hold of three. Also we are in secetion 8 housing

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      If they live in a separate household, with no one else receiving a free cell phone already, they can get one per household. Only one is allowed per household.