What is the Food Stamps Program?
The Food Stamps program, officially known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), is a federal assistance program in the United States that helps low-income individuals and families purchase food. The program provides eligible participants with an electronic benefits card, similar to a debit card that can be used to purchase food at authorized retailers, such as grocery stores and farmers’ markets.
To qualify for the program, applicants must meet certain income and resource requirements. The amount of benefits a household receives is based on its income and the number of people in the household.
SNAP benefits can be used to purchase a wide variety of food items, including fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy products, and bread. However, they cannot be used to buy non-food items, such as soap, paper products, or alcoholic beverages.
The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and it is designed to help ensure that low-income individuals and families have access to adequate nutrition.
Is it Possible to Get a Free Phone and Tablet With Food Stamps?
Directly, the Food Stamps (SNAP) program only covers nutritional expenses. However, participating in the SNAP program automatically makes you eligible for several other government assistance programs, including the Lifeline program which offers free phones and discounts on monthly phone and wireless services, and the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) which offers discounts on internet services and internet-connected devices, such as tablets.
As SNAP participation qualifies you for Lifeline and ACP and as you can get a free phone and tablet through those two programs, you can indirectly as a Food Stamps participant receive a free phone and tablet.
What is the Process of Getting a Free Phone and Tablet With Food Stamps
If you are an adult US citizen with a low income, you can get a free phone and tablet with Food Stamps by following these simple steps:
- Become a SNAP (Food Stamps) subscriber. We will walk you through the application process in the next section.
- Become a Lifeline and ACP subscriber. See the application process below.
- Find a free phone and tablet provider in your area and apply for its services. See how below.
- If approved, you will be notified and you will receive the free phone and tablet via mail in a matter of days (depending on availability, your physical address, the provider, etc.).
Let’s break down these steps in the following sections.
How to Become a SNAP Food Stamps Subscriber
First, you must meet the SNAP eligibility criteria. The criteria may vary by state, however, here are some of the key requirements:
- Income: The household’s gross income must be at or below 130% of the federal poverty level (FPL). The FPL varies depending on the household size, so the income limit for SNAP will also vary accordingly.
- Resources: The household’s assets, such as bank accounts and property, must be below a certain limit. Generally, households must have resources below $2,500, or $3,750 if at least one person is elderly or disabled.
- Citizenship: Most household members must be U.S. citizens or have legal immigration status.
- Work requirements: Able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) between the ages of 18 and 49 must work or participate in a work program for at least 80 hours per month to receive SNAP benefits. However, some exemptions apply.
- Other factors: Other factors that can affect SNAP eligibility include household size, expenses, and deductions.
Secondly, applicants must provide documentation that proves their eligibility.
Lastly, applicants must submit an application and participate in an interview to determine their eligibility. To apply for the SNAP benefit, follow these steps:
- Visit https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/state-directory.
- Find your state and local offices and phone numbers. Do so by selecting your state of residence.
- Depending on your state offer, you can enroll by calling the provided phone number, visiting a local office, or completing an online application form. Either way, you will need to provide some personal information and documentation that proves your eligibility.
- If your application gets approved, you will be notified via email or another provided contact means. When you receive your approval letter, benefit award letter, benefit verification letter, or statement of benefits, make sure to save it as you will need it during your Lifeline/ACP application process.
How to Become a Lifeline and ACP Subscriber
Once you have successfully become a Food Stamps participant, you can apply for the Lifeline and ACP benefits by following these easy steps:
First, you must make sure that you qualify. If you are an active SNAP subscriber, you definitely qualify for both Lifeline and ACP and your SNAP participation is enough to apply for these two programs. However, even if you are not a SNAP participant, there are several other conditions that can make you Lifeline/ACP-eligible. For instance, to apply for Lifeline, you can also meet any of the following requirements: have an annual household income at or below 135% of the federal poverty level or participate in SSI, Medicaid, Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit, FPHA, or a Tribal assistance program. To apply for ACP, you can also qualify by meeting any of the following conditions: have an annual household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, participate in Lifeline, any of the Lifeline-qualifying programs listed above, WIC, or Free and Reduced Price School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program, or if your household received a Federal Pell Grant in the current award year. Being a SNAP subscriber or meeting any other one of the above-listed conditions is enough to qualify for Lifeline and ACP. However, the applicant must also be at least 18 years old or an emancipated minor and a resident of one of the states where the selected provider operates.
Secondly, you must provide copies of certain valid, official documents that prove your Lifeline and ACP eligibility. You can prove your SNAP participation (or participation in any other above–listed assistance program) by providing a copy of your approval letter, benefit award letter, benefit verification letter, or statement of benefits.
You can prove your low income (if that is your application condition instead of participation in an assistance program) by providing a copy of the prior year’s state, federal, or Tribal tax return, current income statement, paycheck stubs, etc.
You may also be asked to verify your identity (with an ID or passport), age (ID or birth certificate), physical address (ID, driver’s license, utility bill, mortgage or lease statement), emancipation status (court document or emancipation certificate), SSN, or other personal information.
To prepare for the application process in advance, make copies of some of these documents before beginning enrollment. Depending on whether you wish to apply online or via mail, you can make digital copies (using a smartphone, camera, or scanner) or physical copies (using a copy machine) of these documents.
Lastly, you must apply for Lifeline and ACP. As a Lifeline subscription can get you a free phone and an ACP subscription can get you a free tablet, you must enroll in both these programs to receive both devices. You must apply for these two assistance programs through the National Verifier. You can do so online or via mail. Applying online is much quicker, plus, you can receive feedback in a matter of minutes. However, if you are not comfortable filling out digital application forms and you prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, you can certainly apply via mail as well.
To apply for both programs online, visit https://nv.fcc.gov/lifeline/?id=nv_flow&ebbp=true&awsl=link-from-how-to-apply. Fill out the digital application form by providing all the required information and digital documentation copies. At the end of each page, press Next, and at the end of the entire form, press Submit.
To apply via mail, you must print out the application forms for the two programs. You can find the Lifeline application form at https://www.lifelinesupport.org/wp-content/uploads/documents/get-lifeline/LI_Application_NVstates.pdf and the ACP application form at https://www.affordableconnectivity.gov/wp-content/uploads/ACP-Application-Form-English.pdf. When applying for ACP, it’s also highly recommended to include a copy of a Household Worksheet, which is available at https://www.affordableconnectivity.gov/wp-content/uploads/lifeline/images/ACP-Household-Worksheet-English.pdf. Fill out all of these forms, add the physical copies of your proof documentation, and send the package to Lifeline/ACP Support Center, PO Box 7081, London, KY 40742.
Once the National Verifier receives your application, they will review it, determine whether or not you qualify, and inform you of their decision immediately.
How to Find a Free Phone and Tablet With Food Stamps Provider in Your Area
The companies that provide free phones and tablets with Food Stamps are the companies that participate in both Lifeline and ACP programs. To find a Lifeline and ACP program in your area, do the following:
- Visit https://cnm.universalservice.org/.
- Enter your ZIP code or city and state.
- Select a program (it may be best to select ACP, as most ACP providers also offer Lifeline benefits).
- The system will generate a list of all the providers in your area. Note which ones offer discounted devices.
- Press on the name of a company and you will be redirected to the company’s official website.
- Check on the company’s website if they also offer Lifeline benefits and if they offer both free phones and tablets for eligible customers.
The best Lifeline/ACP companies that offer both free phones and tablets with Food Stamps include:
- AirTalk Wireless
- Cintex Wireless
- Easy Wireless
- NewPhone Wireless
- StandUp Wireless
The Benefits of Getting a Free Phone and Tablet With Food Stamps
If you successfully enroll, you will likely receive a mid-range Android phone (or even iPhone) completely free of charge and a mid-range Android (or even iOS) tablet with a discount of up to $100. However, to receive the tablet, you will have to pay a mandatory co-pay of more than $10 and less than $50.
If you get a free phone and tablet from the government, you will be able to stay in touch with loved ones, find employment, work, study, get an online education, browse the internet, watch videos, play games, listen to music, contact healthcare and other service providers, call emergency services, etc.
Moreover, participating in Lifeline and ACP also comes with certain other benefits, such as:
- You will receive a discount on monthly phone or wireless services through Lifeline.
- You will receive a discount on monthly broadband services through ACP.
- You will receive other perks, such as nationwide coverage, hotspot data, etc.
