Do You Qualify?

How do I qualify for a free government cell phone?

Eligibility can vary from state to state, but in general, your income has to be at or below 135% Federal Poverty Guidelines, or you need to participate in one of the following government programs:

• Medicaid;
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps or SNAP);
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI);
• Federal Public House Assistance (Section 8);
• Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP);
• Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF);
• National School Lunch Program’s Free Lunch Program;
• Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance;
• Tribally-Administrered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TTANF);
• Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR);
• Head Start (if income eligibility criteria are met); or
• State assistance programs (if applicable).

If you aren’t on any of these programs, you can still qualify if your income is less than 135% of the poverty level.

Just how much is 135% of the Poverty level for various household sizes?

Household Size of One: $15,080

Household Size of Two: $20,426

Household Size of Three: $25,772

Household Size of Four: $31,118

Household Size of Five: $36,464

Household Size of Six: $41,810

Household Size of Seven: $47,156

Household Size of Eight: $52,502

For larger households and Alaska and Hawaii, click here.

 

Only one free phone is allowed in any household.  You might have seen some YouTube videos showing people with ten or twenty phones.  Just know that that is illegal and eventually they will be caught. 

You also have to verify every year that you still qualify for the program.

Click here to find out how to apply and get your free government cell phone.

Apply for Your Free Government Cell Phone