Following the U.S. Census Bureau, over 11.6 percent of the U.S. population (over 37.9 million people) is low-income households. In other words, this category can hardly make ends meet since they live in poverty. The government has set up mechanisms to intervene by providing free phones and tablets through ACP programs. Thanks to Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) free phone and tablet, eligible low-income households can now keep in touch with loved ones and what matters most.
ACP is a government program powered by the federal communications commission (FCC). This program allows eligible low-income households to enjoy ACP-free phones and tablets alongside free monthly broadband internet services. If eligible for ACP, you can get a free phone or tablet depending on the wireless provider you’re applying with, and excellent plans that accompany ACP free phone and tablet. Thus, subscribing to ACP through a participating service provider company is fundamental to getting ACP-free phones and tablets.
Meeting the eligibility criteria requires you to get ACP free phone and tablet. These criteria focus on income-based qualification, which requires an annual income of 200% or under the federal poverty guidelines. The other criterion is participation in tribal or federal-assisted programs like Medicaid and tribal TANF. Despite having all these qualifications, you must also provide legal documents as eligibility proof. This article will explain the best way to get an ACP-free phone and tablet.
How To Get ACP Free Phone And Tablet
It is vital to note that only eligible low-income households can get ACP free phones and tablets. Therefore, you must qualify through the income-based criterion to get ACP free phone and tablet. Moreover, participation in federal or tribal programs like SNAP and Head Start will guarantee you an ACP free phone and tablet. We will dig deeper into eligibility later in this article.
You will get your ACP free phone and tablet through a service provider if eligible. You may also get an ACP-free phone and tablet directly from the ACP website. However, you will later subscribe to a service provider since ACP does not directly offer ACP-free phones and tablets.
Moreover, you will choose the service plan you desire from your service provider company. You can get various device models as you apply for ACP free phones and tablets. However, you can’t tell the type of device you can get from service providers because they don’t reveal it. As for the ACP tablets, you may get any of the following devices:
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S7
- Sky Tablet
- LG G pad 5- 4GB LTE Tab
- Lenovo Tab 5
- New Microsoft Surface Go 2
Qualification For ACP Program Free Phone And Tablet
You are eligible for a free phone and tablet through the ACP program if you meet any of these eligibility criteria:
Income Based Qualification
You are eligible for ACP free government phone and tablet if your annual household income is 200% or below the federal poverty guideline.
Federal/Tribal Program Participation-Based Qualification
You can get ACP free government phone and tablet if you participate in any of the following government-aided programs.
- Lifeline
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program(SNAP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Section 8/ Federal Public Housing Assistance
- Veterans Pension or Survivor Benefits
- Medicaid
- WIC
- Income-based Tribal Head Start
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
- Tribal TANF
- Reduced price or free lunch program and breakfast program
- You must have received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year to get ACP free phone and tablet.
Documentation For ACP Free Phone And Tablet
During application, several documents are needed to verify your eligibility for ACP free phone and tablet. These documents include income-proof, participation-proof, address-proof, and identity-proof documents. They are as listed below:
Income Proof Documents
- Workers’ / unemployment Compensation statement of benefit
- Veteran Administration benefits statement
- Divorce decree or child support award
- Pension benefits document
- Social Security benefits statement
- Recent Annual state, tribal, or federal tax return document
- Paycheck stub/ current statement of income from your employer
Participation proof document
The documents you present as participation proof must have the name of the program and your full legal name, and it must also contain the expiry date. These documents are listed below:
- Approval letter
- Benefit verification letter
- Statement of benefits
- School documentation
- Benefit award letter
Address Proof Documents
As you apply for ACP free phone and tablet, you will provide the following documents to verify your address:
- Valid Driver’s license
- Lease agreement
- Mortgage statement
- Utility bill
Identity proof documents
During the ACP free phone and tablet application, you will verify your identity by providing any of these documents:
- Birth certificate/ Passport
- Green card/ permanent resident card
- Valid U.S. Driver’s license
- U.S. Naturalization Certificate or U.S. citizenship document
- A valid government, Tribal, state, or military I.D.
Applying For Free Phone And Tablet ACP Program
You can apply for ACP-free phones and tablets in three main ways. First, you can apply for a free ACP phone and tablet through the national lifeline verifier. Here you will follow these easy steps to get a free ACP phone and tablet:
Applying Through National Verifier
- Visit the national verifier and click on the “Apply Now” button.
- Correctly fill out the application form with your details like legal name, address, and social security number.
- Confirm if your eligibility is independent or dependent, and then sign up for an account using your email and provide a strong password.
- Proofread the document to ensure you entered the correct information, then click on submit button.
Applying via Mail
Alternatively, you may download and print the form and then fill it out. Then you will attach legal documents for verification to receive ACP free phone and tablet. Then mail them to the ACP center.
Once the application is successful, you will receive a notification via mail. Then you will subscribe to your desired service provider near you. You will then apply for an ACP-free phone and tablet.
Applying via Wireless Provider
The other method of application is where you locate a service provider in your residence who offers ACP free phone and tablet. Consider the plans offered and the network coverage. Some of the best service providers offering ACP-free phones and tablets include Qlink Wireless, Assurance Wireless, and SafeLink Wireless.
Follow these steps to apply for an ACP-free phone and tablet through a service provider.
- Visit the official website of your desired service provider and enter your zip code to get started.
- Carefully fill out the enrollment form and attach the required eligibility proof documents.
- Then select your desired service and internet plan and then submit.
- You will get notified if your application is successful, and your ACP-free phone and tablet will be shipped to you.
Bottom Line
The government established the ACP program after the Covid Pandemic to aid low-income households in staying virtually connected. Through ACP, eligible consumers who meet the income level or program participation criteria get free phones and tablets. However, you must enroll in a service provider company like Qlink Wireless and others authorized by FCC to qualify for ACP free phone and tablet.