Safelink Wireless is a LifeLine service provider that receives government support to offer Lifeline benefits. Only eligible households may enroll in LifeLine. The service is non-transferable and limited to one per household. When applying for Lifeline, you must provide the necessary documentation of program participation or income to prove that you are eligible. Safelink offers free phones and a free cellular plan to qualifying consumers. You will learn about the Safelink phone upgrade shortly.
Once you get your Lifeline free phone, you may need to upgrade your device to a more advanced one. That allows you to enjoy more improved services. These include higher-resolution cameras for quality video and photo capturing, more storage, higher processing capability, and a more advanced operating system. In 2022, it looks barbaric to have a smartphone that runs on Android 4 and below.
Moreover, Safelink has a Keep Your Own Smartphone plan that requires a compatible smartphone that must be unlocked. Most GSM Smartphones can work with Safelink, and you do not need to check compatibility. You should keep your phone to enjoy better services if you feel that the free phones offered by the company do not meet your demands. Again, your current phone may have a lot of sensitive data that you may want to keep from moving to another phone.
Requirements for Safelink free phone upgrade
To upgrade your phone for free at Safelink, you must qualify for Lifeline. Lifeline is a government benefit program that allows eligible consumers to get free phones. Eligible households can get at most $9.25 off the cost of internet or bundled services, plus a free phone. There are various ways you can qualify for Lifeline. First, you can qualify through income, whereby your household income should be 135% or below.
Additionally, you may qualify through benefit programs. These include the following.
- Medicaid
- SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
- Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Another way you can qualify for a free phone upgrade at Safelink is through any of the Tribal Assistance Programs. These include the following.
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
- Head Start
- Tribal TANF
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
Lastly, you may qualify for a free device from Safelink through your child or dependent who participates in one or more of the above programs.
Best steps to upgrade Safelink phone for free
You should follow various steps to upgrade your device for free at Safelink. They include the following.
- Check if you qualify for Lifeline at the National Verifier portal.
- Apply for Lifeline
- Wait for approval
- Receive your free phone at your physical address
- Transfer services and data to the new phone
Safelink Phone Upgrade Policy
Safelink has no device upgrade policy since phone upgrades have no restrictions, and you may upgrade whenever there are more advanced phones. However, when upgrading to a safelink phone, it follows that you must be eligible for Lifeline. You should recertify every year to prove that you qualify.
To recertify and check if you are still eligible, you should visit the lifelinesupport org recertification page and complete the online form or download the necessary form and fill out the various details, then mail it to;
- Lifeline Support Center
- PO Box 7081
- London, KY 40742
Alternatively, call (855) 359-4299, enter the application ID number found in your letter, then follow the prompts. If you reside in the Tribal lands, you can recertify by calling (800) 234-9437 and talking to a live agent.
Reasons To upgrade your Safelink Phone
There are various reasons why one may want to upgrade their phone. First, you can upgrade your device to enjoy the latest operating system. Phone manufacturers release new operating system softwares periodically, which comes with new features to better your life. For smooth operations, a phone with the latest OS can work better.
Another reason you may want to upgrade your device is to get a phone with high-resolution cameras. If you are a blogger, getting a phone with high-quality cameras allows you to produce high-quality videos. Furthermore, you will be able to take quality photos.
Additionally, you can upgrade your device to enjoy advanced network connectivity. We now have smartphones that support 5G network technology, and most people are eyeing such phones. With a 5G phone, you can make clear calls, send messages faster, and enjoy high network speed.
Lastly, you may upgrade a phone to get one with a high-capacity battery, a large screen, fingerprint unlocks, and face unlocks, among other features.
Safelink Upgrade Benefits
You can get various benefits from a Safelink phone upgrade. You can benefit from a reliable network since Safelink relies on TracFone Wireless. TracFone Wireless gets network services from T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon. Therefore, you can expect optimal performance at most times of the day. If one network provider slows down, you will still benefit from the other two.
Another benefit you can get from a Safelink phone upgrade is a free phone and cellular plan. Since the carrier is a Lifeline provider, you can get a free smartphone, unlimited talk, texts, and free data. That way, you will be able to reduce your budget for communication.
Can My Safelink Wireless Government Phone Be Upgraded
If you are an existing Lifeline customer, you may upgrade your device to a more advanced one. However, you may be forced to purchase a new device for an upgrade. That is because you can only get one device per household for free.
You can get your device upgraded at a local retailer or online. When upgrading online, you need to visit the Safelink online shop and get a more advanced device, then transfer your benefits to the new phone. You can also purchase accessories such as memory cards, charging adapters, and charging cables to improve your experience.
Examples of devices you can purchase for your upgrade include Alcatel TCL A3, Blue View 2, Alcatel 3V, LG Aristo 4 Plus, LG K40, Motorola G7 Play, and Apple iPhone 8 Plus.
Bottom line
Safelink Wireless is a LifeLine service provider that receives government support to offer Lifeline benefits. Only eligible households may enroll in LifeLine; the service is non-transferable and limited to one per household. You can qualify for Lifeline through specific benefits programs or income. You can also upgrade your device for free if you qualify for Lifeline. It is recommended that every Lifeline beneficiary upgrade their phones once a year.