Who Qualifies for Free Government Phones? A Eligibility Guide

Understanding if you qualify for a free government phone is easier than you might think. This comprehensive guide breaks down the eligibility requirements, whether through program participation or income-based qualification.

Program-Based Eligibility

You automatically qualify if you participate in any of these federal assistance programs:

SNAP / CalFresh / Food Stamps
Medicaid / Medi-Cal
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit
Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
Tribally Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations

Income-Based Eligibility

If you don't participate in any of the above programs, you may still qualify based on your household income:

Household Size	48 Contiguous States, D.C., and Territories	Alaska	Hawaii
1	$20,331	$25,394	$23,369
2	$27,594	$34,479	$31,725
3	$34,857	$43,565	$40,082
4	$42,120	$52,650	$48,438
5	$49,383	$61,736	$56,795
6	$56,646	$70,821	$65,151
7	$63,909	$79,907	$73,508
8	$71,172	$88,992	$81,864

For each additional person, add: $7,263 (Contiguous), $9,086 (Alaska), $8,357 (Hawaii)

Household Definition

A household is defined as any individual or group of individuals who live together at the same address and share income and expenses. Important considerations:

Only one Lifeline benefit is allowed per household
Multiple families living at the same address can be separate households
Nursing home residents can be considered individual households
Temporary addresses qualify if they're your primary residence

Required Documentation

Program Participation

Benefit award letter
Approval letter
Statement of benefits
Program participation card

Income Verification

Prior year's tax return
Current income statement
Social Security statement
Veterans Administration statement

Additional Benefits

Qualifying individuals may also be eligible for:

Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) benefits
State-specific phone assistance programs
Additional data allowances
Device upgrade options

Ready to Apply?

Visit govtphones.org to check your eligibility and start your application. Our step-by-step process makes it easy to get connected with your free government phone.