QLink is an American telecommunication company that participates in the lifeline program. It provides free wireless services to Lifeline program consumers. Each eligible American citizen can receive a Qlink government phone once they enroll in the program. Alongside the free phone, consumers can get free data, minutes, and SMS for unlimited texting every month. Moreover, qualifying citizens are free to bring their phones if they do not wish to use the government ones.
The government came up with the Lifeline program to assist the poor Americans in getting cheap communication means. Not all people can afford the current communication rates that telecommunication service providers offer due to high poverty levels. That is why through companies such as QLink, the government subsidizes such services so that the target citizens can keep in touch with their friends and relatives.
The Lifeline program applies to every territory, state, commonwealth, and Tribal land in the US. One thing you need to note is that consumers are free to purchase more data and minutes once their free offer is over. You cannot get another free bundle before the month is over since there is only one allocation per month. Interestingly, renewals are automatic once the month is over. Perhaps, that is why QLink refers to the Qlink ACP program service as “Always On Plan.”
Eligibility For Qlink Government Phone
It is crucial to understand the eligibility criteria so that you do not just wake up and demand the Lifeline services. For you to qualify for the American Lifeline program, you must meet any of the following requirements.
- If you are a beneficiary of the government aid programs, including Medicaid, Food Stamps (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), and Supplemental Security Income.
- If your overall income for your household is at or below the Federal Poverty Guidelines of 135%.
Apart from the above, you must make sure that no other family member benefits from the program. The law prohibits more than one family member from benefiting from the program. During your application, you have to fill in the Lifeline Household Worksheet that helps to determine your household income and whether there is a family member on the program.
Also, note that you or another family member cannot enroll in the Lifeline program with another service provider while having an account with QLink. You cannot get a free government phone plus a free plan at QLink and then proceed to get another one at Verizon or any other service provider. You will definitely face the law for selfish acts.
Other restrictions in the lifeline program include:
- The address you give must be your current place of residence.
- The address must be in the name of the beneficiary and is non-transferable.
- Disenrollment from the Lifeline if you violate the laid down rules.
- Failure to use your Lifeline service for 30 days may lead to suspension.
- You must have a working email address.
If you have trouble checking whether you qualify for the program, you can call QLink via 1-855-754-6543, a toll-free number. If you feel that you are okay to get started, you can start the sign-up process.
Application For The Lifeline Program
Application for the Lifeline program has no complications whatsoever. You can apply online at the Qlink home page. Alternatively, you can mail or fax the application form to Qlink. The online application does not need you to complete the process in one sitting.
If you realize that you need to get some information before you continue, you can save your progress and come back later to continue. The application will be complete once you submit all the required documents. To upload your documents, you can navigate to the section ‘Upload Your Proof Documents.’
When applying, you need to have an already made-up mind on the details you would like to provide. Once submitted, you won’t be able to edit the details. You will always get the error display, “order cannot be modified” when trying to sign up.
If there is a great need to edit the information, you will need to send an email to Qlink explaining what you would like to change. It can be your phone number, your email address, or your physical address. The Qlink support team looks at the issue and it can take up to 72 hours for you to get a response.
Once you qualify, you will get a free phone and a monthly plan that come with your phone. You can research QLink compatible phones before purchasing any phone to make sure that you do not make the mistake of buying an incompatible phone.
Plans Of The Qlink Government Phone
The Lifeline monthly plan includes 1,000 voice minutes, unlimited text, and 4.5GB of data for free. For regular consumers not in the Lifeline program, the plan costs them $15. The government subsidizes the cost for the Lifeline customers under the Universal Service Fund.
If you exhaust the data or minutes, you can buy more to meet your requirements. Unlimited minutes for one day cost you $1, while the unlimited minutes for 30 days cost you $5. The table below shows how much you can pay for various additional data amounts.
| Data Amount | Service Days | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 100MB | 30 | $3 |
| 500MB | 30 | $10 |
| 1GB | 30 | $15 |
| 2GB | 30 | $25 |
| 4GB | 90 | $45 |
| 5GB | 90 | $55 |
Qlink Lifeline Program Coverage
Qlink is rapidly expanding its services to cover as many states as possible. As for now, the company is the leading Lifeline service provider. You can always check to see whether your region has Qlink coverage online. Qlink currently operates in the following states.
Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, US Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
Final Words
Qlink is a major Lifeline service provider operating in more than 30 states. The Lifeline program helps poor American citizens to meet their telecommunication needs by subsidizing the monthly plan. Only one member per household can benefit from the program.
Qlink allows you to come with your phone or get a free phone from them to enjoy the services. You can upgrade your Qlink phone at will. Also, you can terminate the program by giving Qlink a 30-day notice.