A smartphone is crucial since it allows you to communicate remotely with others. You can communicate with people through their phone numbers, send them texts, or chat with them through social media. Tablets are equally important as they allow you to make calls if they accept SIM cards, send texts, and chat online. Both devices also allow you to entertain yourself. Despite the expensive gadgets, only a few people can afford them. You will learn about getting a free government phone and tablet shortly.
The federal government issues free phones and tablets to low-income persons. You must show that you are eligible for a free phone or tablet program to qualify for a free device. People from humble backgrounds also deserve to access communication technology. That is why the government, through congress, has developed programs that issue free devices to eligible people. The free tablet program was not around until Covid’19 broke out.
Usually, you can get a free tablet from the government through the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The program also comes with free broadband to access the internet. For a free smartphone, you can get one through the Lifeline service. Lifeline is a federal aid program that offers free phone and cell phone plans to low-income families. The free phone service consists of free minutes, data, and texts. The texts and minutes are unlimited, while the data may be limited.Â
Qualifications for Free Government Phone and Tablet
You can qualify for a free phone and tablet in various ways. We shall look at each one of them.
1. Free government phone
You can qualify for a free government smartphone phone through the Lifeline service. Lifeline allows you to get a free phone and a cell phone plan. There are various ways one can qualify for Lifeline. First of all, you can qualify through income. You qualify if your household has an income of 135% or below the Federal Poverty Guideline. You can also qualify through various benefit programs. These include the following.
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- Medicaid
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
- Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
You may also qualify for a free government phone if you reside on Tribal Lands and benefit from the above programs or the following Tribal programs.
- Head Start
- Tribal TANF
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
Additionally, you can qualify for Lifeline if your child or dependent participates in the above programs.
2. Free tablet from the government
You can get a free governmnet tablet if your household qualifies for the ACP program. For a household to benefit from the ACP program, its income should be 200% or below the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Also, you can qualify if you or another household member received a Federal Pell Grant within the current award year or meets the eligibility requirements for a participating service provider’s existing low-income internet program.Â
Additionally, you can qualify for the ACP program if you or anyone from your household benefits from the following benefit program.
- Free School Breakfast Program
- Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program
- SNAP
- Lifeline
- Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program (Section 8 Vouchers)
- Medicaid
- Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA)/202/811
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- WIC
- Public Housing
- Veterans Pension or Survivor Benefits
It is incredible to note that Lifeline is among the various benefit programs that allow you to qualify for ACP. Additionally, you can qualify for the program if you or a household member benefits from the following Tribal programs.
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
- Tribal TANF
- Tribal Head Start
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Affordable Housing Programs for Alaska Natives, American Indians, or Native Hawaiians
Documents Necessary To Apply For Government Free Phone And Tablet
We have various necessary documents that you should have when applying for the program. The documents help to ascertain that you are eligible. These include the following.
1. Program Participation
We have various documents that certify that you are eligible for a particular program. They include the following.
- Benefit award letter
- Statement of benefits
- Benefit verification letter
- Approval letter
2. Household income
Various documents allow you to prove your qualification by income. They include the following.
- Prior year’s federal, state, or Tribal tax return
- Income statement from the current employer or a paycheck stub
- Unemployment/Workers’ Compensation statement of benefits
- Veterans Administration statement of benefits
- Federal/Tribal notice letter of participation in General Assistance
- Child support award, divorce decree, or other official document containing income information
3. Emancipated Minor
- Court document
- Certificate
Additionally, you need to bring documents that prove your date of birth, identity, address, and Social Security Number.
Application for Free Government Phone or Tablet
You can apply for a free device from the government or tablet online at lifelinesupport org. You only need to collect all the necessary documents, visit the site, and apply. There are two main steps one may apply for a free phone or tablet.
You can begin by going to AffordableConnectivity.gov and submitting an application or printing out a mail-in application. After that, you can contact your preferred participating service provider to choose a plan and apply your discount to your bill. Alternatively, you can search various service providers in your locality, choose the most interesting one and apply through it directly.
You can also apply for the service by mail, whereby you attach all the necessary documents, put them in an envelope, and send them to;
- Lifeline Support Center
- PO Box 7081
- London, KY 40742
When they approve your application, you will get a free phone or tablet at your address, plus instructions on activating your device. You will also get a SIM card tool to use with your free government phone.Â
Submit Your Application for Free Tablet – Apply Now
Free Phones and Tablets for Low-Income Families
The free phones you get from the government nowadays are smartphones of high quality. The same applies to tablets. Some free phones you can get from the government include the following.
- Alcatel 871A
- Alcatel C1 4015T
- Bold C1
- Samsung GT-E1205
- Pantech Impact
- Samsung SGH-A157
- Samsung Solstice II A817
- Bold C2
- Blu Advance 4.0L
- Blu C5L
- Blu Dash 3.5 II D353U
- ZTE Z222
- ZTE Z331
- ZTE Z431
- Blu Studio X8
Some free tablets you can get from the government include the following.
- Apple iPad Mini
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S4
- Apple iPad Air
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S3
- Apple iPad Mini 3
- Alcatel Joy Tab 2
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 2020
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S
- Samsung Galaxy Tab E
- Apple iPad Mini 2
Best Providers For Free Government Phone and Tablet
There are numerous Lifeline and ACP providers whereby you can get a free tablet and smartphone if you qualify. Some of the well-known companies include the following.
Cintex Wireless
The company offers both Lifeline and ACP programs. Therefore, you can get a free phone and tablet simultaneously. You can qualify and apply for the program online. One can apply by visiting the Cintex Wireless website and navigating to the Apply Now button. You will then provide various documents that are necessary for the application.
An individual can get free phones from the company, including Samsung Galaxy A10E, Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus, and iPhone 6. Free tablets include Apple iPad Mini 3, Alcatel Joy Tab 2, Samsung Galaxy Tab 2020, and Samsung Galaxy Tab S, among others.
Q Link Wireless
QLink has been offering free government phones for some time. The company is also offering free tablets through the ACP program. You can quickly get free unlimited data, talk, and text
plus a NEW Tablet. The free tablet is subject to a contribution of at least $10.01 co-payment. You can apply for Lifeline or ACP online by visiting the Q Link sign-up page, navigating to the Get It Now section, and entering your Zip code and email address to get started.
Safelink Wireless
Safelink is a Lifeline service provider that allows you to apply for a free phone. You can get a free smartphone, unlimited talk & text + data every month. You can apply for the program online when you visit the site, input your Zip code, and tap the Start Button to get started. A page will require you to enter your name, Date of Birth, the last 4 digits of your SSN, email address, and phone number. After completing inputting details on the page, you should tap the Continue button to proceed.
Life Wireless
The company offers ACP and Lifeline services, whereby you can get a free cell phone service, hotspot data, and a free smartphone. You can even bring your phone to enjoy the free service. You also benefit from the Affordable Connectivity program, which provides free broadband to use with your phone. You can apply for the Lifeline and ACP programs online by visiting the Life Wireless website. One can apply by navigating to the Sign-Up page and beginning their application by entering their email and Zip code.
Access Wireless
The company allows you to apply for Lifeline and ACP online. You can visit its website to get started. After a successful application, you can get a free smartphone plus unlimited talk, text, and data with ACP & Lifeline Program. You can begin your application online on the provider’s website by entering your Zip code. There are a few advantages associated with Access Wireless Lifeline service. These include;
- Free long-distance
- Nationwide Coverage
- International Calling availability
Free Phone And Tablets from Charities And Non-Profit Organizations
Apart from getting free smartphones and tablets from the government, you can get some from charities. Numerous charitable organizations give free devices to low-income families. They include the following.
Computer Aid International
The organization partners with schools across various parts of the developing world to offer free computers. Your school may also get free tablets for pupils to use in their learning sessions. Usually, the organization aims towards building IT access for everyone. The organization is geared towards building a world where everyone has equal access to technology.
The On It Foundation
Even though the organization gives free computers to students in public K-12 education, if your child benefits from free or reduced school lunch, they are eligible for a free tablet from the organization or even a laptop.
PCs for People
The organization gives eligible people free computers and low-cost internet. You may also get a free tablet if you qualify. The organization is registered as a Microsoft refurbisher; thus, its products come with a free licensed Windows operating system. You can get a windows tablet from the organization.Â
National Cristina Foundation
Even though the organization gives free computers to those in need, you can also get a tablet from them. Since they receive donations from various well-wishers, they can also accept tablets to give to the needy.
Everyone On
Another top-rated organization that offers free tablets is Everyone On. People from low-income families can easily qualify for free tablets and even laptops. The organization helps you to get a complimentary or low-cost laptop plus a low-cost internet service.
Bottom Line
Phones and tablets are crucial devices since they help you with communication services. You can use the devices to call, send texts and chat online. Additionally, you can use them for entertainment. However, people from low-income families cannot afford the devices. The government offers free phones and tablets through the Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Programs. You can also get a free device through non-governmental organizations.