How To Get A Government Free Phone?
Have you heard of the Lifeline Assistance program before? How about Obama phone? No? Well you’ve definitely heard of free government phones before, right? Yes, there are ways for those of you who meet specific eligibility criteria to get free government phones, and one of the ways to get your hands on a free government phone is searching “free government phone stands near me”.
There are two ways to qualify for the Lifeline Assistance – a household must meet the low-income threshold, which is set at 135% of federal poverty guidelines or have a member that participates in one of the pre-defined government-supported programs (see the list below).
Government-supported programs that make a household eligible for the Lifeline support:
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
- Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit
- Tribal Programs (and live on federally-recognized Tribal lands):
- 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 a household meets one of the qualifying criteria, it must apply for the assistance. This is most easily done online, either directly through the National Verifier or individual wireless provider that takes part in the Lifeline Assistance program.
In both cases, applicants must make sure that there is a wireless provider that offers Lifeline support in their area. Not all wireless providers have the same deals, however, there are many who offer very solid FREE Lifeline government phone plans that include a decent amount of monthly minutes, texts, and mobile data, and many (but not all) also provide you with a FREE mobile phone.
Aside from applying online, one can also apply by mail or in person, which is what we will focus on here today and this is why you may be interested in locating “free government phone stands near me”. You can use any search engine (Google is the most popular one) and type in “free government phone stands near me”, which will provide you with local stores that provide Lifeline plans.
Below, we will take a closer look at the two most popular ways to apply for the Lifeline Assistance program; online or in person.
Free Government Phone Stands
Free government phone stands can actually be small stands set by lifeline wireless providers that offer Lifeline plans or they can represent fixed local stores of those wireless providers or their representatives.
As mentioned above, apply online may be the most practical way for those who prefer to sort thing out from the comfort of their home (more on that in the subsection below), however, applying in person, where you can get all the assistance needed by a trained professional is still what many people prefer.
It takes all the insecurity and doubts out of the picture, as the wireless provider’s representative can instantly answer any of your questions and guide you through the process to make sure all is done properly.
Keep in mind that you will need the same documents in both cases. Whether applying in person or online, you will need a document that will prove your identity and your permanent or temporary address. You will also need proof of low-income or proof of membership in a program, depending based on which of the two options are you qualified through.
It depends on a type of free government phone stand used whether they have a scanner or not. If they have it, they will be able to scan the document for you, however, it may be safer to come prepared with hard copies of documents and scanned digital copies on your flash drive or USB stick (this can be done at any local copy office).
What Type Of Services Provide Free Government Phone Stands Near Me?
Not all phone stands are the same. Some are very basic temporary promotional stands, while others are actual permanent stores, which also offer a wide selection of devices and accessories, which is typically not the case with temporary free government phone stands.
Below, we will discuss more closely the type of services that are usually offered at all free government phone stands.
Eligibility checking
It doesn’t make sense for you to initiate the application process and waste your precious time on it if you are not even eligible. Thus it is important to first complete the eligibility check. And this is something any free government phone stand representative is able to do for you. To complete the process, you will need to provide some personal information.
Eligibility documents submit
At most free government phone stands, you will be able to submit eligibility documents (see the list of documents required/accepted below). In some cases, they will be able to make the copies for you, in other you may need to provide hard copies or scanned ones. It is best to come prepared.
How to Prove Participation:
To prove participation in one of the above programs, you must submit a document that, at a minimum, includes:
- Your name, or the name of your benefit qualifying person (BQP);
- The name of the Lifeline-qualifying program, such as SNAP;
- The government or Tribal program administrator or the managed care organization (MCO) that issued the document; and
- An issue date within the last 12 months or a future expiration date that aligns with the benefit period.
How to Prove Income:
- The prior year’s state, federal, or Tribal tax return
- Current income statement from an employer or paycheck stub
- Social Security 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
Application process
Again, it depends on the type of the stand/local representative desk; you may be asked to fill in the physical application, which a representative will later enter into the system and complete the online application on your behalf or they may complete the online application while you are there providing them with your personal information. Either way, you will be able to complete the application process with the help of a real person representative, which is something that many people find highly beneficial and one of the main reasons why they prefer to sort things out in person.
Collect phone after you are qualified
The application process normally takes a couple of days and you can’t accept to get the phone right on the spot when you apply. However, you can choose whether you want them to send you your FREE phone and SIM kit to your address or arrange for you to pick it up in person.
If you are not familiar with phones and their activation process, it may be helpful for you to arrange for the pickup in person, where you will be able to ask the representative to assist you with the activation.
Phone upgrade
If a free government phone stand is actually a local store, you can also complete a phone upgrade there. Keep in mind that the selection of devices tends to always be rather limited in locally (compared to online availability). If you have a particular device in mind, it may be smart to call the free government phone stand and check the availability. In many cases they can make the arrangement for a specific device to be delivered to that stand where you can then pick it up (make the purchase and all necessary arrangements).
Phone replacement
The ability to replace your phone at a local free government phone stand depends on your phone’s conditions (if eligible for the replacement) and on the type of the local stand. Not all have the ability to replace your phone on the spot. In some cases, you will be able to hand in your device but will be asked to return for the replacement phone the next day or have it shipped to your address.
Phone rectification
If you are having issues with your device, it is best to call the related provider’s support first. They will provide you with detailed instructions on how to proceed. Of course, if you are passing by a local free government phone stand near you, you may ask them to assist you. Whether or not you will be able to make the necessary arrangements for phone rectification on the spot, again depends on the type of the stand.
Free Government Phone Online
If you are fluent in computer use and have access to the internet, we strongly advise you to get your free government phone online. It will save you the time you’d otherwise spend getting to the local representative and avoid any crowd.
The process to apply online is fast and simple (see the instructions and links provided in the ‘Free government phone online’ subsection of the ‘How to get government free phone?’ section above).
Make sure you have all the necessary documents (their scans) at hand.
When choosing a wireless provider (assuming that you live in an area, where you have several options available) make sure to check their Lifeline plans and whether or not they offer FREE devices.
If you decided to apply directly via a wireless provider that offers Lifeline Assistance plans, you can always call their support and ask for assistance. Check out more Government free phone complete guideline
How to Find Out Which Providers Offer Free Phones Near Me?
Finding out which providers offer free phones near me is relatively easy. As free government phones are provided through the Lifeline Assistance program, you should simply find a list of all Lifeline providers in your area. The Lifeline providers that offer services in your state of residence are the only ones that can offer you any kind of benefits, as applicants must be residents of one of the states where the provider operates.
- First, go to https://www.lifelinesupport.org/companies-near-me/.
- Secondly, Press ‘Search Providers’.
- When redirected, enter your ZIP code or city and state in the provided search box, select the Lifeline program, and press ‘Search’.
You will then receive a list of all Lifeline providers in your state. There is a phone number next to each provider. Call the company’s customer support service or search for its Lifeline offer online. Many Lifeline providers offer free phones, however, some only offer discounts on monthly phone services. As such, it is vital to check whether or not a selected provider can provide you with a free government phone.
Free Government Phone Stands Near Me In My State
To make things even easier for you, we decided to list down some actual addresses of local free government phone stands. Most of these are more-or-less permanent local stores or local representatives.
Note: The chances of you living exactly in one of the areas provided below are rather slim, thus make sure to use the above link to find a local Lifeline wireless provider. Then visit their official website end-use their local store locator to find the local representative. Many wireless providers don’t have local store locators on their sites, in that case Google them or call their support center.
California
- Life Wireless, ARCO & BK MART, 3237779700, 9600 S. AVALON BLVD, LOS ANGELES, CA 90003
- Life Wireless, CELLULAR ACCESSORIES, 6269658563, 19070 LA PUENTE RD, WEST COVINA, CA 91792
- TrueConnect, 2633 Santa Ana Street, South Gate, CA 90280
Texas
- Life Wireless, DRIVE-IN FOOD MART, 4099458653, 2903 PALMER HWY, TEXAS CITY, TX 77590
- Life Wireless, TIGER EXPRESS, 4099450060, 1025 N. 5TH AVENUE, TEXAS CITY, TX 77590
Florida
- Access Wireless, 866-594-3644 (call and ask for “free government phone stands near me”)
- Safelink Wireless, 800-723-3546 (call and ask for “free government phone stands near me”)
- Assurance Wireless, 888-898-4888 (call and ask for “free government phone stands near me”)
New York
- Safelink Wireless, 800-723-3546 (call and ask for “free government phone stands near me”)
- Assurance Wireless, 888-898-4888 (call and ask for “free government phone stands near me”)
- Access Wireless, 866-594-3644 (call and ask for “free government phone stands near me”)
Ohio
- Life Wireless, 2480 NORTH HIGH INC, 6142686298, 2480 N. HIGH ST, COLUMBUS, OH 43202
- Life Wireless, ADDISU BAKERY & CARRY OUT, 6142352727, 873 S. HAMILTON RD, WHITEHALL, OH 43213
- Q Link Wireless, 855-754-6543 (call and ask for “free government phone stands near me”)
Michigan
- Life Wireless, JONESVILLE QUICK STOP, 475 E CHICAGO ST, JONESVILLE, MI 49250
- Tag Mobile, 866-959-4918 (call and ask for “free government phone stands near me”)
- Safelink Wireless, 800-723-3546 (call and ask for “free government phone stands near me”)
Georgia
- Life Wireless, AM-PM, 7703030053, 2535 COBB PKWY, SMYRNA, GA 30080
- Safelink Wireless, 800-723-3546 (call and ask for “free government phone stands near me”)
- Assurance Wireless, 888-898-4888 (call and ask for “free government phone stands near me”)
New Jersey
- Safelink Wireless, 800-723-3546 (call and ask for “free government phone stands near me”)
- Assurance Wireless, 888-898-4888 (call and ask for “free government phone stands near me”)
Virginia
- Safelink Wireless, 800-723-3546 (call and ask for “free government phone stands near me”)
- Assurance Wireless, 888-898-4888 (call and ask for “free government phone stands near me”)
- Access Wireless, 866-594-3644 (call and ask for “free government phone stands near me”)
Washington
- Life Wireless, CDS TEST 1, 2069999999, 111 MONTEREY STREET, SEATTLE, WA 98104
- Q Link Wireless, 855-754-6543 (call and ask for “free government phone stands near me”)
- Access Wireless, 866-594-3644 (call and ask for “free government phone stands near me”)
Massachusetts
- Safelink Wireless, 800-723-3546 (call and ask for “free government phone stands near me”)
- Assurance Wireless, 888-898-4888 (call and ask for “free government phone stands near me”)
Indiana
- Life Wireless, NEO DIGITAL, 3174542901, 1505 CRAFT ST., INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46260
- Q Link Wireless, 855-754-6543 (call and ask for “free government phone stands near me”)
- Assurance Wireless, 888-898-4888 (call and ask for “free government phone stands near me”)
Arizona
- Life Wireless, ZETTABYTE SOLUTIONS, 6026863662, 7137 S 68TH ST, GLEN LAVERN, AZ 85339
- enTouch Wireless, 866-488-8719 (call and ask for “free government phone stands near me”)
- Q Link Wireless, 855-754-6543 (call and ask for “free government phone stands near me”)
Tennessee
- Safelink Wireless, 800-723-3546 (call and ask for “free government phone stands near me”)
Missouri
- Life Wireless, 53RD STREET PARTY SHOP, 8168227300, 5414 PROSPECT AVE, KANSAS CITY, MO 64130
- Life Wireless, 1 STOP SHOP, 9133623002, 7423 W 63RD STREET, OVERLAND PARK, KS 66202
- Safelink Wireless, 800-723-3546 (call and ask for “free government phone stands near me”)
Maryland
- Life Wireless, 2656018 – ELDERSBURG EXXON ON THE RUN, 1305 LIBERTY ROAD, ELDERSBURG, MD 21784
- Life Wireless, 5 TWELVE FOOD MART, 7001 ANNAPOLIS ROAD, BALTIMORE, MD 20784
- StandUP Wireless, 800-544-4441 (call and ask for “free government phone stands near me”)
Wisconsin
- Safelink Wireless, 800-723-3546 (call and ask for “free government phone stands near me”)
- StandUP Wireless, 800-544-4441 (call and ask for “free government phone stands near me”)
- Q Link Wireless, 855-754-6543 (call and ask for “free government phone stands near me”)
14 Best Free Government Phone Providers and Their Stands Near Me
Access Wireless
- Local address: Access Wireless has no physical stores, it’s an online-only provider
- Website: https://www.accesswireless.com/
- Email address: https://www.accesswireless.com/contact-us
- Contact number: 866-594-3644 or 888-900-5899 for new customers
- States: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.
AirTalk Wireless
- Local address: AirTalk Wireless has no physical stores
- Website: https://airtalkwireless.com/
- Email address: info@airtalkwireless.com or https://airtalkwireless.com/contact
- Contact number: 855 924-7825
- States: California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, New Jersey, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Assurance Wireless
- Local address: Assurance Wireless has no physical stores, main address is Assurance Wireless, P.O. Box 5040, Charleston, IL 61920-9907
- Website: https://www.assurancewireless.com/
- Email address: Assurance does not offer an email address or online contact form
- Contact number: 888-321-5880
- States: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Cintex Wireless
- Local address: Cintex Wireless has no physical stores
- Website: https://cintexwireless.com/
- Email address: info@cintexwireless.com or https://cintexwireless.com/contact
- Contact number: 855 655-3097
- States: Arkansas, Maryland, Maine, Rhode Island, West Virginia.
Easy Wireless
- Local address: See Easy Wireless store locations at https://myeasywireless.com/store-locations/, the main address is PO Box 831478, Ocala FL 34483
- Website: https://myeasywireless.com/
- Email address: help@myeasywireless.com
- Contact number: 877 476-3451
- States: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
enTouch Wireless
- Local address: enTouch Wireless has no physical stores, the main address is 3030 LBJ Freeway, Suite 1320, Dallas, TX 75234
- Website: https://entouchwireless.com/
- Email address: support@enTouchWireless.com
- Contact number: 866 488-8719
- 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, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
FeelSafe Wireless
- In 2022, FeelSafe Wireless was purchased by HTH Communications and rebranded as AirTalk Wireless. See the AirTalk Wireless address, website, contact information, and other details above.
Infiniti Mobile
- Local address: Infiniti Mobile has no physical stores
- Website: https://infinitimobile.com/
- Email address: https://infinitimobile.com/?page_id=81
- Contact number: 888-801-0012
- States: California, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
Life Wireless
- Local address: Life Wireless has no physical stores
- Website: https://www.lifewireless.com/
- Email address: info@lifewireless.com or https://www.lifewireless.com/contactus
- Contact number: 888-543-3620
- States: Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Dakota, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virgin Islands, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Q Link Wireless
- Local address: Q Link Wireless has no physical stores
- Website: https://qlinkwireless.com/
- Email address: https://qlinkwireless.com/members/support.aspx
- Contact number: (855) 754-6543
- States: Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
SafeLink Wireless
- Local address: See SafeLink’s retail locations at https://www.safelink.com/wps/portal/home/retailers, main address is PO Box 160490, Hialeah, FL 33016-9997
- Website: https://www.safelinkwireless.com/
- Email address: https://www.safelinkwireless.com/Enrollment/Safelink/en/Web/www/default/index.html#!/contactUs
- Contact number: 1-800-SafeLink (723-3546)
- States: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
StandUp Wireless
- Local address: SafeLink Wireless has no physical stores, main address is PO Box 72397, Newport, Ky 41072
- Website: https://standupwireless.com/
- Email address: support@standupwireless.com and https://standupwireless.com/support/contact-us/
- Contact number: 800-544-4441
- States: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Tag Mobile
- Local address: See Tag Mobile’s retail locations at https://www.tagmobile.com/Support/StoreLocator
- Website: https://www.tagmobile.com/
- Email address: https://www.tagmobile.com/Support/ContactUs
- Contact number: 866-959-4918
- States: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
TruConnect
- Local address: See TruConnect’s retail locations at https://www.truconnect.com/locations
- Website: https://www.truconnect.com/
- Email address: customercare@truconnect.com or https://www.truconnect.com/contact-us
- Contact number: 800 430-0443
- States: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
How to Get Free Government Phone Online
Free government phone online refers to applying for Lifeline assistance online. As quickly mentioned above, there are two places where you can apply online:
- Directly via the National Verifier website (https://nationalverifier.servicenowservices.com/lifeline)
- Through wireless providers (the ones that participate in the Lifeline program) official website. To locate wireless providers in your area, use this tool: https://data.usac.org/publicreports/CompaniesNearMe/Download/Report
In many cases, you will actually be redirected to National Verifier when applying through wireless provider’s sites.
The main difference between applying online compared to the “free government phone stands near me” method is that you will need to provide DIGITAL COPIES of the proof documentation. In some cases, you will need to upload scanned document files and in others, you will be able to snap a photo of the document and upload it or send it in an email.
The best thing about the free government phone online method is that you can sort everything out from your home or office (where ever you have internet access). If your application is accepted, you then get a FREE phone (if applicable) and a SIM kit to your mailbox, activate it, and you are good to go.
Government Free Phone Lifeline Program Conclusion
If you are a part of the household that is eligible for the Lifeline assistance, you have quite a few options to obtain a free government phone. Of course, it depends on the area you live in. In 2020 the best option to apply is online, however, you can still use a search engine (Google) and type in ‘free government phone stands near me’ to locate a local stand. This will enable you to apply in person.
Above, we have provided you with all the information you need to apply either in person or online. Now it is up to you to take the next step and get your hand on the best free government phone.
