Gone are the days when having a cell phone was like owning a major asset, now a cell phone is a necessity for a lot of people. However, not everyone can afford to pay for a cell phone. When you put together the cost of data, texting, and paying for just the basic tariffs, you are looking at spending an average of $114 monthly. And this is excluding the average cost of a smartphone which is about $317. So what alternatives do low-income individuals have? It will interest you to know that certain government programs can provide you with a cell phone or a plan all for free, just carry out an online search and sign up.

For you to qualify certain criteria must be met and it varies depending on the incentive. To find out if you are eligible for a free phone or plan, carry out an online search today.

Take a look at some of the government programs through which you can get a free phone;

Reviewed by Liss Sullivan
Written by Debrah Henn

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TAG Mobile

Residents in 19 states across the U.S have been offered free cell phone service by TAG Mobile. It comes with a lifetime discount that serves low-income individuals and families.

The TAG Mobile program offers the following incentives;

1,000 free voice minutes.
Unlimited free text messages.
4.5GB LTE data every month and,
Free voicemail, caller ID, and call waiting.

For California residents, TAG Mobile has another incentive, you can get a free smartphone in addition to free data, phone calls, and texting.

Depending on the state, the eligibility for this program varies, so endeavour to search online and find out if you meet the criteria for your state of residence. An applicant who participates in certain government benefit programs like SNAP, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Medicaid will increase their chances to qualify. Furthermore, if your income is either at or below 135% of the federal poverty level, you could also qualify.

Q LINK Wireless

Q Link Wireless offers a free wireless service and over two million customers have benefited from this service. This is a government program where you are allowed to bring in your current cell phone and still maintain your current phone number. Additionally, you get to enjoy the best service on America’s largest 4G LTE/5G network.

Explore the extra service our customers get through the FREE

Always On Plan with Q Link Wireless;

Unlimited data.
Unlimited talk and text.
Voicemail.
Three-way calls.
Unlimited picture messages.
Emergency service calls to 911.
Free SIM card
Free activation, and
Access to 10 million free wi-fi locations.

Once you qualify you are eligible for a SIM card kit which will be shipped to your preferred address and activated for free. Also, the phone plan gets automatically refilled monthly.

What’s even better is that Q Link Wireless is also giving customers new tablets for a short time.

SafeLink Wireless

Another service provider that offers free phone service and cell phones to low-income individuals is SafeLink Wireless. You aren’t bound by any contract and so you are at liberty to cancel whenever you want. You have complete freedom to enjoy your phone without worrying about any contracts with expensive monthly bills. For individuals with their smartphones, they can get the following plans;

Unlimited texts.
350 minutes talk times.
SIM card.
Caller ID.
Voicemail.
4.5GB data, and
411 directory assistance.

Customers have the option of getting the same plan and still keeping their present phone. Household income is a determinant for eligibility and whether you take part in any of the following government assistance programs.

SNAP.
Medicaid.
SSI (Section 8), and
Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit.

To apply for this service is easy and direct, all you need do is visit the SafeLink Wireless website. Phones plans may vary depending on where you reside, thus make use of your ZIP code to know what exactly you can get from SafeLink Wireless.

EnTouch Wireless

You can get a smartphone at absolutely no cost from EnTouch wireless. Eligible customers can get a 5.5-inch Android smartphone for free, and a very attractive monthly plan. The plan includes:

Unlimited texts.
Unlimited talk time.
6GB of data.

If you already own a phone, you can bring it to EnTouch Wireless and get hooked up with a SIM card that provides you with unlimited talk, text, and 6GB of data.

Customers can qualify for the EnTouch Wireless plan by either their income or a government program like;

CalFresh.
SSI.
Medicaid.
Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefits, and
Federal Public Housing Assistance or Section 8.

You can get more information on how to qualify for a free phone from EnTouch Wireless by visiting their website.

To know more about these services, you will need to do an online search.

These days, getting excellent phone service is a lot easier for you than you think. If you are in the category of low-income individuals or partaking in any government-assisted program (a situation most seniors and older adults find themselves in), then you could qualify for free phone service for as long as you need. Your plan will come with the essentials which are talk, text, and data for as long as you require.

Your area of residence might offer you additional incentives from these programs like a free phone or a tablet. Go online, search and find out what is being offered. You can also do a comparison of the available programs and pick the one that suits you better.

First of all, check to see if you qualify because some providers only operate in specific states. To find out if providers offer services in your area, enter your ZIP code online, after which you will fill out the online application and wait for the approval.