Mobile phones are now a necessity in daily activity as their roles have gone way beyond making and receiving calls to conducting business, providing users storage, and entertainment. Due to the increased roles of phones, they have become exceedingly expensive; therefore, several families cannot afford them. However, many carriers in the U.S. provide free mobile phones. For example, qualified customers can get free TruConnect government phone and other services like unlimited text, talk, and free data.
Apart from TruConnect, other carriers that offer free phones from the government include Verizon Wireless, Cricket Wireless, T-Mobile, AT&T, SafeLink Wireless, and many others. These mobile phones are provided mainly through two government programs: Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Program. The federal government of the U.S. introduced these programs to enable low-income individuals to get access to cell phones and home internet services.
TruConnect is one of the best ACP and Lifeline service providers based in the U.S. that provides not one but many free wireless services to eligible households. To receive the free services, you must come from a low-income household or be a participant in any government assistance program. This article shows how an individual or household can get free government hones through the TruConnect network provider.
Details Of TruConnect
It is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) based in the U.S., offering free mobile phones, prepaid phone plans, and 3G/4G LTE data plans. It relies on T-Mobile for its operation; therefore, the company uses the T-Mobile GSM and Sprint CDMA network technology to provide its services. Many TruConnect compatible phones are in the market today since GSM and CDMA are the two major network technologies used by most phone manufacturers.
So, what do these two technologies mean? Global System for Mobile (GSM) is a standard network technology that provides the protocols used by second-generation cell phones. While the Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA) is a second and third generation of the network that allows numerous signals to occupy one transmission channel, optimizing the use of the available bandwidth. Therefore, you can use the TruConnect IMEI checker to check if your device is compatible with the network or not.
TruConnect EMEI checker is available on the company’s official website. If the checker displays a 15-digit number, the cell phone is compatible. You can get your phone’s IMEI number by dialing *#06# or navigating through the phone’s settings. A customer may experience a mobile phone malfunction, failure, or defect. Therefore, TruConnect allows its customers to continue enjoying the services by providing the TruConnect replacement phone. This service either provides you with a new phone or repairs your damaged existing phone.
Programs That Provide Free Government Phones Through TruConnect
The federal government introduced the Lifeline and ACP programs to provide free mobile phones to low-income individuals through different carriers nationwide. These programs have been discussed below:
i) Lifeline Program
Lifeline is a federal communications commission program focused on providing qualified low-income subscribers by subsidizing phone service. However, the program was upgraded to offer affordable monthly plans and free phones for seniors on social security and other related programs. TruConnect offers a Lifeline program in 36 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. However, there are some eligibility criteria that one must satisfy to receive a free smartphone and monthly service.
It is essential to know that the program is limited to one Lifeline benefit per household. The Lifeline program offers a $9.25 monthly discount on service and $34.25 per month for qualified subscribers on Tribal lands. The program also provides broadband-voice bundles and broadband Internet service. Moreover, TruConnect Lifeline offers a free phone, unlimited talk and text, 14 GB data, and free international calling.
To get TruConnect free phones from Lifeline, you must qualify the following conditions.
- Your income should be at or below 135% of the federal poverty guideline.
- The household must participate in one or two federal assistance programs such as
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance (BIA)
- Tribal Head Start
- Food Distribution Programs on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
- Tribally Administered Temporary Assistance for the Needy Families
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8)
- Medicaid or Medical Assistance
- SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program)
- SSI (Supplemental Security Income)
- Veterans Survivor Pension fund
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
ii) Affordable Connectivity Program
Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a new federal government program entitled to bring connectivity to low-income American citizens. ACP provides discounts of up to $30 to the qualified household on a monthly broadband Internet service. Qualified members on tribal lands receive up to $75. You can also get $100 on specific devices if you give a co-pay of $10 and $50. Moreover, the company provides TruConnect free tablets to qualified members.
From the TruConnect ACP program, you can get an accessible monthly data, phone, and WIFI hotspot. The eligibility criteria for ACP are similar to the Lifeline program; however, these are the few different conditions that a household must satisfy to be eligible for the ACP program;
- The household’s total income should be at or below 200% of the federal poverty guideline.
- You must have received a free award or federal Pell grant given to bachelor’s undergraduate students with financial difficulties.
- If your household receives reduced-price or free school breakfast or school lunch program.
- If you are disabled and have proof from a reputable health institution.
- Individuals or households participate in any federal and tribal government assistance programs.
Documents Needed For The Application of TruConnect
When applying for TruConnect free phone, you must come with the following documents. Note that you should never submit your original documents; you are required to make copies.
i) Personal Documents
These documents hold your identity with a valid name, date of birth, and social security number. Some of these paper works include:
- Birth certificate
- Government-issued ID
- Driving license
- A copy of the document with your residential details like mortgage, utility bill, or lease statement.
ii) Income Documents
The documents intend to prove that your total income is at or below 135% of the federal poverty program. You can know your eligibility income by visiting the lifeline official page. These documents include:
- Worker’s or unemployment compensation statement of benefits
- The Federal, state, or tribal return of the previous year
- Current income statement
- Pensions statement of benefits
- Social Security statement of benefits
- Paycheck stub
iii) Program Documents
A household that qualifies for the TruConnect Lifeline through government assistance program participation needs to attach documents that show they qualify to participate in the programs. You must make copies of the documents and attach them to your application. Some of these documents are:
- Medicaid approval letter
- Federal Pell grant school documentation
- SSI award letter
- Tribal head start benefits verification letter
- Federal Public Housing Assistance statement of benefits
Application For The TruConnect Government Phone
Once you have all the required documents, follow the simple procedure below to apply for the free TruConnect mobile phones.
- Visit the TruConnect application web page.
- Enter your ZIP code and email address and select “apply now.”
- You will be redirected to the TruConnect lifeline application form.
- Enter your name, date of birth, contact information, home address, and 4-digit security pin, and hit the “next” button.
- Answer all the preceding questions with correct information.
- Attach any of the above eligibility paperwork.
- Submit your form and wait for a reply.
Steps To Get TruConnect Free Phone
TruConnect offers free government phones through Lifeline and the Affordable Connectivity program to around 36 states in the US. However, you must be eligible for the TruConnect Lifeline program to receive your free phone. Generally, the simple procedure that you can use to get TruConnect free phones is discussed below.
i) Check Eligibility
Before you start applying for the TruConnect free mobile phone, you must confirm if you qualify for the Lifeline or the Affordable Connectivity Program. If you are eligible, then proceed to the following process.
ii) Fill The Application Form
If eligible, visit TruConnect’s official website or physical store to fill out the application form. Submit the form and wait for 2 to 5 business days to get approval.
iii) Approval Stage
If your application is successful, you will be approved to get a free cell phone and plan. The company will send you the free phone to your address, or you can collect it at the nearest store.
iv) Activation
The TruConnect activation process is swift and only takes 10 minutes for you to complete. Interestingly, the company does not charge any fees for the activation. The activation process is done online through their official website, where you will only need to insert your TruConnect sim card into the phone.
Summing Up
TruConnect is one of the MVNOs in the U.S. that is known to provide free mobile phones to low-income individuals through programs such as the Lifeline and ACP programs. The programs also provide broadband services. However, to get the free phones, you must satisfy the eligibility criteria for the program. Moreover, the programs provide other benefits depending on the residential state and available options.