A free government phone is something you can easily get in Texas. Of course, specific conditions apply.
You can get a free Texas government phone through the Lifeline Assistance program, which is a government program that offers discounted telecommunicational services to households with low income or the ones that have a household member participating in one a government assistance program.
In Texas, there are quite many wireless companies that upgraded standard Lifeline discounts by adding their additional offers. With many of them, you can get a completely free monthly plan and even a free government phone or even a smartphone in some cases.
How to Get Free Government Phone in Texas
In Texas, as well as in other U.S. states, there are two ways for eligible low-income people to receive a free phone – through a Lifeline provider or through an Affordable Connectivity Program provider.
Get Free Phone From the Government Under the Lifeline Program
As mentioned before, Lifeline is a government assistance program by the FCC, designed to help make communications services more affordable for low-income customers. The program provides a monthly discount on telephone or internet services of up to $9.25 or $34.25 for eligible households on Tribal lands. In addition, certain Lifeline providers also offer a free phone – usually an entry-level to mid-range Android smartphone.
Get Free Phone From the Government Under the ACP Benefits
In addition to the Lifeline program, there is another government assistance program through which you may receive a free phone – the Affordable Connectivity Program or ACP. The ACP is a new, long-term program by the FCC, designed to help low-income households pay for broadband services and in some cases, internet-connected devices. Eligible households will receive a discount of up to $30 a month on internet services (or $75 a month for eligible Tribal households). Some ACP providers also offer a one-time discount of up to $100 on a connected device, if the consumer contributes more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price. While those connected devices are generally tablets, laptops, or desktop computers, many wireless providers that offer both ACP and Lifeline benefits provide free smartphones instead.
Free Government Phone Lifeline Eligibility inTexas
As mentioned above, there are two ways to get the Lifeline Assistance support – low income OR participation in a government assistance program.
Lifeline Assistance – low-income eligibility in Texas:
For Texas citizens, low-income eligibility bar is set at 135% of the U.S. poverty guideline per household. You can check the current year’s poverty guidelines at https://aspe.hhs.gov/. The numbers given per the number of people in a household must be multiplied by 1.35 to get a threshold for the Lifeline Assistance income-based eligibility.
Lifeline government assistance program participation eligibility in Texas:
There are quite many different government assistance program which can help you get a free government phone in Texas. For your household to qualify, one member must participate in one of the following programs:
- Medicaid
- Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program support
- SNAP
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Health Benefits Coverage under Child Health Plan (CHIP) under Chapter 62 support
- National School Lunch Program – Free Lunch Program
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Veterans Pension or Survivors Pension
- Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) General Assistance
- Tribal head Start
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
Free Government Phone ACP Eligibility in Texas
There are also two ways to receive the ACP benefit – based on your household income or your participation in a qualifying government assistance program.
ACP low-income eligibility in Texas:
A household is ACP-eligible if its annual income is at or below 200% of the poverty guideline.
ACP government assistance program participation eligibility in Texas:
A member of the household must participate in at least one of the following government or Tribal assistance programs:
- Lifeline
- Medicaid
- SNAP
- Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
- Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tribal TANF)
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
- Head Start (only households meeting the income qualifying standard)
- Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program, including at U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Community Eligibility Provision schools
- Received a Federal Pell Grant in the current award year
What Documents Are Required for Lifeline and ACP in Texas
As only Lifeline/ACP-eligible customers and households can receive discounts and free government phones, it is important to prove your eligibility during the application process. You can do so by submitting certain documents as proof.
- To prove your annual household income (for Lifeline or ACP), you may be required to provide an official document that includes your full legal name and annual income, such as a current income statement from your employer, a paycheck stub, a prior year’s state, federal, or Tribal tax return, Unemployment or Workers’ Compensation statement of benefits, divorce decree, child support award, etc.
- To prove your government assistance program participation (for Lifeline or ACP), you may be required to provide an official document that contains your full legal name, the program name, the name of the establishment that issued it, and an issue date within the last 12 month or a future expiration date, such as an approval letter, benefit award letter, benefit verification letter, and statement of benefits.
- To verify your identity, date of birth, address, or other personal information (for Lifeline or ACP), you may be required to provide an unexpired official document that contains all the relevant information, such as a passport, ID, birth certificate, driver’s license, Social Security card, etc.
To participate in either Lifeline or ACP, you must be at least 18 years old or an emancipated minor. The letter must also prove their emancipated minor status by providing a court document, a certificate of emancipation, or another official proof.
Texas Government Free Phone General Application Procedure
Lifeline Application Procedure
If you qualify (t.i. if your household’s income is equal or below 135% of the U.S. poverty guideline OR a member of your household participates in a government assistance program) then by far the easiest way to apply for Lifeline assistance and a chance of getting a free government phone is to first find a wireless provider that suits your needs.
To make this part as easy for you as possible, we prepared a list of companies and wrote down detailed information that will help you choose the best one for you (see the section below).
Once you decide which wireless provider you want, simply visit their website and look for ‘Free government phone’ or ‘Lifeline’. Typically they all have a field where you enter your zip code and a button (‘Apply’, ‘Enroll’, ‘Star’, or similar), which you must click on to start the application process online. Simply follow the instructions and enter all the details requested.
Aside from doing it online, you have the option of applying via standard mail or even in person. For either of these two, you will need to print out the Lifeline application for Texas and fill it out. Then you can send this along with all the copies of required documents (an identity document (ID card, birth certificate, passport, …), AND a document proving your income (social security award letter, W-2, …) OR a document proving participation in government assistance program (members card copy or awarded letter)) to the wireless provider’s headquarters or one of their local dealers or visit a local dealer in person.
ACP Application Procedure
To apply for a free government phone and plan in Texas through an ACP provider, you must first make sure that you are ACP-eligible. You can qualify based on your household income or your or another household member’s participation in a qualifying government assistance program.
Once you make sure you are eligible, you can find a suitable ACP provider that offers benefits, devices, and services that best fit your needs. To do so, visit https://www.fcc.gov/affordable-connectivity-program-providers#Texas and scroll down to see the full list of all ACP providers in Texas. The ones that have a tick under ‘Offering Connected Devices’ also provide free desktops, laptops, tablets, or smartphones. To find out exactly which device you may receive from a certain provider, you will have to visit each provider’s official ACP website and review its offer.
Once you find a suitable ACP provider, collect all the documentation that proves that you qualify for their program.
Afterward, you can find the provider’s online application form and apply by filling it out and submitting it. To complete the form, you will have to provide certain personal information and documentation that proves your eligibility.
You may also be able to apply via standard mail or in person. To do so, contact the provider’s customer service and ask them to walk you through the process.
Free Government Lifeline and ACP Phone Companies in Texas
In this section, we will take a look at the wireless companies that provide Lifeline assistance. We will first consider those that can provide you with FREE deals and even a free Texas government phone.
As we’ve mentioned above, in general, the Lifeline program includes a monthly discount applied to your telecommunication services ($9.25), however, there are companies that decided to offer additional free support – generous deals and even free government phones.
Access Wireless
Access Wireless has a very good nationwide coverage, offers free long-distance calls, and offers international calling availability. To apply, visit https://www.accesswireless.com/lifeline/Availability, enter your zip code, click the “Learn More” button, and on the next page click on the “ENROLL” button.
Lifeline Plan:
Access Wireless provides customers with a free monthly allotment of 250 minutes, unlimited text messages, and 3GB free data each month.
The free package includes Free voicemail, Caller ID & Call Waiting, Free domestic long distance, Nationwide coverage, and Exclusive Wireless Rewards program.
You may also receive a mobile phone free of charge. Once you are an approved customer, you also have an option to upgrade your phone and add it to your plan.
ACP + Lifeline Plan:
Access Wireless also offers a combined ACP and Lifeline plan for customers that qualify for both programs. Eligible households can receive a free wireless plan with unlimited talk, unlimited text, unlimited data (but 15 GB of high-speed data), and hotspot data.
Customer care:
If you have any additional questions about Access Wireless Lifeline plan or regarding their devices use the online form (link below) or call the phone number that applies to your position (new or existing customer).
- Online contact form: https://www.accesswireless.com/contact-us
- Phone support (available during working hours: Monday – Friday: 8am – Midnight EST, Saturday: 9am – Midnight EST, Sunday: 10am – 7pm EST):
- New Customers: 1-888-900-5899
- Existing Customers: 1-866-594-3644
- Address: Access Wireless / i-Wireless LLC, 1 Levee Way Newport, Kentucky 41071 United States
- Find a local store: https://www.accesswireless.com/buy-cards
Phones:
You may also receive a mobile phone free of charge. Once you are an approved customer, you have the option to upgrade your phone and add to your plan, of course at an additional charge.
There is no exact info available on what type of phones come for free. Some of the phones available include ZTE Flash, Samsung Transform (Ultra), Coolpad Quato II, ZTE Force, and Alcatel Revolve.
Assurance Wireless
Assurance Wireless is a federal Lifeline Assistance program brought to you by Virgin Mobile. They offer great coverage and offer very generous deals to those who qualify. To apply, visit https://www.assurancewireless.com/, enter your zip code and then click on the “APPLY NOW” button on the next page. If you want to know more then you can make a visit how to get free Assurance wireless phone and plans
Lifeline Plan:
Assurance Wireless offers FREE 3GB of data, FREE UNLIMITED texts, and FREE unlimited voice minutes each month.
Assurance Wireless plan also includes:
- No Annual Contract
- Nationwide Sprint® Network Coverage
- Voicemail Account, Call Waiting, and Caller ID
- 911 Access
- FREE Unlimited Calling to 211
- Calls to Customer Care are FREE
- Low International Rates to over 200 Countries
On top of that, you will also get a free android smartphone. You cannot choose a device yourself, you get the one selected by the wireless provider based on their policy and current availability.
ACP + Lifeline Plan:
Customers that qualify for both Lifeline and ACP benefits, can receive a plan with more benefits. Their ACP + Lifeline plan offers free unlimited minutes, free unlimited texts, free unlimited data, free 10 GB of monthly mobile hotspot data, and a free Android smartphone.
Customer care:
If you have any additional questions about Assurance Wireless, you can get in touch with their customer support by phone or by email.
If you decide to apply by standard mail, use the address below or find a local Assurance Wireless provider and address your application there.
- Phone: 1-888-321-5880
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: Assurance Wireless, P.O. Box 5040, Charleston, IL 61920-9907
Phones:
None of the Lifeline assistance wireless providers that offer free government phones don’t give you the option of choosing a specific device yourself and Assurance Wireless is no exception.
It is highly possible that you will receive one of the following models. For those of you, who want a more performing device, you can always upgrade. Call 1-888-321-5880 for more information.
- ZTE PrestigeTM 2
- Coolpad Illumnia
- ANS WikoTM Life
- ZTE QuestTM Plus
- ALCATEL ONETOUCH CinchTM
Safelink Wireless
SafeLink Wireless is provided by TracFone Wireless, Inc. It is solely intended for those eligible for Lifeline Assistance. Using the same coverage as the TracFone, they really offer top-notch service nationwide. Visit https://www.safelinkwireless.com, enter your zip code and click the “START” button. If you want to know more then you can make a visit how to get free Safelink wireless phone and plans
Lifeline Plan:
SafeLink Wireless Lifeline FREE plan includes 350 minutes, unlimited texts, and 3GB of data within Use your Own Phone program.
The free plan also includes:
- Nationwide Calling
- Voicemail
- Ability to Connect to Wi-Fi
- Caller ID
- 3 Way Calling
- Free Domestic Roaming
- Free 911
- 411 Directory Assistance
ACP + Lifeline Plan:
In addition to the Lifeline-only plan, the company also offers a plan that provides both Lifeline and ACP benefits. It comes with unlimited talk, unlimited text, calls to Canada and Mexico, 25 GB of high-speed data, up to 5 GB of hotspot data, and a free smartphone.
Customer care:
- Customer Support Hours: Monday – Saturday 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. EST, Sunday 8:00 a.m. – 7 p.m. EST
- Phone support: 1-800-723-3546
- Address: SafeLink Wireless PO Box 220009, Milwaukie, OR 97269-0009
Find a local dealer: https://www.safelink.com/wps/portal/home/retailers
Phones:
SafeLink Currently doesn’t offer a government free phone to any Lifeline applicant within the state of Texas, as they only offer a so-called Use your own Phone plan.
You do have the option of upgrading/purchasing a mobile phone of any rank if you prefer to do so.
enTouch Wireless
EnTouch Wireless is a national phone company that helps empower people with broadband data and Lifeline discounts ($10 per month) to lead better lives through digital citizenship.
To apply online visit https://www.entouchwireless.com/lifeline and click on the “APPLY NOW” button.
Lifeline Plan:
In general, they offer a $10 discount to all their plans for Lifeline qualified users. However, if you can’t pay, eligible customers can receive free service. For more details call 1-866-488-8719.
If you qualify, you can receive:
- FREE 1000-minute plan, which includes 1000 free minutes, unlimited texts, and 100MB of data
OR
- Tribal Residents Plan, which includes unlimited texts, unlimited minutes, and 5GB of data.
ACP + Lifeline Plan:
enTouch Wireless is also a proud ACP provider. It offers a combined ACP and Lifeline service plan that is 100% free. The plan includes free talk, text, and data, no contracts, no commitment, and a free phone.
Customer care
- Online contact form: https://www.entouchwireless.com/contact
- Email: [email protected]
- Customer Support Hours: Monday-Friday: 10am to 7pm CST, Saturday: 11am to 7pm CST, Sunday: Closed
- Phone support: 866-488-8719
- Address: PO BOX 37, Hiawatha, IA 52233
Phones:
Currently, there is no information available on EnTouch official site regarding free touch screen government phones, however, according to the last available information, if they accept your application, you get a basic government free phone with all standard smartphone features.
Further, they do offer their ‘Bring Your Own Phone’ subprogram, meaning you can use your existing phone (if it works on their system).
Life Wireless
Life Wireless® is supported by the Federal Lifeline program and provides free cellular service each month for eligible customers. Life Wireless also offers plans for those who do not qualify for Lifeline assistance.
Lifeline Plan:
Life Wireless Lifeline free plan includes 1000 minutes, unlimited texts, unlimited MMS, and 3GB of data.
The free plan also includes:
- Nationwide Calling
- Unlimited Text Messaging
- Call Waiting
- Three-way calling
- Voicemail
- Caller ID service
- No roaming charges
- No charge for domestic long-distance calls
- Free 911 Service
- Affordable Recharge Plans
ACP + Lifeline Plan:
At Life Wireless you can get the combined Lifeline and ACP plan with 15 GB of data, unlimited talk and text, and a smartphone completely free of charge. To enroll, you must meet both Lifeline and ACP eligibility criteria.
Customer care
- Online contact form: https://www.lifewireless.com/contactus
- Email: [email protected]
- Customer Support Hours: Monday-Friday: Mon-Fri 9-6pm EST
- Phone support: 1-888-543-3620 -OR- dial 611 from your Life Wireless phone
- Address: Life Wireless, PO Box 2840, Covington, GA 30015
Phones:
As part of the Life Wireless Lifeline program, you can expect to receive a free phone. They offer a variety of Alcatel, Blu, LG, Pantech, Samsung, ZTE, and other entry-level smartphones.
Typically, you are not able to choose the exact device yourself.
Q Link Wireless
Q Link Wireless is one of the fastest-growing Lifeline assistance providers and they already provide Lifeline services to tens of millions low-income Americans.
To apply, visit https://qlinkwireless.com/signup/d-6-717/ and click on the “Get My Free Phone Service Now”. If you want to know more then you can make a visit Qlink wireless free phone
Lifeline Plan:
Q-Link Wireless Lifeline FREE plan includes 1000 minutes, unlimited texts, and 3GB of data.
The free plan also includes:
- Nationwide Calling
- Voicemail
- Ability to Connect to Wi-Fi
- Caller ID
- 3 Way Calling
- Call Waiting
- Free Domestic Roaming
- Free 911
- 411 Directory Assistance
- Text & Picture Messaging
ACP + Lifeline Plan:
Q Link Wireless ACP and Lifeline-eligible customers can receive a free government cell phone service with free unlimited talk, free unlimited text, free unlimited data, the ability to bring your phone and number, and a new tablet. Plus, you will get access to one of America’s largest 4G/5G LTE networks.
Customer care
- Online contact form: https://qlinkwireless.com/members/support.aspx
- Customer Support Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-12am EST, Sat-Sun 9am-6pm EST
- Phone support: 1-855-754-6543
- Fax: 1-855-837-5465
- Address: 499 E Sheridan St #400, Dania Beach, FL 33004
Phones:
As part of the Q-Link Wireless Lifeline program, you can expect to receive a free phone. They offer a variety of entry-level smartphones. As with most free government cell phone companies, you are not able to choose the exact device yourself.
Blackberry Curve 8330, HTC Desire 626, Alcatel One-Touch, Kyocera Hydro Edge Smartphone, and LG X Charge are some of the standard options.
You also have the option of upgrading your phone for as little as $25.
StandUp Wireless
StandUp Wireless promises simple and seamless shopping experience, high-value plans, and terrific customer service.
To apply, visit https://standupwireless.com/lifeline/eligibility/, scroll down and click on the “Apply Now” button.
Lifeline Plan:
StandUp Wireless FREE plan includes 300 minutes, unlimited texts, and 3GB of data.
Lifeline top-ups:
- $5: 250 min, 250MB
- $10: unlimited min, unlimited texts, 1GB of data
- $20: unlimited min, unlimited texts, 3GB of data
- $30: unlimited min, unlimited texts, 8GB of data
ACP + Lifeline Plan:
StandUp Wireless also offers many great benefits for customers who qualify for both assistance programs – Lifeline and ACP. The combined government benefit program offers a free plan with unlimited talk, text, and data (10 GB of high-speed data), nationwide coverage, and a free phone.
Customer care
- Call: 1-800-544-4441 (Monday – Saturday 8am – 10pm EST, Sunday 9am – 6pm EST)
- Email: [email protected]
- Sales Inquiry: [email protected]
- Address: StandUp Wireless, PO Box 2148 Norcross, GA 30091
Phones:
At StandUp Wireless they don’t specify if you can get a free government phone or not. They do, however, offer highly affordable devices; VORTEX SYNC BLACK, VORTEX SYNC WHITE, and VORTEX MUV.
They also offer you ‘Bring Your Own Phone’ (BYOP) option, if your current phone supports their network.
Tag Mobile
Tag Mobile offers great deals in Texas as it is based in Dallas. Their goal is to offer competitively priced service plans and extend the Lifeline credit to qualified participants.
To apply, visit https://www.tagmobile.com/, enter your email address and zip code, and click on the “Enroll” button.
Lifeline Plan:
Currently, only their BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) Lifeline plan is available in Texas.
Free Lifeline plan includes 3GB LTE Data every month, 1000 FREE Voice minutes every month, and unlimited FREE Global texts every month.
TOP UPS-TALK & TEXT:
- 250 talk/Unlimited text for $4.95
- Unlimited talk/Unlimited text @ $9.95
TOP-UPS- DATA HIGH SPEED:
- 500MB $5.95
- 5GB $11.95
- 3GB $19.95
ACP Plan:
Tag Mobile also participates in the Affordable Connectivity Program, therefore eligible customers can also receive a discount on monthly broadband services. The company offers an ACP discount of up to $30 (or $75 for eligible Tribal households) on internet services. Read more at https://www.tagmobile.com/Lifeline/AffordableConnectivityProgram.
Customer care:
- Online form or chat (8am to 2am CST. Monday to Friday): https://www.tagmobile.com/Support/ContactUs
- Call: 1-866-959-4918 (8am to 2am CST. Monday to Friday)
- Address: 1330 Capital Pkwy, Carrollton, TX 75006
Phones:
According to the information provided on their site, TAG Mobile doesn’t offer free phones, however, they have three highly affordable smartphones available: CellAllure Miracle-S, CellAllure Fashion2Plus Black, and CellAllure CoolDuo Gold.
Terracom Wireless
TerraCom was founded to help get everyone (even those who can’t afford it) the communications services they deserve. The company prides itself on helping people save money and providing top-notch customer service.
To apply visit https://www.terracomwireless.com/ and click on the “START APPLICATION” button.
Lifeline Plan:
- Voice Base Plan 1000 MOU: This plan includes 1000 minutes, unlimited texts, and 3GB of data.
- Broadband Base Plan 500 MOU and 3GB: This plan includes 500 voice minutes, unlimited number of text messages, and 3GB of data
Customer care
- Online contact form: https://www.terracomwireless.com/contact.php
- Customer Support Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 am – 7:00 pm, CST. Closed on Saturday, Sunday and Federal Holidays.
- Phone support: 1-888-716-8880
- Address: P.O. Box 13006, Oklahoma City, OK 73113-1006
- Local dealer locator: https://www.terracomwireless.com/payment_locator.php
Phones:
As part of the Terracom Wireless Lifeline program, you can expect to receive a free phone. They offer a variety of entry-level smartphones. As with most free government cell phone companies, you are not able to choose the exact device yourself.
TMobile Motorola E4, SPRINT HTC 626s, SPRINT ZTE N817, SPRINT FLIP-PHONE LG VN170,and TMOBILE NOVATEL MIFI 5792 are some of the standard options.
TruConnect
TruConnect is a nationwide wireless service provider that is committed to making your communication needs more flexible and affordable. They believe that affordable services should be available for everyone, so they offer Lifeline and Pay-As-You-Go plans.
To apply, visit https://www.truconnect.com/, enter your zip code and email address, and click the “Apply Now” button.
Lifeline Plan:
TruConnect offers a FREE Lifeline bundle that includes 1000 monthly minutes, unlimited text messages, and 3GB of data on a monthly basis. It also includes unlimited calls to selected countries.
ACP + Lifeline Plan:
TruConnect offers a free wireless plan for ACP and Lifeline-eligible customers. The free plan includes unlimited talk and text, up to 14 GB of monthly data, free international calling, and a new Android smartphone.
Customer care:
- Online contact form: https://www.truconnect.com/contact-us
- Customer Support Hours: Monday-Saturday 5am PST – 9pm PS
- Phone support: 800-430-0443
- Address: find local dealers (https://www.truconnect.com/locations)
Phones:
As part of the TruConnect Lifeline program, you will receive a free phone. They provide no specific information on which models are they providing, thus you should call their support or a local dealer if you need more details.
These are some of the most popular phones on their site: Maxwest Phablet, Cloud Stratus C5, Nuu A7L Black GSM, ZTE Warp Elite N9518, and Cloud Mobile Storm C3.
Final Thoughts
There are quite many Lifeline Assistance program providers in Texas, thus you have a lot of different options as a customer and can go with the one that best suits you.
The information above should be sufficient to help you choose among the ones we listed. If you are looking for a FREE plan and a FREE government phone in Texas you are just one application away.
