A reader recently left a detailed comment on our Washington state page.
If you’re a regular reader of FreeGovernmentCellPhones.net — or even an occasional one — you know that we do our best to respond to readers comments. We often answer readers by referring them to FreeGovernmentCellPhones.net articles that answer to their specific questions, in addition to offering other solutions to our readers’ problems.
In most cases, we don’t respond in depth to general comments left by readers. We’d rather build our community of readers by allowing them to get into detailed back-and-forth conversations to offer each other advice and opinions and to relate their personal experiences.
But in the case of this comment we feel obligated to correct the misleading and incorrect information she provided and to set the record straight. The comment was so wrong in so many ways that we considered deleting it. But since we regularly rail against fraud, waste and corruption in the Lifeline Assistance program, we felt it was more important to leave the comment alone, but to run this correction. Time after time we’ve told our readers to report any illegal activities they see occurring.
First, let’s review the comment:
for: Ihab, Michelle, Barbara and others:
There are several ways to get a phone if you do not have an address:1. If you have a food bank near by they may offer free mail service.
2. Tell your problem to a church pastor and the church address may be used.
3. Find a friend who does not receive a free phone and use that address.
4. In some cities, like Seattle, there are locations where you can go and
apply and pick one up, as well as certain agencies that give them away
to the homeless on the streets.
5. Establish a paid mail drop(private mail box) as they are usually set
up as if they are a residential address.
6. Research the help line resources at your local city hall to see
what their directions are on free phones.
7. IF NONE OF THE ABOVE WORKS FOR YOU, I WOULD TRY THE FOLLOWING (MAYBE
YOU SHOULD TRY IT SECOND IF CITY HALL HAS NOTHING): write or email
asking for help to: Connectup@solid-ground.org
This is a Northwest area help organization which has all the info you
need to assist you in getting a free government phone.–Good Luck
We’re going to give our reader the benefit of the doubt. We assume she felt she was giving our readers good, honest advice. But in reality, almost everything she said is wrong.
You cannot, according to the rules and regulations of the Lifeline Assistance, sign up for the free government cell phone program using any address other than your home street address (unless you live in one of the types of temporary shelters described below). No food banks, no churches, no friend’s address, no rented mail drops.
We’re not saying it isn’t done, but it is illegal. Using any of those addresses will place you in violation of the programs rules and regulations. In other words, you will be guilty of fraud.
The Federal Communications Commission is very clear about this. It says, “… prior to providing service to a consumer, an ETC must obtain that consumer’s permanent residential address, unless they only have a temporary address.”
In this case, the FCC defines “temporary address” as homeless shelters, women’s shelters, halfway houses, or other temporary multi-family residence. It does not refer to the food banks, churches, friends’ homes, or rented mail drops.
The FCC also said, “… [W]e codify additional protections to be implemented by those ETCs that serve consumers without a permanent residential address, in order to assist ETCs in more easily verifying such consumers’ continued eligibility for the program.”
That means that residents of temporary shelters must re-verify their temporary residence address every 90 days.
And to repeat, a temporary address is NOT a food bank, a church, or a private rented mail box.
The reader did make one good point in her comment:
“Research the help line resources at your local city hall to see what their directions are on free phones.”
We agree. Go to city hall. Talk to homeless advocates. Find out what services and help your community offers and ask for their advice.
The Lifeline Assistance free government cell phone program is a godsend for millions of Americans who live in poverty. It’s a wonderful program and we do not want to see it harmed by fraud, waste and abuse. Follow the rules. Do the right thing. Get your cell phone by doing everything the rules allow. And not by bending or breaking those rules.
Super despondent, Bonnie says
Well, Well, Well,
Horror, Horror, Horror,
I think its just awful that a company or even a bill past that was meant to help the indigent could exclude the most vulnerable poor, the homeless. Yeah, I’m now homeless and really probably will always be considering in todays modern day, one finds reliance in moving in a positive “American dream” way depends on having and using a phone. I don’t know maybe I’m the only one homeless or at least unable to finagle a phone considering EVERYONE has some sort of way to communicate. Well then what kind of program is this? And thanks for at least leaving a pay phone or two so that when an entirely needy person has to reach out they might find one hiding a couple hundred miles down the road for their use… Really so bent I kind of think it would be funny at this point if some solar flares really saw to equaling the playing field.
Alicia Stuart says
Government / Lifeline / ACP, Whoever ACTUALLY is associated with this offer are IDIOTS! SOME of us aren’t able to get into a temporary shelter / still on a WAITING list and a Church address / P.O Box / possibly UPS store is all we have and a lot of those issues aren’t OUR fault!! These uncomfortable stipulations need to change for those of us just trying to GET BY without all this craziness being dumped on us aside from all the drama. Also, some of those people more fortunate apparently need to look up the word “homeless” in the dictionary. Here’s a hint, it doesn’t always mean you get a shelter! A lot of the time, that’s only if you’re LUCKY!
Okay, rant over, give me crap all you want. I’ll stand by that this whole free phone stuff is COMPLICATED and CONFUSING and very UNFAIR to individuals such as myself!
Wayne says
Government scam. If I could afford an address, I could afford to pay my own phone bill. I m 67 years old on social security. I live in a van on the side of the road and use a PO Box to receive my mail. Even though I need a phone more than the person paying rent, I am unable to get one without a address. Who is the government really helping?
Free Government Cell Phones says
It’s not a scam, Wayne, but it is a huge flaw in the program. We have a message into the media department at the USAC to see if any changes are imminent.
Susan J potter says
My daughter does not have an established resident address. Different friends are helping with temporary shelter. She is pursuing a job and must have a phone to communicate with job opportunities. The friends she stays with already have their own government phone. She has the lifelink phone and lived with me for a while but had to leave so she can’t use this address now. What us a solution to this delima?
Free Government Cell Phones says
How long has she had her Lifeline phone, Susan? She won’t have to worry about having a permanent address until she has to recertify at the one year mark.
roberta shipman says
Im in a domestic shelter I recive ssI but I dont have an addresss can I get some help to get me a phone
Free Government Cell Phones says
If you have residence in a shelter, you qualify for an exemption to the “one per household” rule.
Nelly says
Someone keeps using my address to get a free phone and they are preventing me from being able to qualify. How do I stop this? I don’t know how they r able to do it if we don’t have the same address or same apartment. And don’t have have to show id or proof of address?
Free Government Cell Phones says
And how would the receive the phone, which is mailed to your address?
Henry says
I believe the issue involves identity theft using the name and current address of the victim, but using an alternative shipping address for the device.
Since another subscription was established by a miscreant cheapskate, you should send a mailed letter to the Lifeline program telling them that your personal information was misused in getting fraudulently approved. Yes, proof of ID and residence to be uploaded is required when applying, but IDs and documentation can be falsified very easily once they got your personal information.
The blame regarding the device shipment address goes to the Lifeline company shipping service for allowing the device to be sent to an alternative address. In some cases, there is a legitimate reason to send it to a different address such as when mail service is spotty in your area or you do not have direct mailing residential delivery service.
I would not bother trying to find and notify the Lifeline company with the fraudulent subscriber to have them cancel the service. You need to have Lifeline (USAC.ORG) correct their records to close out the other subscription and to stop sending subsidy payments for that subscription.
Kathy says
I went to get a government cell phone using my driver’s license and my EBT card. My physical address is on my driver’s license however, I am unable to receive mail at that address. I have a PO Box they will not accept. they’re telling me I have to have a piece of mail with my physical address on it which is impossible. Can you tell me how to solve this predicament?
Free Government Cell Phones says
Unfortunately, we cannot tell you how to solve this problem. It is one of the major kinks in the Lifeline program. People have been complaining about it since day one and no one has come up with a solution yet.
Henry says
Is your residence uninhabited due to fire damage? Who requires a piece of mail with your physical address? I submitted a Lifeline application for a relative and there was no requirement to provide any mail example to them. I sent a scanned photo ID which contained a street address that matched the home address on the application. A few weeks later, a SIM card was sent to the Lifeline application entered address. I think it is the FCC requiring a street address on the application to determine the location of where service will be provided. A PO Box location may be in another state of the actual residence location. On the application, you are allowed to enter a mailing address that can use a PO Box entry in it. So you can enter both of them.
Douglas says
Yeah but it’s people who do have a legit address but postal does not deliver to physical but rather a po box, and is living just as poor as the next person that cant get the phone because the mail doesn’t deliver to there house. And you say that halfway house group home etc….are qualifying places as ” temporary” addresses that are acceptable. But you say that only once can that address be used for a lifeline? If these types of ” temporary” addresses can be used for multiple people, then who is breaking the rules now? And if they cant be used then quit telling people that these ” temporary” addresses can be used cause your setting people up to fail. And that’s not right. Cause your contract says one per household.
Free Government Cell Phones says
Valium might be a good idea, Douglas. Halfway houses/group homes/retirement homes/etc can all qualify as residences if you actually live in one for an extended period of time. It’s an exception to the rule. We don’t wasn’t to boggle your mind, but there are certain conditions under which family members living in the same house can all qualify for free government cell phones.
Douglas says
How is it that a person can get food assistance with no physical address just general delivery to post office box from the government, but cant get a lifeline from the same government unless you have a deliverable address? You are very wrong on this one…..smdh… stupid.
Free Government Cell Phones says
Are you always an ass like this, Douglas, or are you just having a bad night? We don’t claim to be experts on the SNAP program and cannot speak about its eligibility requirements. Different programs have different standards. It’s as simple as that. No go take a Valium and get a good night’s sleep.
E.R. says
I came across this article because I was researching for someone who really needs a lifeline phone. She is unemployed, on public assistance, homeless and basically bouncing from one friend’s house to another in order to have a safe place to sleep at night. Her health issues combined with the Coronavirus pandemic prevent her from being able to stay at a group homeless shelter. Is there any further advice other than what is in this article that you can give her that would help her get a phone? Thank you for your time.
Free Government Cell Phones says
Nice of you to help her out, ER, but unfortunately her options are limited. Unless she can claim residence at either a shelter or at one of her friends’ houses, she’s out of luck. She needs to have a street address. Best of luck.
Steve Holbrook says
When cell phones are stolen or lost ,there is a lot of confusion on who to call to shut them off.assure ,qlink,and then a second phone they say is not associated to lifeline.this all needs cleared up.
Free Government Cell Phones says
What’s the confusion, Steve? You call the company you enrolled with.
Randy Workman says
how do i find out MY physical address if i have a po box
Free Government Cell Phones says
Say what? Are you saying that you don’t know your physical address?
Susan D. says
Thank you so much, Free Government, for clarifying in depth what is allowed as a temporary address and for what constitutes fraud and abuse in the Lifeline program.
I will contact my city hall for further information and resources on how to get lifeline service for the homeless.
Free Government –Your response here is dated March of 2015.
Please respond again if theses terms and regulations are accurate for April of 2019.
Thank you very much!
Gloriamarshall says
Hi my name is Gloria I would like to have afree cell phones sent to my route adress are mail box thank
Free Government Cell Phones says
That’s not the way it works, Gloria. You need to find the company and plan that fits your needs best and enroll before you can get a phone.
Cameron says
I have mail coming to my residence (which I have exclusively habited since before 1990) which suggests that my address has been “hijacked” to provide a second discounted cell phone to another customer.
I am at the point of needing to transition from a landline to a free cellphone myself, due to changes to our State’s Telephone Assistance Program (The Washington State legislature failed to renew funding).
I figure I will learn whether my address already has a Lifeline associated with it when I apply for the Lifeline cellphone using my address. Is there any way to know this beforehand? Also, the paperwork for the Lifeline application for the cell company which this other person (who I do not know) apparently uses, states that the likely penalty for fraud is loss of the service and a fine. I would certainly hope that it would not involve the loss of other federal assistance (such as food-stamps and medical assistance). My conscience would hesitate to “turn in” the malefactor if the punishment is too severe.
Sincerely,
Cam
tad says
I have a question I live in South Dakota have a Physical Residential address and a separate Mailing address! as I have no mail delivery to the Residential address! can I use this program?
all the utility company and Dep. of Social service have no problem with this and I receive LIEAP!
Amy Guynn says
I am need of a phone for job opportunities and emergency use for my childrem.
sandy says
Thank you for giving me the benefit of the doubt concerning my wrong advice to people that
are in desperate circumstances and had no way to get a phone due to homelessness. While homeless, I and many others that were qualified for the program used many different ways to avail ourselves of this needed service. I would like to suggest that it is poor planning on the part of the government to not allow exceptions for those who are the MOST in need of assistance. Again, thank you for your correction as I would not want to mislead (criminally or otherwise) anyone and was only attempting to aid those who sounded in distress.
Steve Holbrook says
I agree with not just the phone programs but many other government programs could make a difference from homeless and not.also too many cell phone giveaways is confusing.which phone number to call?
florencio hernandez says
Geacias por ofrecer esos cervicios