If you are a senior and looking for a free tablet, then you should not worry since the federal government has brought you a way to get a free tablet and some affordable internet packages. You need to find a suitable service provider and get started. Most people know about the Lifeline program, which allows you to get a free government phone. So, where can you get a free tablet? This article will teach you how to get a free tablet for seniors.
Seniors are the older adults whose ages vary from one country to the other. In the United States, it is generally considered that a senior is anyone of retirement age or a person of 62 years or older. The standard threshold for Medicaid is age 65. Such people usually have various complications in that they cannot work and need help. There are various ways such people can get help from the government and non-governmental organizations.
Usually, government aid programs target one individual per household. Even if all of you qualify to get help, one of you should get the benefit so that the rest can benefit from the person. It is not easy to get a free tablet as the government and non-governmental organizations usually require a lot of details to ascertain your eligibility. You may have to provide proof of your low-income or aid programs.
Authentic Ways To Get A Free Tablet For Seniors
Let us now show you various ways to get a free tablet when you need it. If you are a senior, you might have been waiting for the details to get your favorite device. The following are some ways you can get your free device. Have a look.
1. Affordable Connectivity Program
The Affordable Connectivity Program is one of the newest aid programs that allow eligible households to get free tablets. However, the tablets are not entirely free since there is something small that you have to contribute.
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is an FCC benefit program that ensures that eligible households can afford broadband for online activities such as work and school studies. You can also benefit from healthcare services and much more. ACP benefit discounts up to $30 per month toward internet service for qualifying households and up to $75 every month for households on qualifying Tribal lands.
Qualifying households can as well receive a one-time discount of $100 to buy a laptop, desktop, or tablet from their service providers. They should contribute more than $10 and at least $50 toward the purchase price. You should note that the ACP program is limited to a single monthly service discount and one phone discount per household.
Qualification For The Affordable Connectivity Program
According to the Federal Poverty Guidelines, a household can apply if the household income is at or below 200% in total. Also, if a member benefits from various aid programs, it is also possible to get a free tablet for seniors. For example, you can get a  free tablet with Food Stamps, one of the aid programs currently called SNAP which deals with nutritional issues. Other criteria that you can use to qualify for your tablet include the following.
- Participates in assistance programs, such as Federal Public Housing Assistance, Medicaid, SSI, WIC, or Lifeline.
- Participates in Tribal programs, such as the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, or Tribal TANF.
- Benefits in the National School Lunch Program or even the School Breakfast Program, including via the USDA Community Eligibility Provision.
- Received a Federal Pell Grant within the current award year.
- Meets the eligibility criteria for the participating provider’s existing low-income internet program.
You can see the broad options you can use to apply for a free tablet. One can get a free tablet with EBT, another one with Lifeline, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, etc. You do not need to benefit from all the above programs to get a free tablet, as one is enough so long as you show eligibility proof. For your understanding, the EBT card allows you to receive your benefits for SNAP.
2. Lifeline Program
Lifeline is a federal government initiative that seeks to assist people from poor households to access affordable communication plans. The platform also gives out free government phones that they can use to access free services. The program has free cell phones for seniors who qualify but does not offer tablets.
Qualifications for Lifeline are almost the same as those of the Affordable Connectivity Program. People can qualify through the income procedure whereby the total household income should be at or below 200% of the federal poverty guideline.
3. The Salvation Army
You can also apply for a free tablet from the Salvation Army. The Salvation Army is a prominent non-profit organization that aims to eliminate hardships for humankind. If you are a low-income senior citizen and cannot afford a tablet, you can reach the local salvation army center and see if you qualify for a free tablet. You should prove that you are really in need of a free tablet for seniors. Some people can pretend that they are in need, yet they only want to take advantage of the free things and maybe make money using them.
4. Community Tech Network
Community Tech Network believes in a digital world and transforming lives with digital skills. The organization provides training and other assistance for various people in the community. They believe that accessing online services is a right, too, and no one should stay out of the network. The platform provides free tablets for all eligible people, not just seniors.
5. Older Adult Technology Services (OATS)
If you are a senior, then OATS is an excellent place you can get started with owning a tablet or any other device such as a laptop. This is a program nationally that ensures that technology reaches the less fortunate in society. The seniors also need to lead a healthy life with happiness, and having a tablet can contribute to their happiness when watching movies, playing games, and so on.
6. SmartRiverside
SmartRiverside is among the leading non-profit organizations that ensure high technology is used for the community. They believe that the community can be connected digitally and online to benefit from various online issues. The organization works towards eliminating the digital barriers so that everyone can access the digital content, with seniors included. For you to qualify for a free tablet, you should show proof.
Different Services Of Tablet
Whether you get a free tablet from the government or any other genuine source, the device will help you in various ways. Most services that you get from a tablet resemble those of a smartphone. The following are the various services you can get from a tablet.
1. Communication
A tablet allows you to communicate with others through phone calls, texts, and applicable mediums. Most tablets allow you to insert your SIM card to subscribe to various services on the go. You can also access your social media accounts when you connect to the internet. Platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, and TikTok can work very well on a tablet.
2. Work Online
With a tablet, you can execute various organizational tasks and may not need to be there physically. The gadgets proved vital during the pandemic, whereby people could work from home to prevent the spread of Covid’19. There was a need to maintain social distances even in workplaces. Before the pandemic, most people were still using tablets to work online. By the way, some tablets even have features that resemble those of a computer in that they have the windows operating system and Microsoft applications so that you can create your documents on the go.
3. Entertainment
Tablets are excellent when it comes to watching movies. They have large screens to have a large view with clear sounds. Most of them support USB storage devices using the OTG function, and thus you find it easy to play videos from mass storage.
Moreover, you can play your favorite games using your tablet. You do not have to travel to the nearest PlayStation to play your favorite games. The good thing with gaming is that you can either play online or at physical places. Online gaming ensures that you can get the best experience ever so long as you have a fast internet connection.
4. Studies
People now understand that the internet has a lot of content to help you achieve the best in your studies. During the last attacked pandemic, schools closed, and kids had to stay at home for months. Institutions developed programs where students could join classes online. That way, students stayed in touch with their teachers until school resumed.
If you are a high school or college student, you can find tablets very beneficial when researching various assignments. There are a lot of legitimate sources of information that you can find helpful in your studies.
Final Verdict
A tablet is an essential device since it allows you to communicate with others effectively and enjoy entertainment such as playing games or watching movies. Not everyone can afford a tablet, and seniors find it difficult to acquire one, especially those who are not financially stable. The government offers free tablets through the Affordable Connectivity Program, which started recently to help eligible people access affordable internet connections.