Telecommunication services used to be a luxury. Some decades ago not all households (let alone individuals) had their own phones and that was OK, as people were used to communicating through the mail, in person, or by public phones.
In the 1980s, however, the American government recognized that telecommunications are a necessity rather than a luxury. Therefore, the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) established a program called Lifeline, which is designed to ensure access to basic phone and telecommunication services for low-income families.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the FCC established another, temporary assistance program called Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB), designed to help households struggling to afford internet service during the pandemic.
Both Lifeline and EBB have providers all over the country, which provide eligible low-income families a discount on wireless services and sometimes a free government phone. And while most Lifeline and EBB providers offer entry-level to mid-range Android smartphones for free, some (but very few) of them offer free government iPhones.
In this article, you will find out all there is to know about free government iPhones, how to get them, free iPhone providers, other ways to receive an iPhone free of charge, and more.
Does The Government Really Provide Free iPhones
A few years ago finding a Lifeline (or EBB) provider that offered s to eligible low-income households was virtually impossible. The Emergency Broadband Benefit didn’t exist yet and most Lifeline providers were focused on providing customers free phone and wireless services and perhaps a rather basic Android smartphone. As such, getting a free government iPhone was not an option.
Nowadays, there are some Lifeline and EBB providers that offer free government iPhones. These providers are very limited and they do not offer their services in all U.S. states, nonetheless, receiving a free government iPhone in the United States is indeed possible.
How Do I Qualify For A Free Government iPhone?
Now, that we have established that the government really does provide free iPhones, let’s discuss how to get one.
Free Government iPhone Eligibility and Required Documents
The first thing you need to know is that you can only receive a free government iPhone if you are Lifeline or EBB-eligible. Lifeline and EBB eligibility criteria are basically the same, however, there are a few differences.
Lifeline Eligibility Criteria
A person or household is Lifeline-eligible if they meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Your household income is below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
- You or any of your household members participate 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.
Emergency Broadband Benefit Eligibility Criteria
A person or household is EBB-eligible if they meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Your household income is below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
- You or any of your household members participate 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.
- You or any of your household members have received a federal Pell Grant award in the current award year.
- You or any of your household members 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.
Documents Needed for Lifeline Eligibility
In case a Lifeline provider in your area offers free government iPhones, you will have to prove your Lifeline eligibility to get one. The documents that may prove your Lifeline eligibility include:
- An official document that can prove your identity (name, address, date of birth). Document examples are a government, military, state, or Tribal ID, government assistance program document, Driver’s license, certificate of U.S. citizenship or naturalization, birth certificate, Social Security Card, or prior year’s tax return or W-2.
- An official document that can show your annual income. Document examples include your prior year’s state, federal, or Tribal tax return, current income statement from your employer or a paycheck stub, Veterans Administration 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.
- An official document that can prove your program participation. Document examples include an approval letter, benefit verification letter, statement of benefits, or benefit award letter.
In addition, as only people of 18 years or more or participated minors can qualify for Lifeline, all emancipated minors must provide emancipation proof, such as a certificate or a court document.
Documents Needed for EBB Eligibility
In case an EBB provider in your area offers free government iPhones, you will have to prove your EBB eligibility to get one. The documents that may prove your EBB eligibility include:
- An official document that can prove your identity (name, address, date of birth). See examples above.
- An official document that can show your annual income. See examples above.
- An official document that can prove your program participation. See examples above.
How To Get Free Government iPhone With Lifeline Program
In order to get a free government iPhone with the Lifeline program, you must follow the simple steps below.
- Step 1: Make sure you are Lifeline eligible. You can see the Lifeline eligibility criteria above. You can verify your eligibility through the National Verifier.
- Step 2: Find a Lifeline provider that offers services and free government iPhones in your state of residence.
- Step 3: Contact the Lifeline provider that offers services and free government iPhones in your state of residence and ask them how to apply for their program and get the free iPhone.
How To Get Free Government iPhone With EBB Program
In order to get a free government iPhone with the EBB program, you must follow the simple steps below.
- Step 1: Make sure you are EBB eligible. You can see the EBB eligibility criteria above. You can verify your eligibility through the National Verifier.
- Step 2: Find an EBB provider that offers services and free government iPhones in your state of residence.
- Step 3: Contact the EBB provider that offers services and free government iPhones in your state of residence and ask them how to apply for their program and get the free iPhone.
Which Companies Provide Free Government iPhones
While many Lifeline and EBB providers offer free Android touch screen phones, there are only a few providers that offer free government iPhones. In this chapter, you can find out which Lifeline or EBB providers offer free government iPhones, what kind of an Apple phone you can expect to receive, and how to apply for a free government iPhone.
Cintex Wireless
Cintex Wireless is a popular wireless service and Lifeline and EBB provider. It offers service in five US states (Arkansas, Maine, Maryland, Rhode Island, and West Virginia). Eligible customers can get free monthly phone and wireless services with free minutes, texts, and data, as well as a free 4G LTE smartphone. Through Cintex’s EBB program you can expect to receive either a free Android smartphone or a free iPhone, depending on availability.
How to apply Cintex wireless free Government iPhone?
- In order to apply for Cintex’s EBB free services and phone, you must be eligible. You must either participate in a government assistance program (such as SNAP, SSI, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Veterans survivors’ pension benefit fund, etc.), have a household income below 135% of the Federal poverty line, or experience any substantial job loss since February 29, 2020. You must also be a resident of any of the 5 states, where they offer services (Arkansas, Maine, Maryland, Rhode Island, and West Virginia).
- You must provide all the required personal information in documentation, which proves your identity and eligibility.
- Visit apply.cintexwireless.com, enter your ZIP code and email ID in the provided boxes to sign up. Follow the provided prompts to complete the form.
- Once you apply, wait for a confirmation letter. In case your application was successful, you may receive a free government iPhone or another smartphone in a matter of days.
Cintex Wireless Free Government expected iPhone model:
At Cintex Wireless you can expect to receive an Apple iPhone 6 (CDMA or GSM), an Apple iPhone 6S GSM, or an Android smartphone, such as LG Stylo 4, LG M150, Motorola E5, or Samsung Galaxy S7.
SFone Wireless
SFone is a large wireless service provider and a proud EBB provider, which helps out households affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Currently, they offer their services in just a few U.S. states (Arkansas, Maine, Maryland, Rhode Island, and West Virginia), however, they are planning to expand their services to other U.S. states shortly.
SFone’s EBB program has partnered with Cintex Wireless to provide free services and a free smartphone (Android or Apple) to their eligible customers.
How to apply SFone wireless free Government iPhone?
- In order to apply for SFone’s EBB program, you must be EBB-eligible. You are EBB-eligible if you participate in a government assistance program, such as SNAP, SSI, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Veterans survivors’ pension benefit fund, etc., if your household income is below 135% of the Federal poverty line, or if you have experienced any substantial job loss since February 29, 2020.
- To apply, visit apply.sfonewireless.com/broadband. Apply online by providing all of the required information and documentation to verify your identity and prove your eligibility.
- Then, call SFone’s customer care at +1(855)655-3097 and talk to a representative to apply.
- If the company finds you eligible for the program, you may receive a free government iPhone, or Android smartphone.
SFone wireless free Government Expected iPhone model:
At SFone Wireless you can expect to receive an Apple iPhone 6 (CDMA or GSM), an Apple iPhone 6S GSM or an Android smartphone.
NewPhone Wireless
NewPhone Wireless is another reliable phone and wireless service provider and a Lifeline and EBB provider. Through their Lifeline and EBB programs, they offer free monthly wireless services and free smartphones to low-income customers. NewPhone Wireless only offers free government iPhones through their EBB program, which is temporary. As such, you can only get an iPhone from NewPhone Wireless until their EBB program lasts (it is supposed to end either when the funds run out or when the Covid-19 pandemic officially ends – whichever comes first).
How to apply NewPhone Wireless free government iPhone?
- In order to apply for a NewPhone Wireless free government iPhone, you must be EBB-eligible. As such, you must either have a household income below 135% of the Federal poverty line, participate in a government assistance program, such as SNAP, SSI, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Veterans survivors’ pension benefit fund, etc., experience any substantial job loss since February 29, 2020, or receive a federal Pell Grant award in the current award year.
- Visit newphone.com and apply online. To do so, simply provide all the necessary information and documentation proving your eligibility.
- Once you fill in the application and press ‘Sign up’ to finish the process, the government’s secure system will verify your application.
- If approved, you will receive a free monthly service and a free phone. You can expect to receive a free phone within 7 to 10 business days. The shipping is free of charge.
NewPhone Wireless free government Expected iPhone model:
At NewPhone Wireless you can expect to receive an Apple iPhone 6 an Apple iPhone 6S, or an Android smartphone from a reputable brand such as Samsung, Motorola, or LG.
What Other Phones Does The Government Offer for Free
Lifeline and EBB-eligible customers may expect to receive a free 4G LTE/5G smartphone from a high-end brand, such as Apple (one of the providers listed above), Samsung, Motorola, LG, and more.
Most Lifeline or EBB providers offer entry-level to mid-range Android smartphones and the exact device brand and model you may expect to receive depends on various factors, including the provider, availability, and location.
Some of the most common smartphone models Lifeline and EBB providers offer for free include:
- LG Stylo 4
- LG M150
- Motorola E5
- Samsung Galaxy S7
- Alcatel Dawn
- Kyocera Hydro Reach
- ZTE Prestige 2
- NUU A3
- ZTE Wrap Elite N9518
Can I Get a Free iPhone Other Than The Government iPhone
In case you are either not Lifeline or EBB-eligible or if you are not a resident of any of the states where the three Lifeline and EBB providers who offer free government iPhones operate, you may be unable to get a free iPhone from the government.
If so, you will be pleased to know that there are also some other ways to receive a free iPhone. These other methods include:
- Getting a carrier deal: Many carriers offer free iPhones in exchange for signing a 24-month (or more) contract. This means that instead of paying for the phone upfront, you will pay for it in 24 low monthly installments.
- Participating in a survey offer: Certain survey platforms enable you to collect credits or points. Once you have collected enough points, you can use them to buy an iPhone.
- Working for Apple or other tech companies: Some tech companies offer free iPhones for their employees.
- Becoming a free marketing agent: If you have a large social media following, Apple may give you an iPhone for free in exchange for some online promotions, which may bring them new customers.
- Becoming a reviewer: You can apply to become an iPhone reviewer. If your application gets approved and you are chosen as the best reviewer after writing a good product review, you may receive a free iPhone.
- Entering a giveaway contest: There are lots of giveaway contests online, however, beware, as many of these contests are scams. If you find a legit page, simply follow the on-screen prompts to register. If you win, you will receive a free iPhone and in exchange, you may be asked to post about it on your social media.
- Getting a free iPhone via Amazon Vine: You may also get a free iPhone via Amazon Vine – a platform that rewards people for making honest reviews of their products. You can create an Amazon account and provide an honest product review. If your review gets noticed by the right people, you may get asked to review their phones in exchange for a free iPhone.
What Else Should You Know About The Free Government iPhone?
Can I Upgrade My Free Government iPhone?
It depends on the provider. Most providers allow you to upgrade your free government phone, however, in comparison to the free government phone, you have to pay for the upgrade phone.
How Long Will It Take to Receive Approval?
How long it takes to receive approval also depends on the provider. Most providers will tell you whether or not you are approved for their Lifeline or EBB program in a day or two. In addition, many providers let you know when you can expect to hear from them while applying for the phone.
Can I Keep My Own Number?
Yes, most Lifeline providers allow you to keep your own number, regardless of your previous provider.
I Have Already Received a Government iPhone From Another Provider – Can I Get Another One?
No, each household is only allowed to receive one government free phone from one provider. If you or any of your household members have already received a free government phone before (regardless of the brand and model), you cannot receive another free phone from another provider.
Can I Switch to Another Provider?
Yes, you can switch to another provider at any time. However, if you already received a free government phone from your previous provider, the new provider will only be able to offer you free monthly services.
What Is the Emergency Broadband Benefit?
Emergency Broadband Benefit or EBB is a temporary government assistance program by the FCC designed to help families struggling to afford internet services during the Covid-19 pandemic. It provides low-income families with a discount of up to $50 per month (or $75 on Tribal lands) towards broadband service and a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a desktop computer, laptop, or tablet if the customer pays a co-pay of more than $10 and less than $50. The EBB program will expire when the fund is expended or six months after the end of the public health emergency (whichever comes first).
What Is Lifeline?
Lifeline is a permanent government assistance program by the FCC designed to help make communication services more affordable for low-income consumers. Lifeline providers offer eligible low-income families discounted or free monthly mobile services and cell phones.
What Do I Do if My Free Government iPhone Is Damaged?
What to do if your free government iPhone is damaged (or broken, lost, or stolen), also depends on the provider. However, it is usually best to call the provider and notify them about what happened immediately. They will be able to advise you on what to do next. If your device got damaged or broken due to your own fault, whether or not you can get a replacement or a repair for free depends on what kind of insurance you have.
