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Wisconsin: Free government cell phones from Lifeline and ACP – with Internet

Wisconsin has major problems in its economy. It has lagged behind most of the other states in business development, income growth and the development of talented young people. Residents of the Badger State have suffered as a result. After American wages plunged during last recession, Wisconsin’s personal net earnings have rebounded at an average annual rate that lags that of the nation and most of the Great Lakes states. And now we have inflation problems on top of all that.

The Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance says that Wisconsin consistently ranks near the bottom of the fifty states in creation of new companies. Combine these issues and you end up with a lot of people who qualify for the Lifeline free government cell phone program and the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) free government internet program.

Lifeline and ACP free government cell phone service providers in Wisconsin

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

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 Wisconsin:

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

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

  • 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 Guideline for Wisconsin, which we’ve calculated for you in the table below:

Income Based Eligibility for Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin

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.

Hey, Cheeseheads, there’s never been a better time and there have never been better programs. Lifeline gives you free smartphones, free unlimited talk, and free unlimited texts. And the Affordable Connectivity Program adds a layer of free unlimited internet on top of that. Check it all the plans available in your state. Pick the one that works best with your needs. Enroll today and start enjoying all the benefits.

Latest Lifeline & ACP News for Wisconsin:

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.
Business booming at TAG Mobile: Company offers free government cell phones in six new states - Tag Mobile is now offering free government cell phones to in six more states (Kansas, Michigan, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin).
Assurance Wireless now offering free government cell phones in Wisconsin - Eligible residents of Wisconsin can now receive a free government cell phone and 250 free voice minutes per month from Assurance Wireless.

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

Comments

  1. April says

    I don’t remember what service provider I have. How can I find this info so I can transfer my number to another service program

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      Simple, April. Just call 6-1-1 on your free government cell phone and you service provider will answer.

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      You need to contact your service provider’s customer service team, Roberta.

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      You can contact the companies in your state directly (some of them have their own sales forces) or you can check out Craig’s List for “help wanted” independent contractors who are hired by the Lifeline companies.

  5. HOLLY WILSON says

    I had a state phone about 5 years ago don’t know I put it up lost job in Dec 2018 can get a job now in lots of pain can’t pay for one I had need get a government phone again

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      No problem, Holly. As long as your qualify, you can enroll with any of the plans available on this page (above). Check them all out carefully to find the plan that fits your needs best.

  6. laurie walker says

    Not seeing my comment so i will leave another. I applied online and called them moths ago and never heard anything. I am eligible so no clue what happened

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      We have no clue, either, Laurie, and there’s no way for us to know because we are NOT the company you enrolled with. This is an independent informational website. Contact the company’s customer service team.

  7. Megan Schreiber says

    I am wondering who would be the contact of the Lifeline program, if someone has questions about the program itself who can they contact by phone? What is the agency that oversees this program?

  9. Lauren says

    Hello,
    I am looking for phone services for one of my members. They qualify, but a cell phone won’t be sufficient due to their living environment. They live in an assisted living unit with no cell reception. Is there a government funded program with an option for a “free” landline?
    Thank you.

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      Unfortunately, there is no free landline program, Lauren. Lifeline offers the choice of a free government cell phone or a discounted landline. You are required to choose one or the other.

  10. gaby says

    Why people who can’t speak English answer the phone, I still haven’t received my phone, but kno one speak English to understand what I’m saying…

  12. Jill Sahagian says

    I am trying to get a free phone for my elderly father with memory loss. I am being denied and told the he has another free cell phone provider according to the National or Wisconsin State database. He has never received any phones. Can you tell me what provider he allegedly has so I can cancel or call to find out why he has not received his phone?

        • Free Government Cell Phones says

          You don’t need to go anywhere, Jill. You can enroll online or by phone from the comfort of your own home. Click on all the companies and plans listed on this page to find the one that fits your needs best (the most minutes, most texts, most data) and contact that company to enroll. It’s that easy.

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      Are you getting that response as you attempt to enroll online? If so, try calling the service provider’s customer service team to see if they can tell you why your address is being rejected.

  14. Markel Johnson says

    I am trying to cancel my 414 915 **** number I have another phone number provided my the government service

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      Uh-oh. Are you saying that you currently have two different Lifeline Assistance free government cell phones with different companies? If so, you must call one of the companies and cancel your service IMMEDIATELY.

  15. Victoria Alavarez says

    How do I keep my reach out number ow that I had to transferred to safelink wireless

  16. Chris says

    I received my safelink phone I can hardly get any service from it when a call does goes thru I am usually disconnected in on for more than a minute or two. Most of the time my phone says no service. Safelink had me enter a whole bunch of numbers and it still does not work correctly. I called them to see if they could send me a different phone and they told me no that I should walk around my house until I get a bar on the phone. I cancelled and tried to go to another carrier and I have to wait 60 days? Is this true for an unsatisfied customer also?

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      Unfortunately, Chris, Lifeline Assistance regulations do not differ between dissatisfied customers and ecstatic customers.
      How about if you talk to customer service at your next preferred service provider and see if they know a way around those rules.
      Good luck.

  17. laura says

    is it possible to use another phone instead of the trac phone we recieved a few years ago? also, can you share a number to call to find out who our service is through to set up a different phone of its possible? st croix county, wisconsin

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      Theoretically, all free government cell phones should be “unlocked” and can be used with another company’s SIM card. We say theoretically because some companies are dragging their feet on implementing the unlock process.

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      Do you mean they locked it away somewhere or that the phone itself has been locked so that you can no longer use it? If it’s the former, we can’t help you. If it’s the latter, call your provider’s customer service team to discuss the problem.

  19. Linda says

    If I have a TracFon can I I use the same phone, same telephone number and get the free service?

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      It is completely dependent on which free government cell phone company you sign up with. Some allow you to bring your own phone, but other’s don’t. All you can do is check with each of the companies listed on this page to see what they permit.

  20. K.J. Karow says

    I am currently using safelink which is run by tracfone. Tracfone uses at&t and T-Mobile signal or towers. My reception is spoty at best. Full signal to no signal constantly. How can I find out which government program runs off of who’s signal.

  21. Chris Maynard says

    Im looking for free lifeline service and phone with free texting and able to send and receive pics, I already have assurance wireless, but I cannot send or receive pics

  22. Lisa Ruben says

    I looked up my safe link and said it was canceled the 25 of nov. had applied with the Oneida reservation, had not herd any thing yet. did not get min for this mo. left with 10 min on phone. their phone # 877-403-5171

  24. John Homa says

    My daughter Ann is handicapped and works at Goodwill. We, her parents, have been advised to get her a cell phone; cost apparently will be picked up by provider or ?

    I’ve done some research, but frankly I’m overwhelmed. I asked several people at Goodwill and related services if anyone can recommend a PHONE that Ann would be capable of using. Everyone said they could not. I also stated that “someone” must be able to make a recommendation, but still no response.

    Ann does not read so we would have to get a phone that can be programmed like “press 1 for Mom, 2 for Dad”, etc., Numbers must be relatively big. The phone will not need many features, just a basic phone.

    If you can make a recommendation(s) I would be most grateful. I will continue my research. Please reply even if you can’t help me.

    Thank you,

    John Homa

  26. James A Buckner says

    I have been tyring to get phone from Qlink now Since Nov 4 it is now Dec 8 14 . I live in the country I have no other phone I have no internet. So i go to the local library that is 5 miles from my home i walk that mind you i live in WI and it’s winter. This is my only was to communicate by going to the library to use the internet and useing phone apps so i can talk and make my appointments. So let me get down to business I have been told 17 times by email to contact them back within 3-4 business days . Just to let you all know i have tryed that and just for the record I have no phone if I don’t have the internet no phone internet but yet i get this email saying call as soon as possible . Ok i do have the internet phone right but the internet phone dose not allow yout to have the option to selecta number when you’re on a call . So therefore i can’t call them back and I told Qlink this in several emails .The thing about all of this is all keep going around and around .I tryed live chat with Qlink and all i get check back in 3-4 days this is a bunch of
    (BLOGONA)
    PS. I was supposed to get a phone call today so i sat in the library until they close so i sat from 2:00 -8:00 and no phone call is this telling something about what kind of service
    im’going to get
    Thank you

    James Bckner

    • James says

      will im stii witing and sitll no aanswers but call back in 3-5 days . The thing is i dont have a phone to call back

  28. Linda Wald says

    Please let me know how to apply by phone, since I have a rural address and not a street address I can seem to apply online!!
    thanks

    Linda

    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      I FCC is aware of the problem where PO Boxes have not been accepted, but we’re not sure where they are on this. We’ll look into it again.

      • WW2014 says

        If you live in Milwaukee area, go to welfare building on 12th and vliet. There is a vendor in that parking lot doing it.