Even though buying a phone and monthly wireless service isn’t as expensive as it used to be, many people still struggle with affording it. Low-income families and unemployed people find it hard to pay for a device and cell phone services, which is sad, considering that having a phone and staying connected to your loved ones, job, education, and emergency services is a basic necessity.
Luckily, the American government has recognized that telecommunications are a necessity instead of a luxury, therefore, in the 1980s, the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) established a program called Lifeline, designed to ensure access to basic phone services for low-income families.
All Lifeline providers offer a discount on wireless services, however, some providers even provide free or discounted phones for Lifeline-eligible people. And guess what? People who participate in the Food Stamp program are Lifeline eligible!
To find out more on how to get a free phone with Food Stamps and what kind of a phone you can expect to receive, read the following chapters.
Is It Possible to Get a Free iPhone With The Food Stamp Program?
Participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP (formerly known as Food Stamps) should be enough to qualify for Lifeline assistance. Residents of the United States who are Lifeline eligible (including SNAP participants) are qualified to receive both a monthly discount on wireless services and a free government-funded cell phone.
As mentioned before, some Lifeline providers only offer discounted services, but many also offer free or discounted mobile devices to Lifeline-eligible customers. Exactly which device you can expect to receive depends fully on the Lifeline provider. Most Lifeline providers who offer free or discounted cell phones give out mid-range Android smartphones. However, there are some Lifeline providers (which may, however, not be available in all states) that also offer iPhones.
So, to answer the question – yes, it is possible to get a free iPhone with the Food Stamp (SNAP) program, as Food Stamp participants are Lifeline eligible and as some Lifeline providers do offer iPhones.
How to Get a Free iPhone With The Food Stamp (SNAP) Program?
In order to get a free iPhone (or any other free government phone for that matter), you must follow a few simple steps.
Step 1: First, you must be Lifeline or Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) eligible.
As mentioned before, Lifeline is a government assistance program designed to ensure access to basic phone and wireless services for low-income families. It is a permanent program, unlike the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program, which is a temporary government assistance program by the FCC designed to help families and households struggling to afford internet service during the Covid-19 pandemic.
To be Lifeline-eligible, you must meet the FCC’s criteria, which is universal for all Lifeline providers. A person or household is eligible if they meet one (or more) of the following criteria:
- Has an income below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
- Participates in certain federal assistance programs, such as Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Federal Public Housing Assistance, Supplemental Security Income, the Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit, or certain Tribal Programs.
A person who is Lifeline-eligible is also EBB eligible, as the two Lifeline criteria as the same. However, you can also be EBB-eligible if you have:
- Received a federal Pell Grant in the current award year.
- Experienced a substantial loss of income due to job loss or furlough since February 29, 2020, and the household had a total income at or below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers in 2020.
Step 2: Secondly, once you have established and verified (which can be done through the National Verifier) that you are indeed Lifeline or EBB eligible, you have to find a Lifeline or EBB provider that offers services in your state and offers free iPhones.
Step 3: Once you find a Lifeline provider that offers free iPhones in your state of residence, contact them and ask them how to apply for their program and get the free iPhone.
The provider’s customer service will probably direct you to an online application site. There, you will be required to provide certain information and documentation that verifies your identity and proves your eligibility. Once you fill out the form and provide everything that is required, the provider will take some time to review your application. Once your application has been reviewed, you will be notified whether or not you qualify for their program and benefits. You will also be notified about what to do or expect next and about when you can expect to receive your free phone.
What Are The Food Stamp or SNAP Eligibility Criteria?
Under federal rules, to be eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly the Food Stamp Program), your household’s income and resources must meet three tests:
- Gross monthly income (a household’s income before any of the program’s deductions are applied) must be at or below 130% of the poverty line. The poverty line is higher for bigger families and lower for smaller families.
- Net income (or a household’s income after the program deductions are applied) must be at or below the poverty line.
- Assets must fall below some limits. The limits are: households without a member who is elderly (an elderly person is considered one that is 60 or more years old) or who has a disability must have assets of $2,500 or less, and households with such a member must have assets of $3,750 or less.
Nevertheless, some people cannot be SNAP-eligible, regardless of whether or not they meet the income and assets requirements. People who are not SNAP-eligible by default include:
- People who are on strike
- Unauthorized immigrants
- Some students attending college more than half the time
- Some lawfully present immigrants
In addition, unemployed adults without children in the home who do not have disabilities are limited to three months of SNAP benefits every three years in many areas of the country.
Which Companies Offer a Free iPhone With Food Stamp Program?
There are many Lifeline or EBB providers that offer free Android phones, including:
- Access
- American Assistance
- Assist
- Assurance
- Blue Jay Wireless
- Budget Mobile
- Care
- Cintex
- Easy Wireless
- enTouch Wireless
- FeelSafe Wireless
- Life Wireless
- QLink
- ReachOut Wireless
- Safelink Wireless
- StandUp
- Tag Mobile
- TerraCom
- TruConnect
- True Wireless
- T-Mobile
- U.S. Cellular
- Verizon Wireless
Note: Not all of these providers offer their services in all states. In addition, whether or not you can get a free phone from them and which brand/model depends on their availability. Some of these providers may ask you to pay a small co-pay in order to receive the device.
And while the list of free government Android phones is quite large, the list of free government iPhone providers is rather short. The only Lifeline or EBB providers that offer free iPhones are the following:
Cintex Wireless
Cintex Wireless is a Lifeline and EBB provider. The company provides free monthly wireless services and mobile devices in five U.S. states – Arkansas, Maine, Maryland, Rhode Island, and West Virginia.
As a part of their Lifeline program, you can receive an entry-level to mid-range Android smartphone. However, as a part of their EBB program, you may get a free iPhone (depending on availability).
To get a free iPhone from Cintex Wireless you must be eligible by the following criteria:
- You must participate in a government assistance program, such as SNAP, SSI, or Medicaid.
- You have experienced a job loss or furlough notice since February 29, 2020, or your household income is below 135% of the Federal poverty line.
- You must be a resident of any of the 5 states: Arkansas, Maine, Maryland, Rhode Island, and West Virginia
To apply for a Cintex Wireless free iPhone, you must:
- Visit apply.cintexwireless.com and enter your ZIP code and email ID to sign up.
- Provide all the necessary information during the application process.
- Provide all the necessary documentation, which will prove your eligibility.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the form.
- In case you are eligible, receive your free iPhone or another smartphone (depending on availability) within a few days.
SFone Wireless
SFone Wireless is a company that is quickly growing. It is an Emergency Broadband Benefit provider that helps families who struggle financially during the Covid-19 pandemic. They offer free unlimited broadband service in Arkansas, Maine, Maryland, Rhode Island, and West Virginia, however, they are planning to expand to other states soon.
SFone Wireless has partnered with Cintex Wireless to provide a free iPhone or Android smartphone to customers.
To receive a free iPhone from SFone Wireless, you must be eligible by the following criteria:
- You must have a household income below 135% of the Federal poverty line.
- You must participate in a government assistance program, such as SNAP, SSI, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Veterans Survivor Pensions Fund, etc.
To apply for an SFone free iPhone, you must:
- Visit apply.sfonewireless.com/broadband and provide all the necessary information and documentation verifying your identity and proving your eligibility.
- Call their customer case at +1(855)655-3097 and tell a representative that you wish to apply.
- Once you have provided all the information and documentation, you will be notified about receiving the free iPhone. The product is available until supplies last.
NewPhone Wireless
NewPhone is another popular Lifeline and EBB provider. They offer both free monthly wireless services and free smartphones (both Android and iPhones) to customers in need.
As NewPhone Wireless offers these benefits through their EBB program, which is temporary, the window of opportunity will close sometime in the future. However, their existing customers will be notified of any changes in time.
To receive a free iPhone from NewPhone Wireless, you must be eligible by the following criteria:
- You must have a household income below 135% of the Federal poverty line.
- You must participate in a government assistance program, such as SNAP, SSI, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Veterans Survivor Pensions Fund, etc.
- You must have received a federal Pell Grant in the current award year.
- You must have experienced a substantial loss of income due to job loss or furlough since February 29, 2020, and the household had a total income at or below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers in 2020.
To apply for a NewPhone Wireless free iPhone, you must:
- Visit newphone.com and apply online. Fill in the required information and press ‘Sign up now’. You may also be required to provide certain documentation verifying your identity and proving your eligibility.
- Once you have applied, all of the provided data and proofs will be verified through the government’s secure and confidential system.
- Once your application is approved (which will happen as long as you are EBB or Lifeline eligible), you will receive the monthly service discount and a free phone. Expect to receive the free phone within 7-10 business days. The shipping is completely free of charge.
Check if any of these providers operate and offer their services in your state of residence. If so and if you are Lifeline or EBB-eligible, these three providers are your best chance to receive a free iPhone with Food Stamp or SNAP.
If I Don’t Get a Free iPhone Under The Food Stamp or SNAP Program, How Else Can I Get a Free iPhone?
In case you participate in the SNAP or Food Stamps program or are otherwise Lifeline or EBB-eligible (see the eligibility criteria in the section ‘How to Get a Free iPhone With the Food Stamp (SNAP) Program?’), your best bet to receive a free iPhone is through a Lifeline or EBB provider. Lifeline and EBB providers that offer free iPhones are Cintex Wireless, SFone Wireless, and NewPhone Wireless, however, these providers do not offer their services in all U.S. states.
So, is there any other way to get a free iPhone for those who don’t live in qualifying states or are not Lifeline or EBB-eligible? The answer is yes! There are still many other ways to get a free iPhone. However, as nowadays there are tons of scams online, you have to make sure to choose a legit way to get a free iPhone.
Here are all the ways to get a free iPhone without a scam:
1. Get a carrier deal for a free iPhone
One of the simplest ways to receive an iPhone for free is by searching for carrier cell phone offers and deals. Most major carriers, including AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint offer promotional deals for free iPhones (as well as free Android smartphones) on a regular basis.
However, the thing about carrier deals is that they don’t actually offer phones completely free of charge. You can only get a free phone in exchange for signing a 24-month (or sometimes more) contract. So, you actually get the iPhone for loan and you are required to pay it off in 24 months in low monthly installments. In case you can afford to pay the low monthly installments but not the full price of the phone upfront, this may be a great option for you. This way, the only thing you will be required to pay upfront is a small ($30 to $50) activation fee and even this fee may be waived by the carrier company during promotion periods. Before you sign up, make sure you will be able to pay for the monthly installments and the plan.
Carrier companies also often offer ‘buy one, get one free’ promotions. If you have a friend or family member, who is currently looking to buy a phone, you can ask them to get this deal with you. If both of you sign up, you might be able to get cheaper fees.
Carrier deals for free phones change often, therefore you must check frequently to find an offer that fits your needs.
2. Get a free iPhone by becoming a free marketing agent
Apple often gives out free iPhones for marketing purposes. For example, users who have a large social media following (preferably on Instagram or Facebook) may be able to receive a free iPhone in exchange for a number of social media promotions, which may get Apple new customers. In case you have a vast social media following, contact Apple and you might be able to make a deal.
3. Get a free iPhone by becoming a reviewer
You may also be able to get a free iPhone if you apply as an iPhone reviewer. You can apply and receive a device to review from product testing. Simply sign up and provide your personal information. If your application gets approved, you will be notified. You will be asked to fill out an offer-based questionnaire. You will have to review the product in 500 words or more and perhaps include a few photos and a video reviewing the product. In case you are selected as the best reviewer, you will receive a brand new Apple iPhone completely free of charge.
4. Get a free iPhone by entering a giveaway contest
Another way to get a free iPhone is by entering a giveaway contest or a competition in which the winner gets a free iPhone. Many iPhone giveaways can be found online, but you have to be careful not to enter a contest that is a scam, as the personal information you will be required to provide may be in danger. Make sure to review their home page and their terms and conditions. In case you find a legit page, you can register and follow the on-screen prompts. If you win, you will receive an email confirmation and a phone and you may get asked to post about the giveaway on your social media.
5. Get a free iPhone via Amazon Vine
Finally, you can get a free iPhone via Amazon Vine, a program that rewards people for making honest reviews of their products by giving them a free iPhone. Simply create an Amazon account and provide an honest product review. In case the review gets noticed by the right people, you may be asked to review their mobile devices in exchange for a free iPhone.
In addition to ways to get a free iPhone, there are also several ways to get a big discount on an iPhone, including:
- Carrier deals for discounted iPhones.
- Store discounts and deals on iPhones.
- Buying a refurbished iPhone, which is considerably cheaper than a new one.
- Buying a used or second-hand iPhone on online sites like Swappa, Amazon Renewed, eBay, Apple Refurbished Store, etc.
