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West Virginia: Free government cell phones & Internet from Lifeline and ACP

On one hand, West Virginia has weathered the Great Recession better than most states. On the other hand, the state faces problems other states don’t.

The Mountain State’s coal industry faces greater competition from other regions and other countries. On top of that, it faces even stricter government regulations.

So for all the West Virginians who have already lost their jobs and for those who will soon lose their jobs, we want you to know there’s help.

The Lifeline program can see to it that you get a free government cell phone and free monthly minutes to help you land an interview for a new job, to take care of emergencies, to stay in touch with your children and to reach your doctor.

Even better, there are a large number of service providers doing business in West Virginia.

Lifeline and ACP free government cell phone service providers in West Virginia

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

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 West Virginia:

How to qualify for Lifeline Assistance free government cell phones in West Virginia

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

  • 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)

You may also qualify if your Total Household Income is at or under 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. See chart below, that shows the numbers after we’ve done the math for you:

Income Based Eligibility for West Virginia
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 West Virginia

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.

We just rewatched the video of 70,000 Germans singing “Take Me Home, County Roads” (the unofficial national anthem of the state of West Virginia) at an NFL game played in Berlin. Now that so many service providers are offering free smartphones, free unlimited talk, free unlimited texts, and free unlimited internet, we can imagine even more West Virginians getting together to sing the praises of Lifeline and ACP.

Latest ACP and Lifeline News for West Virginia:

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.
West Virginia Goodwill helping people qualify for Lifeline cell phones - We love stories like this. The needy are often those least able to navigate the waters of bureaucracy, so Goodwill Industries in Charleston, South Carolina is helping its people get free Lifeline cell phones.

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

Comments

  1. Nicole says

    I need a lifeline plan that works in Charleston, WV; lets me choose what phone I want, and provides free monthly service. What companies would be of option for me?

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      Check the companies listed on this page. We’ve listed all the cities and towns in which they offer service at the end of each service provider’s listing.

      • Free Government Cell Phones says

        Sorry to hear about your problem but we cannot do anything to help you. This is an independent informational website and is NOT affiliated with any Lifeline free government cell phone service provider. Contact your service provider’s customer service team.

  2. Vickie graham says

    I need a phone. I only draw 1100 a month they keep sending sim cards I need a phone. (PERSONAL INFO DELETED) Thank you please help

      • April cribb says

        I have a diabetic child in grade school access in need the best government phone. How can I find the best one in my area

        • Free Government Cell Phones says

          That’s impossible for us to say, April. There are too many variables from one place to another. The company/plan/service/signal that works perfectly for your neighbor may not be the best choice for you.

      • Free Government Cell Phones says

        Click on each of the companies listed on this page, Lanie, to check out all the plans available in your state. Find the plan that fits your needs best, then enroll with that company.

  3. Alma Louann Minnick says

    The EDD program I’ll qualify for with boost Mobile did not give me the PIN number so I can activate my boost Mobile phone with EDD what do I do they didn’t send me an email with my
    pin

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      The rules of the program prohibit PO Boxes. You must use the address at which you reside.

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      It depends on which service provider you choose, Abbie. Contact the service provider of your choice before enrolling to make sure your make and model of phone is compatible with its network.

  6. Ruth Ann Robinette says

    My cell phone got stolen how do I report it through this service I’ve tired calling and can’t talk to no one I want the service shut off so no one can use it can someone help me

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      Have you checked the company’s website to see if you can communicate with customer service via email or online chat?

  7. Shelia says

    I need one if I am out by myself and need someone to come and get me or letting my home know where I am if they need me I am 65 years old and need a cellphone to keep in touch with my family

  8. Brandon stewart says

    I have lost my my wallet had my id my wallet. Had my id and everything else in it how can I gain access to a phone so I will have a lifeline

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      You’ll probably need to get Your ID replaced in order to enroll, Brandon.

  9. Ryan says

    my child gets medicaid can I get a phone for him? also how would I fill out the form? In my name since its on the medicaid card with his name listed or just in his name? He under age of 18.

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      An adult on Medicaid would qualify for a Lifeline free government cell phone, Ryan. But no one under 18 qualifies, even if they meet the other eligibility requirements. Here’s an article that spells out all the ways you can qualify. We’re providing this link in hopes that you can find a way for you to qualify for the program.

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

  10. Elisha cornell says

    I need a new phone. how do I get one? I get Medicaid, food stamps, and my old phone through you guys. had been goofing up. I need a new one. I live in faytte county wv. name is Elisha Cornell. please send any in or mail it to the address the other one has. thank you. Elisha cornell

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      Sorry to hear about your problems, Elisha. But we’re not your service provider. You need to contact your service provider’s customer service team to solve your problems. Good luck.

  11. Charles says

    Do any of the lifeline co’s in WV use Verizon as their cell provider? My old Reachout Wireless phone used Verizon and it worked great.

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      You will need to contact the companies customer service teams to get that question answered.

  12. Jacob says

    I am currently UN employed and do not receive any income. I need a cell phone so that I can find work I did work last year and would like to find work before I end up homeless is there any way I can get a few phone and minutes??

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      You can get a free phone and free minutes I f you qualify based on current participation in a government assistance program or based on low-income. Check out those criteria on our “Do You Qualify” page. You’ll find it in the navigation bar at the top of this page just under our logo.

  13. Kendra says

    My fiancé and I get snap benefits together for food in the same household. I applied for a phone but he needs one as well for work because we have no house phone. He gets his own Medicaid on his own case separately Is there a way for him to get a government assistance cell phone so that he can keep in contact with his job because I’m pregnant and can’t be without a phone incase of an emergency and like I said no house phone. So is this possible, is there a way for him to get a cell phone as well?.

  15. homer jojnson says

    im trying to got hilp with getting a free gov phone I have three sometimes I have four grandkills with me

    • Kendra says

      If you get government assistantce then yes you can get a government phone. IT says one per household. Any assistance like snap, tanf, social security on a low income… or if you meet income requirements. Look at the chart and if you get any ONE of these assistance from the government you can get a free phone with minutes on it!!

  16. Elisabeth says

    My Grandma is trying to apply for a phone and she receives social security. Does she figure her income before medicare is taken out or after it is taken out? Also the income in the chart, $15.755, is that 100% or is that the figure for 135%?

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      You don’t include or exclude medicare in the income. And the chart has the 135% applied to it, so use the figures you see.