Assurance Wireless is a wireless and telephone service provider that participates in Lifeline. Prior to its expiration, Assurance Wireless also participated in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Through those programs, the company offered and to some extent still offers discounts that are funded by the federal Universal Service Fund. Eligible low-income customers can still receive a free smartphone and free monthly phone and wireless services with free unlimited data, text, and minutes, as well as 10GB of free mobile hotspot data. However, can qualifying subscribers also get an Assurance Wireless free tablet? We are about to find out!
Free Government Tablet from Assurance Wireless
As you can see above, Assurance Wireless offers a lot of attractive benefits to eligible low-income subscribers. To get these benefits, you must qualify for the assistance program and apply. We will discuss the entire application process in detail in the following sections.
However, do the company’s perks include receiving an Assurance Wireless free tablet?
Unfortunately, the answer is no. The reason is twofold.
First of all, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), the government assistance program that provided discounts on internet-connected devices (such as tablets) and internet services, recently expired. The government assistance program expired in early 2024. It stopped accepting new applications on February 7, 2024, and the last fully funded month of service was April 2024. The program ended due to the depletion of its allocated funds, despite efforts to secure additional funding. These efforts, including budget supplement requests and bipartisan support in Congress, did not result in the necessary funding to continue the program. As a result, the ACP, which provided crucial support for low-income households to access affordable internet services and connected devices, officially concluded.
Secondly, even before the ACP expired and while Assurance Wireless still participated in the program, the company did not offer free tablets but monthly wireless services instead. Moreover, it’s important to note that ‘free’ government tablets’ that were offered through ACP were never completely free of charge. The price depended on each provider, however, according to government rules, a customer had to pay a mandatory co-pay of anywhere between $10 and $50 to receive an ACP discount of up to $100 on the tablet. Many companies, therefore, offered tablets at just $10.01, which is almost free of charge.
Nevertheless, in case of overwhelming demand, the government may secure additional funding for the ACP program again, and thus restart the program. If so, your wireless provider will surely notify you.
Still, there are other ways to get a free tablet. We’ll explore them in the following sections.
If Assurance Wireless Doesn’t Give Free Government Tablet Then How to Get a Free Tablet?
As Assurance Wireless doesn’t offer free tablets for eligible customers, you will have to find another way to receive a free tablet. Nevertheless, you can still get all the other benefits from Assurance Wireless if you qualify.
Nowadays, getting a free tablet is a relatively simple task. Here are your options:
- You can get a free tablet through a promotional deal. Both carriers and retailers often offer promotional offers on tablets and other mobile devices. However, these deals come with certain conditions. You may be asked to switch to the carrier’s services, purchase a select plan, add a line, buy another device at full price, trade in an old device, etc.
- You can get a free tablet online. The internet offers a large number of options on how to get a free tablet. You can enter an online giveaway, participate in Amazon Vine or other surveys, become a reviewer, become a marketing agent, purchase an affordable used or refurbished tablet from an online marketplace, etc.
- You can try your luck at a local school, library, or church. Low-income people in need who can prove that they are unable to afford such an indispensable device can sometimes get a used one from one of these institutions.
- You can find a charity organization or non-profit company that offers free tablets for people in need. Such companies include Adaptive.Org, Computers With Causes, Computers for Learning, Cty.Org, EveryoneOn, FreeCycle, Human I-T, Komputers 4 Kids, Microsoft Registered Refurbished, On It Foundation, PCs for People, SmartRiverside, With Causes, World Computer Exchange, etc. To get a tablet or another mobile device, you will have to prove your low income.
- Lastly, while it used to be possible to secure a discounted tablet from the government through ACP, and while it used to be one of the simplest ways to secure such a device, it is now no longer possible to do so. As the ACP program expired, all former ACP providers no longer participate in ACP and are no longer able to offer ACP benefits, such as discounts on tablets. Nonetheless, former ACP providers may still have a few tablets from the ‘good old days’ and as such, you may be able to get a discounted device from one such provider. However, keep in mind that such offers are rare and often unofficial. They depend on availability, state, your eligibility criteria, and other factors.
How to Find Free Government Tablet Providers in Your State
Since the conclusion of the ACP program, which offered discounts on tablets, it is no longer possible to find free government tablet providers in your state of residence through official governmental means.
Instead, you can get a list of all the Lifeline providers in your area and contact each one of them to ask if they participated in the now-expired ACP program and if they are still able to offer you a discount on a tablet.
Finding Lifeline providers in your state of residence is pretty simple. All you need to do is to visit https://cnm.universalservice.org/, enter your ZIP code or city and state, select the Lifeline program, and press ‘Search’. Then, you will get a list of all Lifeline providers in your area and their contact information. Use the contact information to contact each company individually to ask whether or not it’s still possible to get a discounted tablet.
Top Providers That Offer Free Government Tablets in 2024
Currently, no former ACP company offers discounted tablets. At least not officially. Nonetheless, you may try your luck unofficially by contacting the following companies:
- AirTalk Wireless
- Cintex Wireless
- Easy Wireless
- Excess Telecom
- Go Technology Management
- Maxsip Telecom
- Moolah Wireless
- My Tablet ACP
- NewPhone Wireless
- Q Link Wireless
- StandUp Wireless
- Stimulus
- TruConnect
What Do You Do After Finding a Free Government Tablet Provider?
Now that you may have found an ACP company that offers free tablets in your area, you must do the following to actually receive the device:
- Ask the company whether or not they can offer tablet discounts in your area.
- If the answer is yes, you will likely have to apply for the company’s Lifeline program.
- If the answer is no, you can decide whether or not you still wish to receive other benefits, such as Lifeline free phone and service benefits.
- If you decide to apply for the company’s Lifeline program, you must check your Lifeline eligibility and if you qualify for the company’s program. See the eligibility criteria in the next section.
- Prove your Lifeline eligibility with appropriate documents. We will guide you through the documentation process below.
- Apply for the Lifeline program and the benefits. During the application process, you will be required to provide all the necessary information and send the documentation. See the process below.
- Finally, receive the benefits and enjoy them!
How to Prove You’re Eligible for Free Government Benefits
Lifeline is a government assistance program that was recently established by the FCC. As such, it comes with certain requirements. To participate in the Lifeline program and receive benefits through it, you must meet the following conditions:
- Be at least 18 years old or an emancipated minor.
- Be a resident of one of the states where a selected company operates.
- Be the only applicant in your household (you can also ask for a second benefit, however, those are only granted under very strict conditions).
- Meet the FCC-determined Lifeline eligibility criteria. You must only meet one of the following:
- Income-based eligibility: Your annual household income is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
- Program participation-based eligibility: You or another member of your household participate in an ACP-qualifying government assistance program, such as SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, FPHA, Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit, or certain Tribal assistance programs.
If you can determine that you in fact qualify for the Lifeline program based on the criteria above, congratulations! You are one important step closer to receiving a free government tablet. But before you can claim it, you will have to prove your eligibility with appropriate documentation.
Documents Required When You Apply for Free Government Benefits
Obviously, writing a statement that you qualify for Lifeline and sending it to the FCC won’t cut it. Instead, you will have to provide legal proof. During the application process, you will be asked to provide copies of valid official documents that contain all the vital information. You will have to prove your eligibility and verify certain personal details.
To prove your income-based Lifeline eligibility, you must provide a copy of:
- Current income statement from your employer or a paycheck stub
- Prior year’s state, federal, or Tribal tax return
- A Social Security statement of benefits
- Veterans Administration statement of benefits
- Unemployment or Worker’s Compensation statement of benefits
- Divorce decree or Child support award
- A retirement/pension statement of benefits
- Or another official document showing your income
To prove your program participation-based Lifeline eligibility, you must provide a copy of:
- Benefit award letter
- Approval letter
- Statement of benefits
- Benefit verification letter
- Or another official document showing your participation in an assistance program
To prove that you are at least 18 years old (age) or an emancipated minor, you must provide a copy of:
- A valid government, military, state, or Tribal ID
- Passport
- Birth certificate
- Driver’s license
- A court document verifying your emancipation or a certificate of emancipation
- Another official document showing your age or emancipation
To prove that you are a resident of one of the states where the selected provider operates (your address), you must provide a copy of:
- Driver’s license or other valid government, state, or Tribal ID
- Utility bill
- Mortgage or lease statement
- Most recent W-2 or tax return
- Another official document showing your address
You won’t have to prove that you are the only applicant in your household, as the FCC will be able to see that from its database.
You may, however, also be asked to verify your identity (a valid ID will do), present your SSN, etc.
Once you have gathered the proof, make sure that the documents are official and still valid. Then, you can proceed to make clear copies (digital or physical, depending on your application manner) using a camera, smartphone, scanner, or copy machine. You will be asked to submit these copies during the application process.
Application Process for Getting Free Benefits if I am Already a Lifeline Subscriber
If you are eligible for the Lifeline program, you will be able to apply and potentially receive benefits. If, however, you already participate in the program, the process of receiving a free device will be quite simple, as you may not be required to repeat the whole application process all over again.
If you participate in Lifeline, and you receive Lifeline benefits from a provider that does not meet your needs, you can simply find another provider in your area, contact that provider, and tell them that you wish to switch to its services and whether or not you wish to keep your number. Ask which benefits you will receive to ensure you have selected the right option for you. The representative will guide you through the switching process. You may be required to apply through the company, however, the process will be shorter. Just make sure that you are not getting the benefits from more than one provider at a time as that would be a serious violation of the Lifeline terms.
Application Process for Getting Free Benefits if I am Not Yet a Lifeline Subscriber
Many Lifeline providers will first require you to apply for the Lifeline program through the FCC’s National Verifier. Getting a green light from the National Verifier is often a precondition for applying through the provider. As such, we will first take a look at how to apply for Lifeline through the National Verifier.
You can apply online. To do so, follow these simple steps:
- Visit https://getinternet.gov/apply?id=nv_home.
- Login or create a new account.
- Follow the prompts to fill out the application form.
- Provide all the required information and documentation.
- If you need additional instructions, visit https://www.lifelinesupport.org/get-started/.
- Once you submit the application, you may receive immediate approval.
You can apply via mail. To do so, follow these steps:
- Print out an application. You can find a form at https://www.lifelinesupport.org/wp-content/uploads/documents/get-lifeline/LI_Application_NVstates.pdf.
- Complete the application.
- Add copies of the proof documentation.
- Send the papers to ACP Support Center, PO Box 1000, Horseheads, NY 14845.
How to Fill Free Tablets Application Form?
Once your National Verifier application has been approved, you can proceed to apply through the provider. Make sure that the provider operates in your area. To enroll, follow these quick and easy steps:
- Visit the provider’s official website.
- Find the company’s online application form.
- Select the plan you wish to receive. As plans don’t officially include tablets, make sure to contact the provider beforehand to know which plan to choose or if the provider is even right for you.
- Follow other on-screen prompts to be redirected to the application form.
- Fill out the form by providing all the required information and proof documentation. You may also be required to provide your ID number from your National Verifier application, as such, make sure to store it safely.
- Submit the application and wait for the company to notify you about whether or not it has been approved.
How Do You Track Your Application Status?
First of all, you don’t have to track your application status, after submitting the form, as the company will surely notify you via email or another provided contact method as soon as it reaches any major decision.
However, if you are just too curious to wait, you can log into your account on the provider’s website, find an online status checker (if they have one), or contact the company’s customer support service.
How Long Does It Take to Get Your Free Tablet or Other Benefits?
How long it may take to receive the tablet depends on several factors. For one, it depends on how long it takes for the National Verifier and later the provider itself to review and approve your application. To make the process faster, make sure to provide all the required data. It also depends on the tablet availability and where you live. You should receive the device or other benefits in a week or two.
What Other Benefits You Will Get if You Qualify for Lifeline?
If you qualify for Lifeline, you will receive many benefits, including:
- Free monthly broadband services with a certain amount of free monthly data
- Free monthly text messages and call minutes
- A free government phone
- Chances are that you will also receive additional perks, such as free hotspot data, voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, nationwide coverage, etc.
Are There Any Restrictions on the Use of the Free Tablets?
Like all assistance programs, Lifeline comes with certain rules and restrictions, including:
- Only one Lifeline benefit is available per eligible household.
- You can only receive one tablet/smartphone.
- The benefit is non-transferable.
- Some providers will give you the tablet for good, while others may want it back if you switch to another provider.
- To keep the benefit, you must use it once every 30 days and you must reapply once a year.
- You must follow the Lifeline and the company’s terms and conditions.
What Are the Reasons for the Rejection of the Free Tablet Application?
If your application got rejected, these are some of the most common reasons:
- The information provided on the two application forms (National Verifier and the company’s) doesn’t match.
- The provided information is incorrect or incomplete.
- The provided information is blurry, invalid, incorrect, or incomplete.
- You genuinely don’t qualify for the program.
- Due to the ending of the ACP program, the provider no longer offers tablets.
What to Do if the Application is Rejected?
Luckily, the first three of the above-mentioned reasons for rejection have a simple fix: You can ask the company to reapply or reload the documents. If you do that, make sure that this time you only provide correct, clear, valid information and documentation and that nothing gets left out.
Assurance Wireless Tablet-Related Questions and Answers
Why did Assurance Wireless Never Offer Free Tablets While Others Did?
Well, every ACP provider has a different situation and story. Assurance Wireless either didn’t have enough funds to cover discounts on tablets or it is simply not that generous. However, the company offered and still offers free smartphones and other amazing benefits instead.
Why do Lifeline (Former ACP) Companies no Longer Offer Free Tablets?
Lifeline providers no longer offer free tablets primarily because the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provided the necessary funding and framework for these benefits, has ended. The ACP was established during the pandemic to help low-income households access essential internet services and connected devices, such as tablets, by offering significant discounts. However, the program ceased accepting new applications on February 7, 2024, and the last fully funded month was April 2024, due to the depletion of allocated funds.
Efforts to secure additional funding through budget supplements and bipartisan support in Congress did not succeed, leading to the program’s expiration. Without the financial backing and support from the ACP, Lifeline providers cannot offer the same level of discounts or free devices as they did under the ACP framework. Consequently, while these providers continue to offer discounted services and possibly some devices through the Lifeline program, the generous offers of free tablets are no longer available.
What is the Income Limit for Assurance Wireless?
The income limit to participate in any provider’s Lifeline program is 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. The guideline depends on the state and the size of the household. You can see more at https://www.lifelinesupport.org/do-i-qualify/.
Is Assurance Wireless Giving Free Data With Free Phone?
Yes. Eligible customers will get free 4.5GB of free monthly mobile data.
Can I Get a Free Tablet or Other Government Benefits With EBT?
Yes. Participating in EBT (which is the official payment system for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP) is one of the possible requirements for Lifeline participation. People who participate in SNAP/EBT can also apply for Lifeline.
Can I Get a Free Tablet or Other Government Benefits With Medicaid?
Yes. Participating in Medicaid is another possible requirement for Lifeline participation. If you get Medicaid assistance and you can prove it, you will surely be able to apply for Lifeline as well.
