How to Get Discounted or Free Cell Phones for Seniors

Cell telephones could be a lifeline to the skin world, particularly for older Individuals.

Sadly, not all seniors can afford the excessive value of a brand new cellular phone and repair. A brand new cellular phone can value tons of of {dollars} and that value is just out of attain for thousands and thousands of Individuals.

Lifeline Help is a federal authorities program that gives a reduction on qualifying month-to-month phone service to Individuals with decrease incomes — together with seniors.

Older Individuals who meet sure eligibility standards can obtain discounted or free cellular phone service in addition to a free telephone. Right here’s all the pieces it’s good to know.

What Is the Lifeline Program?

The Lifeline assistance program, which is a part of the federal Common Service Administrative Firm, was created in 1985 to assist Individuals with decrease incomes entry reasonably priced telecommunications providers.

This system expanded over time, and might now assist pay for the price of landline or cellular phone service.

How Do I Qualify for Lifeline?

To qualify for the Lifeline program, seniors will need to have an revenue at or beneath 135% of the federal poverty guidelines or they need to take part in sure authorities help packages.

You may examine your eligibility by visiting the Lifeline program website and coming into your zip code.

Older Individuals aren’t the one ones who can apply for Lifeline. There’s no age restrictions or age necessities to qualify.

Qualify by Earnings

Here’s a desk of revenue thresholds for the Lifeline Help program. Earnings limits are larger in Alaska and Hawaii. The Lifeline help program is obtainable for just one account per family.

Qualify by Help Program

You can too qualify for Lifeline should you — or somebody in your family — participates in sure authorities help packages.

Here’s a record of eligible packages:

• Medicaid
• Supplemental Diet Help Program (SNAP)
• Supplemental Safety Earnings (SSI)
• Federal Public Housing Help
• Veterans and Survivors Pension Profit

Seniors who reside on federally acknowledged tribal lands could also be eligible for extra reductions.

You could discover that Medicare, the federal medical insurance program for individuals ages 65 and older, isn’t on the record. There’s no program on the market that gives free cell telephones for Medicare beneficiaries.

Nevertheless, SSI is a program particularly for older adults. And about 17.2% of Medicare beneficiaries are additionally enrolled in Medicaid, so these dual-eligible seniors may qualify.

The right way to Apply for the Lifeline Program

To use, you’ll have to fill out info on the National Verifier web site.

You can too name the Lifeline Assist Heart and request a paper software. The assist middle is open seven days per week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST and the quantity is 800-234-9473.

You could want to supply proof of revenue, like a tax return or three consecutive pays stubs, whenever you apply for Lifeline.

What Occurs After You Apply for Lifeline?

As soon as your software is authorized, you will have one among two choices:

1. Select a Lifeline supplier close to you and join free telephone service (and probably a free cellular phone) with them.
2. Have your $9.25 month-to-month Lifeline low cost utilized to your telephone invoice along with your present service.

You’ll additionally have to recertify your eligibility annually to maintain your profit present.

After your software is authorized, you’ll have 90 days to decide on a telephone firm and join with a collaborating Lifeline service supplier.

Use the Companies Near Me device from Lifeline Assist to discover a record of accessible carriers providing cellular phone plans in your space.

There’s an extended record of collaborating Lifeline service suppliers. Many of those cellular phone suppliers are regional, and solely obtainable in sure states. Assurance Wi-fi, SafeLink, Entry Wi-fi and Life Wi-fi are 4 of the most important Lifeline suppliers.

What Form of Free Cell Telephones Are Out there?

Every cellular phone supplier affords a barely completely different bundle, so it’s essential to check your choices.

For instance, some Lifeline suppliers provide a free telephone with a restricted variety of minutes and texts monthly, and you should buy additional knowledge or minutes as wanted for an added value.

Different carriers provide extra beneficiant cellular phone plans that embody limitless speak, textual content and knowledge together with hotspot capabilities and even worldwide calling.

Your free cellular phone will seemingly be an Android, and it in all probability received’t be a well known model like a Samsung Galaxy. Assurance Wireless, for instance, lists the ANS Artia, Moto G Pure and Moxee m2160 amongst its obtainable free cell telephones for customers.

When you’ve arrange service with a Lifeline supplier, it is best to obtain your new cellular phone within the mail inside seven to 10 enterprise days.

Different Methods to Get Free Cell Telephones for Seniors

In the event you don’t qualify for the Lifeline program, main carriers continuously run promotions that give you a free cellular phone whenever you join a plan.

For instance, Verizon affords a number of reductions on telephones whenever you add a line or join service (and have a cellular phone you may commerce in).

Ensure to learn the effective print. To get a “free telephone,” you’re often required to enroll in an infinite plan, which may value $70 or extra a month, plus taxes and charges.

Low cost carriers, like Boost Mobile, provide massive financial savings on a cellular phone whenever you swap to their service. After we checked, new clients may get a $200 digital pay as you go card towards the worth of their telephone after making their third month-to-month cost.

In the event you’re trying to decrease your month-to-month photograph invoice, you may evaluate these cellular phone plans providing service — and knowledge — for lower than $30 a month.

You can too discover ways to purchase a used telephone on locations like Amazon and even Craigslist, which may prevent tons of of {dollars}, then pair it with a low-cost telephone plan.

Rachel Christian is a Licensed Educator in Private Finance and a senior author for The Nourishmoney. She focuses on retirement, Medicare, life insurance coverage and investing.