A smartphone allows you to call, send messages, and enjoy online services. You can also use a smartphone to capture photos and record videos about your memories. There are also jobs that you can do online with a smartphone. Generally, there are many ways you can use your phone. Despite the gadget being important, people from low-income households find it challenging to afford the device. You will later learn about free government phones in Indiana.
The government of the United States understands that most Americans cannot afford phones to use for their daily communication needs. Therefore, it has devised ways to give needy Americans free phones.
That way, people can stay connected to the entire world. Every American has a right to information, and we all understand that a phone is among the devices that pass information from one source to the other.
Usually, The federal government offers free phones through the Lifeline service. Lifeline is a benefit program that assists low-income families with free phones, texts, voice call minutes, and data. That way, you can stay connected to your family and friends.
If you have a phone, service providers working with the government to offer Lifeline services allow you to bring a compatible phone to get a free cell phone plan.
Best way to get free government phones in Indiana
If you want a free phone in Indiana, you can rejoice since it is possible to get a free phone in the state. You can get a free phone through the following ways.
- Lifeline
- Non-Governmental organizations
As mentioned earlier, Lifeline is a benefit program that assists low-income families with free phones, minutes, texts, and data. Lifeline operates in all United States states, with Indiana among them. However, you must qualify and apply for Lifeline to benefit from the program.
Numerous non-governmental organizations also issue free phones and tablets to less fortunate individuals. Most usually follow Lifeline’s criteria to establish the most genuine beneficiaries. You can get a free device if you apply on their websites. Examples of such organizations include the Salvation Army, Adaptive.org, Computer Technology Support Corps, and City.org, among others.
Lifeline Free Government Cell Phones Program in Indiana
Lifeline in Indiana operates similarly to other states. You must qualify by showing various documentation to the relevant authority. There are two main ways you can qualify for Lifeline. You may qualify through an income or benefit program.
Requirements For Lifeline Program
Lifeline requires you to qualify if you have a household income of 135% or below the Federal Poverty Guidelines. People with such income find it challenging to put food on the table, and the government understands that.
You can also qualify if you or a household member benefits from the following assistance programs.
- Medicaid
- SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
If you reside on Tribal Lands, you can qualify through the above programs or the following Tribal benefit programs.
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
- Head Start
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
Additionally, people living on the tribal lands can qualify for Lifeline through income, whereby their household income should be at 135% or below the federal poverty guidelines.
Apart from being a beneficiary of the above programs or qualifying through income, there are various documents you should bring to prove that you qualify. They include the following.
1. Documents to bring if you qualify with income
To show that you qualify through income, you can bring the following.
- Previous year’s tribal, federal, state, or tax return
- Current employer’s income statement or a paycheck stub
- Unemployment/Workers’ Compensation statement of benefits
- Veterans Administration statement of benefits
- Federal/Tribal participation notice letter in General Assistance
- Child support award, divorce decree, or another official document with income information
2. Documents to bring if you qualify through a benefit program
If you qualify through benefits programs, you can bring any of the following documents.
- Benefit award letter
- Statement of benefits
- Approval letter
- Benefit verification letter
You must also bring other documents to confirm your identity. These include Social Security Number or Tribal ID Number, date of birth, address, identity, and life. Confirming that you are alive is crucial so the government does not give the dead a free service.
We all know that some people are good at impersonating and may even use dead people’s documents to fraudulently obtain free government phones and cell phone plans in Indiana or any other state.
Furthermore, only one individual per household is allowed to apply for Lifeline. That means others can benefit from the plan and phone the given person obtains from the government. Also, one must certify that one qualifies for the program every year.
Applications For Lifeline Free Government Cell Phones Program
Applying for Lifeline is straightforward. You can either apply online or send a mail with all the necessary documents. You can apply online at lifelinesupport.org, submit all the requirements, and contact your service provider.
The platform requires you to qualify and then proceed to your application. Since you are applying for the service from Indiana, you will choose ID as your state initials when choosing your state and tap the get started button.
After that, you will need to input your details, such as your name, date of birth, identification document (Social Security Number, Tribal ID Number, Military ID, Passport, Taxpayer Identification Number, Driver’s License, or any other applicable form of identification), and home address. You must also indicate whether you qualify by yourself, through your child, or dependent.
When you apply by mail, you will need to download the application form from nv.fcc.gov/lifeline, fill out all the necessary fields, and attach all the required documents. Once approved, you will choose your preferred service provider and receive your phone and cell plan.
Alternatively, you can apply for Lifeline through various service providers. You will learn about the various service providers shortly. Generally, Lifeline service in Indiana includes;
- Free phone
- Unlimited Nationwide Calling
- Unlimited Text Messaging
- 5GB Hotspot
- Unlimited Data
- Three-way calling
- Call Waiting
- Caller ID service
- Voicemail
- No roaming charges
- Free 911 Service
- No charge for domestic long-distance calls
- Affordable Recharge Plans from various providers
ACP Free Government Cell Phone Program in Indiana
ACP means Affordable Connectivity Program. Apart from Lifeline, you can get free phone service from ACP. Usually, the benefits program offers affordable broadband to low-income families. That way, you can access the internet for various online activities.
The Affordable Connectivity Program helps low-income households to afford the broadband they need for work, healthcare, school, and more. The assistance program provides a discount of at most $30 and $75 per month for households in qualifying households on common areas and Tribal lands, respectively.
Eligible families can also get a one-time discount of at most $100 to buy a tablet, a laptop, or a desktop computer from participating providers. One should contribute more than $10 and at least $50 toward the purchase price.
Even though most service providers give highly subsidized tablets plus broadband plans to eligible households, we have service providers who combine ACP with Lifeline to give you a free phone and plan. For example, Assurance Wireless allows you to qualify for free unlimited cell service and a free Android phone with their federal ACP plan.
Requirements For ACP Free government Phones
There are various requirements you should meet to get the ACP service. You can qualify through income, whereby your household income should be at 200% or below the federal poverty guidelines. You can also qualify if you or a household member participates in the following benefits programs.
- Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program
- School Breakfast Program
- Community Eligibility Provision schools.
- SNAP
- Public Housing
- Medicaid
- Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program (Section 8 Vouchers)
- Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA)/202/811
- Veterans Pension or Survivor Benefits
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- WIC
- Lifeline
You can also qualify through the various Tribal programs, which include the following.
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Head Start
- Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
Applications For ACP Free government Phones
The first thing one must do before applying for ACP is to qualify through the National Verifier Portal. You only need to enter the necessary details, and you are good to go. You can apply for Lifeline online at Lifelinesupport.org and enter all the necessary details, then make sure you attach all the necessary documents. You can send a mail-in application to the connected office with all the needed documents attached.
Alternatively, you can apply for the service on the service provider’s portal. They will determine whether you qualify by entering the details required. Once approved, you will get your broadband plan plus a free phone for the case of providers who offer a free phone through ACP.
Our Recommended Best Free Cell Phone Providers in Indiana
Suppose you want to apply for free phone service in Indiana. In that case, you must be willing to know about the various service providers in the state. We have numerous Indiana providers who welcome new Lifeline and ACP applicants. They include the following.
1. Access Wireless
Access Wireless requires you to qualify through an income or benefit program. Once they approve you, you can apply online as long as you have all the requirements. You can start your application by providing your Zip code in the field provided. The company gives you a free Smartphone + unlimited talk, text, and data with ACP and Lifeline Programs.
2. Assurance Wireless
Assurance Wireless is among the few providers who give you a free smartphone plus a cell phone plan when you apply for ACP combined with Lifeline. The company allows you to apply online by providing all the necessary details. You can also choose to apply at the various stores owned by the company, especially if you need to add more minutes. Â
3. EnTouch Wireless
You can receive a free cell phone, unlimited talk & text, and free limited international calling when you qualify for the Lifeline program. You can check eligibility before you apply, and the company also offers ACP services to those who qualify.
Once you apply and qualify, you can receive your phone through shipping companies. You also get a plan loaded and ready to use. Once you receive your device, you should power on the phone and contact 866.488. 8719 to Activate.
4. Life Wireless
The standard eligibility programs for Life Wireless Lifeline include Food Stamps/SNAP, Section 8 Federal Public Housing Assistance, The Veterans Pension or Survivors Pension, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicaid, and Income at 135% or below the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
You can apply for the service online by visiting the Life Wireless website and providing the needed details.
5. Q Link Wireless
Q Link Wireless provides qualifying Americans free minutes, text, and data. It, therefore, keeps them connected to the world. There is also a limited offer for unlimited data, talk, and text, and a new tablet and laptop through the Affordable Connectivity Program.Â
To start your application, you need to visit the Q Link wireless website and scroll down to the get it now tab, then enter your Zip code and email address
6. Safelink Wireless
Safelink offers both Lifeline and ACP. You may qualify for a free phone, unlimited cell service & 10GB mobile hotspot data. Also, one can apply online for free unlimited cell phone service with the Affordable Connectivity Program. The platform allows you to apply for the service online when you visit the company website.
7. StandUp Wireless
StandUp Wireless offers Lifeline services for customers who qualify through programs such as Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, or income. When you qualify and get approval, you get a free cell phone plan and a smartphone to connect with others.
To apply, you only need to visit the website, enter your Zip code and email address on the fields provided, and tap Begin Application.
8. TruConnect
TruConnect provides free cell phone service and phones to qualifying customers for Lifeline and the Affordable Connectivity Program “ACP.” You only need to apply for the service online, and you are good to go. Again, customers who qualify for Lifeline can receive unlimited talk & text plus free international calling to certain countries.
Bottom line
A smartphone allows you to access various services, such as calling, sending texts, and accessing the internet. However, some people find it challenging to afford phones, especially smartphones, due to their high costs. The government understands the issue, so it offers free phones to eligible persons in every state. You can get a free government phone if you live in Indiana State or any other state as long as you qualify.