Cricket Wireless is one of America’s most popular mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs). It offers affordable and flexible prepaid plans, access to one of the country’s largest and most reliable 4G/5G networks, a large selection of high-quality prepaid smartphones from the best brands, and other amazing benefits for its clients. Due to the long list of great perks, it’s natural to wonder if the company also offers Cricket free phones with Food Stamps. Let’s find out what benefits (if any) Food Stamps subscribers may get from Cricket and how customers can get a Cricket free phone. Let’s dive in.
Can I Get Any Benefits From Cricket Wireless as a Food Stamps Subscriber?
Normally, Food Stamps or SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) offers monthly benefits that eligible customers can use to purchase food from authorized retailers. This helps alleviate hunger, reduce food insecurity, and ensure that subscribers have access to nutritious food and can maintain a balanced diet. The monthly SNAP benefit can only be used to buy food and not any supplements, medications, cosmetics, or household items.
As Cricket Wireless only offers mobile devices and wireless monthly plans (definitely no food), you may be wondering how it would be possible for Food Stamps participants to get any benefits. Well, you can’t get anything indirectly, but you can get some perks indirectly.
The important thing here is the fact that SNAP participants automatically qualify for certain other government assistance programs, including Lifeline (a program that offers discounts on monthly phone and wireless services and cell phones) and the Affordable Connectivity Program or ACP (a program that offers discounts on monthly internet services and internet-connected devices). Now, Cricket is definitely not an authorized food-selling company that could serve food to SNAP participants, however, as a wireless company it may participate in one of the two wireless-related government assistance programs listed above. So, does it?
Cricket Wireless does not participate in Lifeline, however, it does participate in the new ACP program. As such, SNAP subscribers (who automatically qualify for ACP) can easily get ACP benefits from Cricket.
What Exactly Are the ACP Benefits That You Can Get From Cricket With Food Stamps?
Cricket’s ACP benefit available with Food Stamps is a discount on monthly mobile broadband service. The discount can be up to $30 a month for eligible non-Tribal households and up to $75 a month for eligible Tribal households and it can be applied to any Cricket plan that includes data.
As only one benefit is available per household, the discount only applies to one-line accounts. As such, you can get any of the following plans:
- Unlimited + 15 GB mobile hotspot plan for $30 a month (regular price is $60 a month). The plan includes unlimited talk, text, picture messaging, 5G network, high-speed data, and 15GB of mobile hotspot data.
- Unlimited plan for $25 a month (regular price is $55 a month). The plan includes unlimited talk, text, picture messaging, 5G network, and high-speed data.
- 10 GB plan for $10 a month (regular price is $40 a month). The plan includes unlimited talk, text, picture messaging, and 5G network, as well as 10GB of high-speed data.
- 5GB plan for FREE (regular price is $30 a month). The plan includes unlimited talk, text, picture messaging, and 5G network, as well as 5GB of high-speed data.
You can find out more details about these plans at https://www.cricketwireless.com/cell-phone-plans.
How Can I Get These Cricket ACP Benefits With Food Stamps 2023
As you can see above, Cricket actually offers a great benefit for Food Stamps subscribers through its ACP program. As the benefit is too good to miss, we’ll guide you through the process of receiving Cricket ACP benefits with Food Stamps:
- If you’re not a Food Stamps subscriber yet, you must first apply for this program and get approved.
To be eligible for SNAP, individuals or households must meet income and resource limits set by their state. Additionally, they must be U.S. citizens or certain eligible non-citizens, and meet work and other requirements if applicable.
To apply for SNAP, contact your local SNAP office or state social services agency and fill out the application form with accurate information about household members, income, and expenses. Submit the completed application along with the required documents, and after an eligibility determination, you may receive an EBT card to purchase eligible food items at authorized retailers.
- Check if you qualify for Cricket’s ACP benefit. To qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), you can meet one of three eligibility criteria:
- Participating in specific federal assistance programs (SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, FPHA, National School Lunch Program, Federal Pell Grant, Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit, WIC, or a Tribal program);
- Qualifying for the Lifeline program;
- Or having a household income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
Additionally, you must be at least 18 years old or an emancipated minor and a resident of one of the states where Cricket offers its ACP benefits to participate. As such, if you are an adult (or emancipated), a resident of a qualifying state, and a Food Stamps (SNAP) participant, you qualify for ACP.
- Prepare for the application process. You will have to provide some information and documentation copies that prove your eligibility. You can prove that you participate in SNAP by providing copies of the approval letter, benefit award/verification letter, or statement of benefits. You can prove your age and address with a copy of a valid official document that includes your full legal name, date of birth, and physical address, such as a valid ID, passport, driver’s license, etc. You will also have to provide some contact and personal information and the last 4 numbers of your SSN or your Tribal ID number.
- You can then apply for Cricket’s ACP program.
- Before you can begin the Cricket application process, you must first get approved by the National Verifier (the organization authorized to assess applicants’ eligibility). You can do so at https://www.affordableconnectivity.gov/ by pressing Apply Now and completing the online application form during which you will have to provide some personal information and documentation copies. Submit your application and once approved, you can proceed to apply with Cricket.
- To apply for Cricket’s program, visit https://www.cricketwireless.com/affordable-connectivity-program/form.html. If you are not yet a Cricket customer, you must first visit a store and purchase your service plan and enroll. You can find a nearby store at https://www.cricketwireless.com/stores. Then, you can proceed to the above-provided webpage by entering your 10-digit Cricket phone number and pressing Submit. You must then follow the on-screen prompts and instructions to complete Cricket’s ACP application process. Submit the form and if approved, Cricket will notify you immediately and you will be able to enjoy your huge monthly discount in the next billing cycle.
Is it Possible to Get Cricket Free Phones With Food Stamps in 2023
While it is possible for SNAP participants to get a huge discount on a monthly wireless plan, Cricket’s ACP program does not offer discounts on mobile devices. As such, it is not possible to get Cricket free phones with Food Stamps. Nonetheless, even if you cannot get Cricket free phones with Food Stamps through ACP, you may still be able to get a free phone from Cricket.
You see, Cricket is one of those extra-generous wireless companies that constantly offers amazing deals on mobile devices, through which you can get either discounted or completely free cell phones. However, these deals come with certain conditions. If you can meet those conditions, you will surely be able to get a Cricket free phone with or without Food Stamps. Cricket’s deals on mobile devices tend to change and update regularly, however, currently, the company offers the following free phones:
- Motorola moto g play (2023) from $0 when you bring your number and activate a new line on a minimum $60 a month voice plan. Available for new and existing customers.
- TCL 30 Z from $0 when you activate a new line on a minimum $40 a month voice plan. Available for new and existing customers.
- Samsung Galaxy A14 5G from $0 when you bring your number and activate a new line on a minimum $60 a month voice plan. Available for new and existing customers.
- Motorola moto g 5G (2023) when you activate a new line on a minimum $60 a month voice plan. Available for new and existing customers.
- Cricket Innovate E 5G from $0 when you activate a new line on a minimum $55 a month voice plan. Available for new and existing customers.
As the offer may be different by the time you read this article, you should check out which devices are available at that time at https://www.cricketwireless.com/current-phone-and-plan-deals.
Conclusion
Even though it may not be possible to get Cricket free phones with Food Stamps, you can still get a Cricket free phone through a promotional deal, which is available with or without Food Stamps participation. Moreover, with your Food Stamps participation, you can get Cricket’s ACP benefit, which includes a large discount on a monthly wireless plan.
