What Services Does Verizon Wireless Offer When You Join?
Verizon is one of the largest wireless network operators and carriers in the United States. The wireless carrier company offers a large variety of different services and products, including internet, TV, and phone service, smartphone deals, accessories, versatile plans, entertainment options, apps, add-ons, the largest network and coverage in the country, and discounts for people in need.
Among other discounts and special offers, Verizon also participates in the government assistance program called Lifeline. Lifeline is a federal program that offers a monthly phone or internet service discount to eligible low-income households. Qualifying customers can save $9.25 or more on their Verizon monthly bill. If you live on federally-recognized Tribal lands, you may be able to qualify for an additional discount of up to $34.25.
Does Verizon Provide Free Government Phones?
All Lifeline providers offer discounts on monthly phone or internet services. However, some of them also offer discounts on phones. The Lifeline offer depends on each individual participating provider and some are obviously more generous than others.
Unfortunately, Verizon does not provide free government phones. It does, however, provide discounts on monthly phone and/or home internet service. In addition, the carrier offers other special deals on phones. Customers can receive discounted and even free phones without participating in the Lifeline program. However, there tend to be some other conditions to enjoy these great benefits.
If I Can’t Get a Free Government Phone From Verizon, How Can I Get a Free Phone From Verizon?
As mentioned before, Verizon does not offer free phones through their Lifeline participation. However, the company does offer free and discounted phones through its own promotional deals.
Verizon Free Phone Deals
Just like most other large wireless providers, Verizon has many tricks designed to attract new customers and keep old customers tied to their services. One such trick is offering free phones under certain conditions.
In order to get a free Verizon phone, you must meet at least one of the following conditions – switch to Verizon, add a new line, buy a specific (generally pricey) plan, sign a lengthy contract, trade in an old device in good working condition, buy another device at full price, etc.
Verizon’s free cell phone list tends to change and update on a regular basis, therefore, it’s best to check the list of free Verizon phones at https://www.verizon.com/shop/online/free-cell-phones/. Nevertheless, the company currently offers the following free devices:
- Apple iPhone 13 mini (new line and specific plan required, paid through 36 monthly credits)
- Apple iPhone 12 (new line and specific plan required, paid through 36 monthly credits)
- Apple iPhone 11 (new line and specific plan required, paid through 36 monthly credits)
- Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen) (new line and specific plan required, paid through 36 monthly credits)
- Google Pixel 6a (new line and specific plan required, paid through 36 monthly credits)
- Samsung Galaxy A03s (new line and specific plan required, paid through 36 monthly credits)
- Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G UW (new line and specific plan required, paid through 36 monthly credits)
- Motorola moto g pure (new line and specific plan required, paid through 36 monthly credits)
- Apple iPhone 12 (Certified Pre-Owned) (new line and specific plan required, paid through 36 monthly credits – online only)
- Apple iPhone 12 mini (Certified Pre-Owned) (new line and specific plan required, paid through 36 monthly credits – online only)
- Apple iPhone 11 (Certified Pre-Owned) (new line and specific plan required, paid through 36 monthly credits – online only)
- Apple iPhone 11 Pro (Certified Pre-Owned) (new line and specific plan required, paid through 36 monthly credits – online only)
- Apple iPhone X (Certified Pre-Owned) (new line and specific plan required, paid through 36 monthly credits – online only)
- Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max (Certified Pre-Owned) (new line and specific plan required, paid through 36 monthly credits – online only)
- Apple iPhone XR (Certified Pre-Owned) (new line and specific plan required, paid through 36 monthly credits – online only)
- Apple iPhone 8 Plus (Certified Pre-Owned) (new line and specific plan required, paid through 36 monthly credits – online only)
- Apple iPhone XS Max (Certified Pre-Owned) (new line and specific plan required, paid through 36 monthly credits – online only)
- Apple iPhone 8 (Certified Pre-Owned) (new line and specific plan required, paid through 36 monthly credits – online only)
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 (a select 5G Unlimited plan and a select trade-in required)
- Apple iPhone 13 (a select 5G Unlimited plan and a select trade-in required)
Verizon Discounted Phone Deals
See other Verizon phone deals on https://www.verizon.com/deals/smartphones/. Make sure to read the conditions, as all deals have them.
If Verizon Doesn’t Offer Government Free Phones, What Does Verizon Offer Through Lifeline & ACP?
Verizon does not offer government free phones, however, the company does offer other Lifeline benefits. The company offers Lifeline plans for:
- Home phone service
- Wireless service
- Fios Home internet service
In addition to Lifeline discounts, Verizon also participates in the brand new government assistance program called the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). This program was created to assist eligible low-income households to pay for internet services. The ACP subsidized internet service offers a discount of up to $30 a month or up to $75 a month for eligible households on Tribal lands.
Verizon’s ACP program covers home, mobile, and prepaid plans with internet access.
See the full list of Verizon’s Lifeline and ACP plans below.
What is the Process of Getting Verizon Wireless Lifeline and ACP Discount Service?
Verizon participates in both government assistance programs – Lifeline and the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The programs’ discounts attract many customers, however, the benefits are only available to qualifying households.
In order to enroll in these government aid programs, you must go through a process designed to prove that you need the benefits, as you are struggling to afford the services at full price.
- First, you have to check the Lifeline and ACP eligibility criteria and make sure that you in fact qualify for Verizon’s assistance programs. You can see the requirements in the next section.
- Secondly, you have to be able to prove your eligibility by providing certain documents that contain all the vital information.
- Then, you can apply for Verizon’s Lifeline and ACP programs. See exactly how to do so below.
- Finally, if your application gets approved, you can start enjoying the program’s benefits. See the list of all Lifeline and ACP benefits offered by Verizon below.
How to Qualify for Verizon Wireless Lifeline and ACP Programs?
First of all, you can only apply for Verizon’s Lifeline and/or ACP programs if you are at least 18 years old or an emancipated minor and if you are a resident of one of the states where the carrier offers government assistance benefits.
Secondly, you must also meet the FCC-determined Lifeline and ACP eligibility criteria. They are universal for all providers but may vary between states.
A household is Lifeline eligible if it meets one of the following requirements:
- Your annual household income is at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines.
- You or any other member of your household participates in one of the following qualifying government assistance programs (federal or tribal):
- 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
- 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
A household is ACP eligible if it meets one of the following requirements:
- Your annual household income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines.
- You or any other member of your household participates in Lifeline or any of the Lifeline-qualifying government assistance programs (federal or tribal) listed above.
- Additional ACP-specific eligibility:
- You or any other member of your household participates in Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
- You or any other member of your household participates in Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program, including at U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Community Eligibility Provision schools
- Your household has received a Federal Pell Grant in the current award year
What Documents are Required When I Apply for Verizon Wireless Lifeline and ACP Programs
In order to make sure that Lifeline and ACP benefits don’t get abused, the government requires applicants to prove their eligibility. Depending on your eligibility criteria and other factors, you may be asked to provide some of the following information during your application process:
- Identity verification:
- A valid government, military, state, or Tribal ID
- Passport
- Birth Certificate
- S. Driver’s license
- Certificate of U.S. Citizenship or Naturalization
- Permanent Resident Card or Green Card
- Or another unexpired, official document that includes your full legal name and date of birth
- Address verification:
- A valid government, state, or Tribal ID
- Driver’s license
- Utility bill
- Mortgage or lease statement
- Most recent W-2 or tax return
- Or another unexpired, official document that includes your full legal name and physical address
- Household income proof:
- Prior year’s state, federal, or Tribal tax return
- Current income statement from your employer or a paycheck stub
- A Social Security statement of benefits
- A retirement/pension statement of benefits
- Veterans Administration statement of benefits
- Unemployment or Worker’s Compensation statement of benefits
- Divorce decree
- Child support award
- Or another unexpired, official document that includes your full legal name and annual income
- Qualifying assistance program participation proof:
- Benefit award letter
- Approval letter
- Statement of benefits
- Benefit verification letter
- School documentation
- Or another unexpired, official document that includes your full legal name, name of the program, the name of the establishment that issued the document, and an issue date within the last year or a future expiration date
- Additional documents:
- Duplicate address
- Emancipated minor status confirmation
- Social Security Number or Tribal ID Number
- Proof of life
Make sure to only submit clear copies and never submit original documents.
How to Apply for Verizon Wireless Lifeline and ACP Programs
In order to apply for Verizon’s Lifeline and ACP programs, make sure to follow these simple steps:
- If you are not a Lifeline/ACP subscriber yet, you must first apply for government benefits through the National Verifier. To apply for Lifeline visit https://nv.fcc.gov/lifeline and to apply for the ACP visit https://acpbenefit.org/. You can also print out the application form, fill it out manually, add the proof documentation and send the entire package to Lifeline/ACP Support Center, P.O. Box 7081, London, KY 40742.
- Once your Lifeline/ACP eligibility gets approved by the USAC, contact Verizon’s customer support service, where you will be able to select your service and start receiving your Lifeline/ACP discount.
- For Lifeline plans, call 1-800-Verizon.
- For ACP Fios Internet plans, call 1-800-Verizon.
- For ACP 4G Home, LTE Home, or Mobile plans, call 1-922-0204.
- For ACP HIS or Fios Prepaid plans, call 1-922-0204.
What are the Verizon Wireless Benefits You Can Get if You Are Lifeline and ACP Eligible?
Lifeline-eligible Verizon customers can receive a monthly discount on monthly phone, wireless, or internet services of up to $9.25 (or $34.25 for eligible Tribal households).
ACP-eligible Verizon customers, on the other hand, can receive a monthly discount on monthly home, mobile, and prepaid plans with internet access of up to $30 (or $75 for eligible Tribal households).
See the exact list of Verizon’s Lifeline and ACP plans in the next section.
What are the Verizon Wireless Lifeline and ACP Plans
Verizon’s Lifeline plans:
- Lifeline Plan $25.00. The plan (after the applied discount) costs $15.75 and $0 for eligible Tribal households. It includes 1000 monthly anytime minutes, unlimited local mobile to mobile calling minutes, long-distance calls from the local coverage area, a $0.45 per-minute rate after allowance to incoming and outgoing calls made after allowance is exhausted, and a $35 one-time activation fee (Tribal subscribers may qualify for a credit).
- Home Phone Connect Plan $19.99. The plan (after the applied discount) costs $10.74 and $0 for eligible Tribal households. It includes unlimited monthly anytime minutes, unlimited local mobile to mobile calling minutes, long-distance calls from the local coverage area, and a $35 one-time activation fee (Tribal subscribers may qualify for a credit).
- Discounts on home internet service plans, wireless plans, and Fios home internet.
Verizon’s ACP plans:
The ACP covers home and mobile plans with internet access, including:
Mobile:
- Current Unlimited and older Unlimited data and bundled data plans
- Current and older usage-based data only and bundled usage-based data plans
- Mobile Hotspot plans
- Premium, Pro, Plus, and Essential
Home:
- Fios Mix + Match Internet, at any speed.
- Traditional Fios bundles
- Verizon 5G Home Internet
- Verizon LTE Home Internet
- Verizon HSI
Prepaid:
- Verizon Prepaid
- Fios Prepaid Internet
What are the Restrictions for Verizon Lifeline and ACP Programs?
Verizon’s Lifeline and ACP plans come with certain government-imposed restrictions, such as:
- Only one Lifeline and ACP discount is available per qualifying household.
- A household can only receive a discount from one provider at a time.
- Lifeline and ACP are non-transferrable benefits.
- Lifeline and ACP applicants must provide two proofs of identification and prove their eligibility.
- The applicant’s residential address must be in an area where Verizon offers its Lifeline services.
How Do I Activate My Verizon Wireless Free Phone?
Regardless of how you get your Verizon phone and how much you pay for it before you can start using it, you must activate the device. To do so, follow the instructions below:
- Visit Verizon’s official website and sign into your Verizon account.
- Select ‘Devices’ from the navigation menu and choose ‘Activate or switch device’.
- Choose ‘Activate on an existing line’ or ‘Activate on a new line’ at the top of the page.
- Select the device you wish to activate.
- Enter the device ID. See the instructions on how to locate your device ID on the website.
- Once you enter your device ID, press ‘Check device’.
- To authorize the activation, the system will text you a code to the device.
- Once you receive the code, enter it, and click ‘Confirm’.
- Turn on the device, make sure the SIM card is inserted, and press ‘Send me a confirmation text message on my device’.
- You will receive the text confirmation and once you do, you can use your device.
See the full process at https://www.verizon.com/support/how-to-activate-device-video/#:~:text=Go%20to%20vzw.com%20and,the%20top%20of%20the%20page.
What if the Verizon Wireless Free Phone Doesn’t Work? Is There Any Warranty?
All Verizon phones come with a 1-year limited manufacturer’s warranty. It covers all malfunctions within a year, however, it does not cover physical damage.
In addition, Verizon offers its own insurance program. If you enroll in the program, you can protect your phone against all malfunction, breakage, physical damage, loss, theft, and more. Learn more at https://www.verizon.com/solutions-and-services/insurance-and-repair/phone-warranty/.
What is the Quality of Verizon Wireless Service?
Verizon is one of the largest carriers in the United States (along with AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint). Moreover, it offers the single largest network coverage in the country. It is a huge company that provides countless versatile services and products by the most reputable and reliable brands. Due to its sheer size and the fact that they have millions of subscribers, Verizon has no choice but to offer high-quality services. According to J.D. Power, Verizon is the most rewarded carrier in terms of network quality.
Not only does Verizon offer top-end phone, wireless, TV, and internet services, but the company is also known for its diverse, responsive, and professional customer support service.
How Long Will Lifeline and ACP Take to Receive Approval From Verizon Wireless?
Once your Lifeline/ACP application gets approved by the National Verifier/USAC, Verizon will review your application and let you know whether or not you qualify very soon.
Some applications can get approved in a matter of minutes, while others (the ones that require a bit more reviewing) may take up to a few days.
However, until that happens you can be fully relaxed, as the company will notify you as soon as your application status gets updated.
In Which States Does Verizon Wireless Offer Free Services?
Verizon offers Lifeline discounts and benefits to eligible low-income households in parts of Iowa, North Dakota, New York, and Wisconsin. These parts of states include:
- Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis, and St Lawrence in the state of New York.
- Adair, Audubon, Cass, Crawford, Guthrie, Harrison, Madison, Monona, and Shelby in the state of Iowa.
- Burleigh, Cass, Grand Forks, and Morton in the state of North Dakota.
Can I Upgrade My Verizon Free Phone?
A phone upgrade is when you buy a new mobile device to replace the one you are already using.
At Verizon, you can upgrade a device if your account is not past due and you purchased the device you wish to replace either
- At the retail price (this way you can upgrade it at any time)
- Or with a device payment agreement (this way you can upgrade it once you paid off the device payment agreement and the contract you had to sign ended).
To see how to do an early upgrade, visit https://www.verizon.com/support/annual-upgrade-program-for-iphone-faqs/.
Can I Switch to Verizon Wireless?
If you have read this article thus far, you have seen that Verizon offers some great benefits and you may wish to switch to its services as soon as possible. But can you do so?
Of course, you can! As long as your services with your current provider are paid off and your contract ended, you can switch to Verizon at any time. You can do so online or in person.
Can Seniors Get Verizon Free Phones?
As we have discussed above, Verizon customers are unable to receive a free phone through the company’s Lifeline or ACP program. This rule applies to all Lifeline/ACP subscribers, including senior citizens, who often participate in these programs.
Nevertheless, Verizon customers – both young and elderly – can get Verizon free phones through one of Verizon’s frequent special deals. Keep in mind, though, that these deals always come with certain requirements, such as switching to Verizon, adding a line, purchasing a select pricey plan, trading in an eligible old device in good working condition, etc. If you or your elderly friend can meet one of these conditions, he or she can surely get a free phone from Verizon.
However, in order for your elderly friend to receive a free phone from the government, he or she must find a Lifeline/ACP provider that offers free phones through the government assistance program, such as AirTalk Wireless, Access Wireless, Cintex Wireless, StandUp Wireless, NewPhone Wireless, or TruConnect.
Is Verizon Free Phone Good?
The quality of Verizon free phones depends on the company’s current selection of free phones. However, the company tends to offer some of the most popular phone models from the most reputable brands free of charge. Currently, the company offers several free iPhone models, including iPhone 11, iPhone 12, and iPhone 13, numerous Samsung phone models, Google, and Motorola.
As such, it is safe to say that Verizon’s free phone quality is top-notch. The only question is whether you are willing to meet the requirements to receive the free phone.
See the current list of Verizon free phones at https://www.verizon.com/shop/online/free-cell-phones/.
How Do I Contact Verizon Wireless?
Verizon is a huge company that offers several contact options. The carrier’s well-trained and responsive customer support service is available:
- Online at https://www.verizon.com/support/contact-us/.
- Via chat on the provider’s official website.
- By the phone from 8 AM to 7 PM (Monday to Saturday) and from 8 AM to 5 PM on Sundays. Depending on what your issue or question is, you can find the corresponding phone number online at https://www.verizon.com/support/contact-us/. Simply choose the issue and select to speak to a representative.
- In-person. You can also visit one of the Verizon stores and speak to a representative there. Find a Verizon store near you at https://www.verizon.com/stores/.
