Frequently Asked Questions

What is Free Government Phone Service?

Free government phone service is actually a Federal benefit called Lifeline. Lifeline doesn't directly provide free service, nor does it provide a free cell phone. Lifeline provides government assistance for low income families toward their phone service - either wire line or wireless. That discount is used by your cell phone provider to give you free minutes - which in affect is free mobile phone service. The free cell phone is provided by your cell phone company.

How do I know if I Qualify?

If you are enrolled in a government assistance program lifeline Medicaid, Section 8 housing, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, etc., you meet the qualifications. You can also qualify based on your household income if it is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Level. However, many states have additional qualifying programs and some allow income up to 150% of the Poverty guidelines. Check here for more information on the Lifeline Qualifications.

How many minutes do I get?

Your number of minutes depends on the state where you live. Most states will get 1000 minutes per month. Oklahoma will receive 1000 minutes for non-Tribal subscribers.

Can I get more minutes if I run out?

Yes. You can purchase additional minutes as needed. The price for additional minutes vary by state. In Arkansas and Louisiana, the unused extra minutes you purchase will carry over to the next month.

What is Lifeline?

Lifeline is a Federal benefit program that provides a discount on basic phone service for low income families. It is funded by the Universal Service Fund. You can apply for Lifeline through your home phone service provider or your cell phone provider. If they don't offer it, you can find many sources for your area on the internet. More on Lifeline.

I'm having trouble providing proof that I qualify. Is there an easy way to do that?

Yes. Providing proof of eligibility doesn't have to be hard. You can get the proof to us using email, texting, faxing, upload, or through the US mail.
The type of proof you provide depends on your qualification. If you are qualifying based on the fact that you are in a Food Stamp program, you could send us a picture or scan of your Food Stamp card or your award letter. If you have an EBT card, you can go to your on-line EBT account for your state, log in and send us a screen capture (picture of the screen) of an account screen showing your name, account number, and account status. For a list of acceptable proof of participation documents, go here.
If you are qualifying based on your income alone, you can see find the types of acceptable proof documents here.

I already have a Lifeline discount on my home phone. Can I get a Lifeline Mobile Phone too?

No. Lifeline is available for ONE line per household, either wire line or wireless. A household is considered to be a group of individuals living together contributing to the income and expenses. Violation of the one per household rule can result in prosecution.

Does the service come with voicemail?

Yes, voicemail comes with the cell phone plan.

Can I order a Lifeline cell phone for both me and my wife?

No. Lifeline service is limited to ONE per household. You and your wife, living together would be considered to be in the same household.

Can I send and receive text messages?

Yes. Texting is available on many of our plans. For most plans, each text in or out will be equal to 1 minute of service, unless otherwise stated on the plan. Oklahoma's unlimited plan does not provide texting.

I submitted my order, now what happens?

Your order will be processed once it has been submitted with any required documentation. All Lifeline applicants must submit a signed Lifeline certification. This can be done on-line and is part of the on-line ordering process. In addition, the FCC now requires proof of eligibility and identity for each Lifeline applicant. In some states we can confirm eligibility through a state database. Most states do not yet provide this. So, you must submit some form of proof that you are eligible for the program. For a list of acceptable proof of program participation, see this page. If you are qualifing based on household income, see a list of acceptable proof here.
Once we have your signed Certification, Proof, and a photo ID, a phone will be set up for you and shipped to the address you provided on the order form. Your phone should arrive within 7 business days. If you want to check on the progress of your order, please call customer service.