Louisiana is a southeastern state on the Gulf of Mexico in the United States. It has a history of being a melting pot of French, American, African, and French-Canadian cultures. Its largest city is New Orleans. We have many people in Louisiana who live below the poverty line. That makes it difficult for them to afford basic needs such as shelter, food, and clothing. Such people may need help to afford communication devices such as smartphones and tablets. You will learn how to get a free government tablet Louisiana.
Since tablets are among the crucial devices for communication, every household must get at least one. The government of the United States has ways of issuing free tablets to low-income persons. That way, such people can get a chance to remain connected with their friends and family. However, you must have certain documents to prove you need a free tablet. That helps eliminate dishonest people who may want free tablets yet are financially stable.
There are various reasons why you need a tablet. As mentioned, you can use the device to communicate with family members and friends. If you get a SIM card-enabled tablet, you can make calls, send messages, and connect to the internet. Additionally, school kids can use the devices for digital learning to access study materials online. The devices are also essential for entertainment. You can play games and watch movies in the comfort of your room.
Ways to get free government tablets in Louisiana
If you want a free tablet in Louisiana, apply for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The Affordable Connectivity Program is a benefit program from the Federal Communications Commission that helps households afford the broadband they require for work, healthcare, school, and more. It operates in all states, meaning you can get it in Louisiana.
The program offers a discount of up to $30 monthly toward internet service for qualifying households and up to $75 monthly for households on eligible Tribal lands. Qualifying households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to buy a laptop, desktop, or tablet from participating ACP service providers if they pay more than $10 and not more than $50 toward the purchase price. The Affordable Connectivity Program gives a one monthly service discount plus one device discount per household.
Through the $100 discount, you can acquire a tablet from the government. Even though you must contribute something small towards the purchase price, the device is almost free since the amount you contribute is minimal.
How to qualify for ACP Program
You must qualify for the program to apply and get a free government tablet in Louisiana. There are various ways you can qualify for ACP. They include the following.
- Qualify by income
You can qualify for the ACP Program if you have an income of 200% or below the Federal Poverty Guidelines. You must have documents that support eligibility by income. These include the following.
- Prior year’s federal, state, or Tribal tax return
- Federal/Tribal notice letter of participation in General Assistance
- Child support award, divorce decree, or any other official document with income information
- Latest income statement from your current employer or a paycheck stub
- Veterans Administration statement of benefits
- Unemployment/Workers’ Compensation statement of benefits
- Qualify by an assistance program.
You can qualify for Affordable Connectivity Program through specific assistance programs and get a free government tablet in Louisiana or any other state. They include the following.
- Federal Housing Assistance, including Housing Choice Voucher Program, Public Housing, Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA)/Section 202/ Section 811, and Affordable Housing Programs for Alaska Natives, American Indians, or Native Hawaiians
- Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program
- School Breakfast Program: includes US Department of Agriculture Community Eligibility Provision schools.
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Veterans Pension or Survivor Benefits
- Medicaid
- SNAP
- WIC
To prove that you qualify for a particular assistance program, you should bring documents that support your eligibility. You can bring any of the following documents to prove your qualification.
- Statement of benefits
- Benefit verification letter
- Benefit award letter
- Approval letter
- Qualify through Tribal Lands programs.
If you live in the Tribal Lands, various Tribal assistance programs allow you to qualify for the ACP program and apply for a free tablet. They include the following.
- Tribal TANF
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
- Tribal Head Start
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
Interestingly, someone in the Tribal Lands can benefit from government assistance programs such as SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, etc.
How to apply for ACP Program
Once you have noted that you are eligible for ACP, you should apply for the program. You can apply for the program online by visiting AffordableConnectivity.gov and entering the necessary details on the open page. You must provide details such as your name and date of birth, plus identity verification documents such as a Social Security Number, Tribal ID, or other government IDs such as a driver’s license, military ID, National Identity, etc. After that, provide your physical address and tap Next to complete the application.
Secondly, you can apply for the program through your service provider. You only need to provide the necessary details, and they will run them in their systems to determine if you are eligible. Once your application succeeds, you will get a message from your service provider directing you on what to do next. You will receive your tablet at your physical address.
You can also apply for the program through the mail. You must download the ACP application form and fill out the necessary details. Once you are through with filling out the form, you can attach the necessary documents and send the mail to;
ACP Support Center PO Box 7081. London, KY 40742.
After succeeding in your application, you will get a message requiring you to choose a service provider who will give you a free government tablet.
Bottom line
Louisiana is a state in the US. Among its population, we have people who cannot afford devices such as tablets and smartphones. However, you can get a free tablet if you qualify for ACP. You must apply for the ACP program using the abovementioned methods to get a free tablet. One can qualify for ACP through various government assistance programs or low-income. Only one device is allowed for a single household.