What Kind of Free Phones Does the Government Offer?
Nowadays, having a cellular phone, preferably a smartphone that can do more than just make calls and send texts, is a necessity rather than a luxury. We rely on our phones to stay in touch with our loved ones, jobs, education resources, healthcare, and to contact emergency services if needed.
In 1984 the U.S. government finally acknowledged that every U.S. citizen is entitled to have access to communication services and a government assistance program called Lifeline was established.
Lifeline is a program by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) designed to help make communication services more affordable for low-income households. Participating Lifeline providers offer eligible customers a discount on monthly telephone service and some of them also offer free phones funded by the government.
The Lifeline providers that offer free phones through their Lifeline programs tend to provide eligible customers entry-level to mid-range Android smartphones with all the basic options but not the latest features. However, some Lifeline providers also offer Apple phones, flip phones, or advanced free 5G government phones. The device you may get really depends on the provider, the location, and availability. In addition, it is impossible to know exactly which phone brand and model you will receive in advance. The best you can know in advance is the type of phone it will be – a basic phone, an iPhone, an Android phone, a 4G phone, or a free 5G government phone.
Does the Government Offer Free 5G Phones?
As mentioned above, most Lifeline providers offer entry-level to mid-range Android smartphones, however, there are some Lifeline providers that also offer free 5G government phones to eligible low-income customers.
The phone you may expect to receive if eligible depends on the provider, location, and availability. However, at some providers, there is hope to receive a free 5G government phone.
What Do You Need to Qualify for a Free 5G Government Phone?
The Lifeline program is available to eligible low-income subscribers in every state, territory, commonwealth, and on Tribal lands.
To participate in the Lifeline program and to qualify for a free 5G government phone from any Lifeline provider, you must be Lifeline-eligible.
Lifeline Eligibility
To be Lifeline-eligible, you must meet the FCC’s criteria, which is universal for all Lifeline providers. A household qualifies for Lifeline if they meet one or more of the following criteria:
Income-based eligibility:
The household has an income below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
Program-based eligibility:
The household participates in certain federal assistance programs, such as:
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA),
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- The Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit
A household can also be Lifeline-eligible if a member participates in one of the following Tribal Programs:
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Head Start (only households meeting the income qualifying standard)
- Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tribal TANF)
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
If you or any of your household members meet one of the criteria above, your household can get one Lifeline benefit from one Lifeline provider. In addition, you must be a resident of one of the states where a Lifeline provider offers its services.
Note: Due to the FCC rules, only one Lifeline service is available per household. The service is non-transferable.
What Documents are Required for a Free 5G Government Phone Application
To qualify for a free 5G government phone, you may also need to provide certain documents that prove your eligibility.
- To prove your identity, you must provide an official document that includes both your name and address. The documents that you might have to provide to verify your identity and address include ID, Passport, Driver’s license, Social security number, State ID card, or Taxpayer Identification Number (individual) with name and date of birth.
- To prove your income-based eligibility you will need to provide an official document that shows your annual income and your full name. You may be required to provide one of the following documents: Prior year’s state, federal or Tribal tax return, Current income statement from your employer or a paycheck stub, Veterans Administration statement of benefits, Unemployment or Workers’ Compensation statement of benefits, Federal or Tribal notice letter of participation in General Assistance, Divorce decree, child support award, or other official document containing income information
- To prove your program-based eligibility you will need to provide an official document that shows your participation and your full name. One of the following documents should do: Benefit award letter, Approval letter, Statement of benefits, or Benefit verification letter.
In order to participate, you must be 18 years old or more or an emancipated minor. As such, emancipated minors must also provide proof of emancipation, such as a court document or a certificate.
Best Free 5G Government Phone Providers
If you are Lifeline eligible, live in a state where a Lifeline provider offers free 5G government phones, and can prove certain needed documents, you can apply for Lifeline service and a free 5G government phone.
To do so, you must find a good Lifeline provider that offers exactly what you need in your state of residence. To make this step as easy as possible, we have created a list of some of the best free 5G government phone providers in the country. Find out what they offer and how to apply.
Assurance Wireless
Assurance Wireless is a telephone service and Lifeline provider that operates in many U.S. states, including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
What does it offer?
At Assurance Wireless, Lifeline-eligible customers can receive:
- Free monthly data
- Free unlimited texts
- Free unlimited minutes
- Free 10 GB of mobile hotspot data up to 4G LTE speed
- A free Android 4G or 5G smartphone
Note: The exact amount of free minutes and data depends on the state. The free government phone you will receive depends on phone availability.
How to apply?
If you wish to apply for Assurance Wireless Lifeline and receive a free 5G government phone, follow these steps:
- Visit assurancewireless.com. There, you can learn more about their Lifeline program.
- Scroll down and press ‘Apply now’.
- You will be redirected to the provider’s application form. Fill it out by providing the required information and the necessary documents.
- Once you have applied, allow a few days for the provider to let you know if you qualify.
Cintex Wireless
Cintex Wireless is a popular Lifeline and ACP provider that operates in five U.S. states – (Arkansas, Maine, Maryland, Rhode Island, and West Virginia.
What does it offer?
Qualifying customers can receive:
- Free monthly minutes
- Free monthly texts
- Free monthly data
- A free 4G/5G LTE smartphone (either Android or iPhone)
Note: The exact amount of free minutes and data depends on the state. The free government phone you will receive depends on phone availability.
How to apply?
To apply for the Cintex government assistance program and perhaps receive a free 5G government phone, follow these simple steps:
- Make sure you are both Lifeline and ACP (Affordable Connectivity Program) eligible, as you may need both to enroll in the program. Read more at cintexwireless.com.
- Visit apply.cintexwireless.com and enter your ZIP code and email to sign up.
- Follow the instructions to fill out the form. Provide all the necessary information and perhaps documentation, which may prove your identity and eligibility.
- Once you apply, wait a couple of days for a confirmation letter.
enTouch Wireless
enTouch Wireless is a nationwide Lifeline provider that serves the following states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
What does it offer?
At enTouch Wireless, Lifeline-eligible households can get:
- Free unlimited talk
- Free unlimited text
- Free unlimited data (through ACP – former EBB)
- A free 4G/5G smartphone
Note: The exact amount of free minutes and data depends on the state. The free government phone you will receive depends on phone availability.
How to apply?
You can apply for enTouch Wireless Lifeline and get a free 5G government phone by following these simple steps:
- Visit entouchwireless.com and press ‘Enroll Today’. You can also visit apply4lifeline.entouchwireless.com directly.
- Enter your email address and ZIP code and press ‘Check availability’.
- Submit the online application by following the instructions and providing the required information and documentation.
- Allow a couple of days for the provider to let you know whether or not you qualify.
SafeLink Wireless
SafeLink Wireless is a Lifeline provider owned by Tracfone that operates in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Connecticut, DC, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
What does it offer?
At SafeLink, Lifeline-eligible customers can receive:
- Free unlimited talk
- Free unlimited text
- Free unlimited data
- Free 10 GB hotspot
- A free 4G/5G smartphone
Note: The exact amount of free minutes and data depends on the state. The free government phone you will receive depends on phone availability.
How to apply?
If you want a chance to receive a free 5G government phone from SafeLink, simply apply by following these steps:
- Visit safelinkwireless.com/Enrollment/Safelink/en/Web/www/default/index.html#!/newHome.
- Provide your ZIP code and press ‘Start’.
- You will be redirected to their online application form. Fill it out by providing certain information and perhaps documentation that may prove your eligibility.
- Once you apply, allow a couple of days for the provider to notify you about what to do next.
Verizon
Verizon is another Lifeline provider that offers Lifeline services. However, Verizon only offers a discount on monthly phone service of up to $9.25 a month. Verizon does not offer free 5G government phones through their Lifeline program. Instead, they offer free 5G phones to the customers that can trade in any functioning mobile device.
Read more about Verizon Lifeline, which will only get you a discount on monthly services, at verizon.com/support/lifeline-link-up-faqs/#:~:text=For%20more%20information%2C%20call%20the,(800)%20417%2D3849.
Read more about getting a free 5G phone from Verizon by trading in an old one at verizon.com/deals/smartphones.
Similar non-government deals on 5G phones are also offered by AT&T and T-Mobile. Learn more at att.com/deals/cell-phone-deals and t-mobile.com/offers/deals-hub.
List of Free 5G Government Phones
As mentioned before, most Lifeline providers won’t tell you which free 5G government phones you can expect to receive in advance. As such, there is no way of knowing for sure which free 5G government phones are currently available. Moreover, the phone selection depends on the provider, the location, and availability.
Nevertheless, some Lifeline providers are known to provide the following free 5G government phone models:
- Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy A32
- Samsung Galaxy A 52
- OnePlus Nord 200 5G
- OnePlus 9 Pro
- TCL Revvl 5G
- Google Pixel 5a
- Google Pixel 6 Pro
- Motorola G Stylus 5G
- Apple iPhone 12 Mini
- Apple iPhone 13 Mini
- Apple iPhone 13 Pro
- Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
Does the Government Give Free iPhones?
As you can see from the list of provided free 5G government phones above, there are some Lifeline providers that offer free iPhones. Currently, you can get a free government iPhone from the following providers:
- Cintex Wireless
- NewPhone Wireless
- SFone Wireless
At Cintex Wireless, you can expect to receive an Apple iPhone 6 (CDMA or GSM), an Apple iPhone 6S GSM, or an Android smartphone (e.g. LG Stylo 4, LG M150, Motorola E5, or Samsung Galaxy S7).
At NewPhone Wireless, you can get an Apple iPhone 6, an Apple iPhone 6S, or an Android smartphone from a reputable brand.
At SFone Wireless, you may get an Apple iPhone 6 (CDMA or GSM), an Apple iPhone 6S GSM, or an Android smartphone.
What Other Benefits Do I Get if I Qualify for the Free Government Phone Program?
If you qualify for a free 5G government phone program and receive a free 5G government phone, you will be able to use a 5G network and thus enjoy high-quality calls, fast texting, and high data speeds. Moreover, you will be able to stay in touch with family and friends, jobs, education resources, healthcare, and emergency services.
In addition to free 5G government phones, Lifeline providers also offer some other benefits, such as a Lifeline discount of up to $9.25 a month ($34.25 a month for eligible households on Tribal lands) on monthly telephone service with free minutes, texts, data, and sometimes even mobile hotspot.
Can Existing Free 4G Phones Be Upgraded to 5G?
From a technical standpoint, your 4G phone can work on a 5G network as usual. Nonetheless, it will not get the high 5G internet speed. 5G network is not new, it simply allows devices to reach higher speeds when accessing the internet while lowering the latency and increasing the bandwidth.
If you have a 4G phone and a 5G network, be sure your device will work fine. However, to get the best outcomes in terms of latency, bandwidth, and internet speeds, buying a 5G device or getting a free 5G government phone may be the best option for you.
Can I Replace My Old Free Phone With a 5G Phone by the Government?
You can replace your old free phone if the device has been lost or stolen or if it started malfunctioning. In any of these cases you can replace your free phone by following these simple steps:
- Contact your provider.
- Report that your device has been lost/stolen/broken and request your service to be turned off.
- Select a new cell phone.
Note: The device you will get in exchange will probably be similar to the one you had before. If your previous phone was really old and outdated, you may receive a newer model, however, replacement phones do usually not come with the most advanced features.
If you wish to replace your old free phone with a 5G phone by the government simply because your old device is old and outdated, you will probably have to pay for the new device and won’t be able to get it completely free of charge.
