Communication is essential in this era; however, not all citizens can access communication devices such as mobile phones. For example, about 900,000 residents in Louisiana, the US, are having remarkable trouble meeting their personal financial needs, and most of them live below the federal poverty line. However, the federal government of the US has introduced some programs to provide free government phones in Louisiana. The programs include the Lifeline program and the Affordable Connectivity Program.
Most people living in Louisiana participate in government-assisted programs that provide free cell phones from the government, food, medical care, and bill payment assistance. The free phones come with talks, text, and data offered at subsidized and affordable prices. The government provides the phones through several mobile phone service providers in the US, such as SafeLink Wireless, Assurance Wireless, and many others.
As mentioned above, hundreds of thousands of citizens live in poverty in all of Louisiana. Therefore, there is a need for them to participate in some government assistance programs. This article shows how Louisiana residents can access free government mobile phones. The article indicates the steps to be followed when applying for the free phones and the eligibility criteria.
Eligibility for Free Government Mobile Phones in Louisiana
Not all citizens living in Louisiana can get free government mobile phones. There are some eligibility criteria that an individual must satisfy to qualify for the free phones. To qualify for the free government smartphones, you must be eligible for the Lifeline or the ACP program. The qualification includes;
- The household’s income should be at or below the federal government poverty level or no more than 135%of the federal poverty guidelines. This shows that you will be considered a low-income individual in Louisiana.
- The individual participates in other federal government assistance programs such as;
- Medicaid
- Food Stamps/ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Veterans Pension and Survivor’s Benefit
- Federal Public Housing Assistance
- Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance (BIA)
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
Free Government Phones in Louisiana – A Excellent Instructions
The federal government of the US provides free government phones to Louisiana residents through the various program and carriers. You can, therefore, get mobile phones by signing up with some of the specified mobile phone providers. The both are described that provided the free phones are;
Program that offers free government phones
The US government is offering free mobile phone services through several programs offered by mobile phone service providers. Some of these programs include.
i) Louisiana Lifeline Program
Louisiana residents can get free government smartphones through the lifeline program. As discussed above, this program is funded by the federal government to provide US citizens, in our case Louisiana residents, with free wireless service every month. Through this program, different mobile network operators provide free talk, text, and data to eligible Americans. Eligible customers receive Free mobile phone services for as low as $9.25 per month.
The program offers Lifeline discounts to qualified Louisiana customers who satisfy the eligibility requirements, such as household income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or participate in one government assistance program. However, the free Lifeline benefit is limited to one per household or individual and cannot be combined with any other Lifeline offer.
ii) The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
Low-income individuals living in Louisiana can get free touch screen government phones and other cellular devices through a subscription to the ACP program. ACP is a US federal free government phone program that provides mobile phone connectivity to low-income American citizens. Any Louisiana resident who qualifies for the program can receive free phones from the government by only answering a few questions and submitting their eligibility documents.
You must meet the program-based eligibility guidelines or the income-based program to be eligible for the free monthly phone service and free smartphone. It is important to note that the program is limited to one ACP benefit per household. Different network providers also provide free government tablets for Louisiana residents, apart from free phones.
You should first ensure that you are eligible for the program. Your income is within the mandatory limits, or you are participating in one of the federal assistance programs to receive the service. Generally, you can get the free government mobile phones by following the steps below;
- Check if you qualify for free phone assistance.
- Choose a Lifeline carrier in your state, in our case, Louisiana
- Fill out and submit an enrollment application form.
- Provide any supporting documents required.
- Please wait for your free phone from the government to come through regular mail and then activate it.
Other ways of getting free government phones in Louisiana include the CAF and Tribal Link-Up programs.
- CAF- For a Louisiana resident to qualify for the Connect America Fund (CAF) program, you must make less than $1,135 a month.
- Tribal Link-Up- the federal government of the US, offers this program and discounts on wireless service plans for tribal members.
Carriers That Offer Free Government Cell Phones
Numerous mobile phone network service providers offer free government phones in the US. These carriers include assurance wireless, life wireless, Assist Wireless, and many more. These wireless providers also offer phone plans with free mobile phones for the seniors and qualified individuals in different federal government assistance programs. Some of these carriers have been discussed below;
i) Assurance Wireless
It is a federal Lifeline program that offers unlimited text, free monthly minutes, and mobile data. The services provided by
ii) Assurance Wireless
vary from one location to another. However, most states in the US get up to 3GB of data, 1000 talk time minutes, and unlimited texts. Some of the states that enjoy these services include the state of Washington, Florida, Texas, California, Ohio, Maryland, Michigan, and many others.
iii) Qlink Wireless
This carrier provides free mobile phone services such as unlimited text messaging, talk time minutes, and 3GB of cellular data. Subscribers to this program also enjoy other benefits:
- No monthly bills
- No-contract mobile phone deals and plans
- No credit checks
- No fees
- No surcharges
Additionally, the company also provides prepaid wireless phone services at affordable prices.
iv) Assist Wireless
This company offers its services to only specific states in the US; they include Missouri, Maryland, and Arkansas residents. The residents of these states receive free smartphone plans that include 500 text messages, 1000 minutes of talk time, and 50GB of cell phone data. Oklahoma residents benefit from tribal plans, with unlimited talks and texts and 4.5 GB of data. Therefore, Assist Wireless is one of the best carriers for tribal lifeline qualifiers.
v) Infinity Mobile
Infinity mobile provides free mobile phones and whooping discounts on cell phone plans in tribal and non-tribal forms. Through the company, seniors on Medicare receive 1000 talk time minutes, 1GB of mobile data, and unlimited text messaging. The company also provides even better services to qualified Indian American citizens. For example, they receive an extended cell phone data plan of up to 2GB.
vi) Cintex Wireless
Cintex Wireless is a program provided by HTH Communications serving qualifying American households. There are specific eligibility requirements that you must meet to qualify for the benefits provided by Cintex Wireless. The requirements are based on household participation in Federal assistance programs or households whose income meets the Federal government Income Poverty Guidelines.
Bottom Line
To get the Free government phones in Louisiana, you must meet two specific requirements; you should be participating in one of the federal assistance programs, or your household income should be at or below 135% of the Federal Government Poverty Guidelines. The programs offer an excellent way to get mobile phone services while helping you save money each month. Since this type of service is not very expensive, it easy for low-income households and disabled people to qualify.
