Laptops are essential gadgets in society. Numerous digital activities require laptops and desktop computers to run. Companies require these devices to ensure that their activities go on well. When you visit banks and other financial companies, you will find the devices being used by bank officers to serve you better. At schools, gadgets are essential to help students to learn better. However, not everybody can afford the devices. I will discuss how you can get a free laptop for low income families shortly.
Low-income families are those who live below the dollar. Some people cannot afford essential needs in the United States. However, the country is among the wealthiest nations in the world. Since laptops are essential devices in modern life, there is a need to help such people get some for their work, schooling, and entertainment. In this era, everyone is entitled to a laptop or even a tablet to better their lives.
You might be wondering who the low-income group is. These are the people who live under the poverty level. According to the United States government, the poverty level threshold is $26,246 for a family of four. Generally, the federal poverty guidelines should be at 200% or below. Initially, it used to be 135%, but the government raised the percentage higher due to the changing economic times.
What is the importance of a laptop
There are various ways you can use a laptop which includes the following.
i) Education
A laptop is essential for high school and college students. Almost everything in college revolves around using computers and laptops because they are convenient. You need a laptop to research various topics, type documents, and entertain yourself. High school students require laptops for their computer classes, online research, and entertainment.
ii) Entertainment
You can acquire a laptop mainly for entertainment. The devices allow you to play games as well as watch movies. We all know that entertainment is good for our well-being and thus the need to have laptops. Nowadays, you can watch movies online, and thus no need to walk to the theaters to entertain yourself. You can even play free games from online sites.
iii) Work
Various jobs require the aid of computers. Therefore, a laptop becomes handy in such scenarios. You can have a laptop to do online jobs such as online teaching, content creation, and preparing documents, among others. Offices at various companies require laptops to execute their duties appropriately.
iv) Keep data
A laptop usually has a storage space whereby you can keep data for your various activities. You can find a laptop with a 500 GB hard disk, 1TB disk, and so on whereby you can keep data for your day-to-day activities. And by the way, we have online sites where you can store your data, such as Google Drive, Microsoft One Drive, and the Drop Box where you can keep data. You can access these sites via a laptop, desktop computer, or smartphone.
Apply For Free Laptop
The genuine ways to get free laptop for low income families
People from humble backgrounds also have a right to have a computer. A laptop is convenient as you can walk around with the device and carry out various tasks. There are various ways you can get a free laptop for low income families your day-to-day activities. They include the following.
1) Free laptops for low income families application through Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
The Affordable Connectivity Program is a benefit program from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that helps eligible households who cannot afford the broadband they require for work, healthcare, school, and more to access cheap broadband services.
The program provides a discount of at most $30 per month for internet services to eligible American households and up to $75 each month for families on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible people can also get a one-time discount of at most $100 to buy a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer from participating service providers. Even though the device is not completely free, we can say that it is free because you need to add a small amount since the government has subsidized the rest.
To get the discount, they should contribute at least $10 and at most $50 toward the purchase price. The Affordable Connectivity Program only serves one person per household. Also, you can only get one discount per month.
How do you qualify for the ACP program
To apply for the ACP program and get a free laptop, you should first qualify for the program. There are various ways you can qualify through. First of all, you can qualify through income. A person qualifies for the Affordable Connectivity Program if the household income is 200% or below per the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
Again, you can qualify if you Received a Federal Pell Grant within the current award year. Another way you can qualify for ACP is if you meet the eligibility guidelines for a participating carrier’s existing low-income internet program. Also, you can qualify for the program if you or a household member participates in one of the following assistance programs.
- The School Breakfast Program/National School Lunch Program
- Federal Public Housing Assistance
- SNAP
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- WIC
- Veterans Pension or Survivor Benefits
- Lifeline
That means you can get a free laptop with Food Stamp only as you do not need to be a beneficiary of every aid program to benefit. For your understanding, Food Stamp is now known as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Lastly, you can qualify if you or any household member participates in one of the following assistance programs and resides on Qualifying Tribal lands.
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
- Tribal Head Start
- Tribal TANF
When applying for the ACP program, you need the following things.
- An identification document
- Your photo ID
- Current mailing address
- Document of eligibility from a benefit program
- National identity card.
2) Get a free laptop through NGOs
We have numerous Non-Governmental Organizations that allow you to get a free laptop if you qualify. They include the following.
i) On It Foundation
The organization believes in helping kids break the cycle of poverty using technology. If you are a kid from a disadvantaged family, then you have a chance to apply for a laptop from the organization and develop yourself technologically. Access to a computer plus the Internet is important for disadvantaged children to learn about technology.
ii) PCs For People
PCs for People offers a free pick up and the recycling of electronic waste from businesses, educational, and governmental organizations. PCs for People affordable refurbished computers to the needy. It also offers affordable high-speed internet.
iii) National Cristina Foundation
The National Cristina Foundation (NCF) offers computer technology and solutions to give individuals with disabilities, students at risk, and economically challenged persons to ensure that they are able to access technology.
iv) Freecycle
The Freecycle Network is a nonprofit organization registered in Arizona. It is a charity in the UK that coordinates a worldwide network of helping people with low economic capabilities with computers and other goods. You can visit their website and apply for a computer.
v) Computer With Causes
You can apply for a free computer from the company from the organization when you visit its website. The main goal is to gift refurbished computers from their generous donors to help schools and low-income families. That way, children from poor families can acquire computers for their work.
To apply for a free laptop for low income families from various NGOs, you can produce documents from the government benefits programs to show that you qualify. However, qualification by income can be substantial to get a device from these organizations. You need to know that some of these organizations provide free tablets. You may also get free phones from them. One may get free government phones from the government, too, through the Lifeline program.
vi) Attend an online college
We have numerous online colleges that you can attend today and get free laptops for your studies. You may attend those schools through sponsorship if you are from a low-income family, and through that, you get a laptop sent via your address. Various online schools where you can get a free laptop include the following.
- American National University
- Full Sail University
- Moravian University
- Strayer University
- The University of Minnesota Crookston
- Bethel University
- Chatham University
Online colleges will even lower the cost of learning since you do not need to spend money on accommodation or transport. You learn right from your house.
3) Ask for help from friends and relatives
If you are a student and can’t afford a laptop for your school work, you can ask one of your friends, and maybe you can get a good samaritan who can help you get a free device. They may buy you a new one or give you the one they do not use.
Bottom line
A laptop is an essential device in modern-day life. The device allows students to learn online without attending physical classes. It is also essential for work, entertainment, and data storage. Not everyone can afford laptops. If you are from a poor household, you may find it challenging to get a laptop. However, there are several ways one can get one as long as they qualify.