As a very mature individual in society, you seek out the simple things in life, and the modern-day lifestyle makes that request seem off-putting. You struggle even to accomplish modest desires such as how to get AARP free phones for seniors.
Perhaps you only came to know about AARP phones through your granddaughter, who is always finding it weird to call you on the landline or an advert you saw during your Sunday sitcom.
The point is you want one but don’t know how to go about getting an AARP phone; well if you have managed to use Google and looked up the words ‘how to get an AARP phone for seniors’ then do not fret for help arrived.
What AARP Plans are available?
First off, you will need to be informed of the variety of plans at your disposal before you jump into the cesspool that is mobile phones, telecoms and technology services in general.
How To Get AARP Free Phones For Seniors
Now that we know what is on the market, let us look at how you would acquire a free phone. This is all possible through a federal program called “Lifeline” which was developed to provide anybody for emergencies with cell phones or free home phone service; this is particularly crucial for seniors.
Every month, the Lifeline program offers free cell phones for seniors and free minutes.
Check whether you Qualify
Not everyone will be eligible for the free cell phone program. Different companies declare different criteria, therefore you must know who is eligible.
Free telephone requirements for seniors may differ by state, but you must meet the revenue guidelines, which state your household income should be below 135% of the federal poverty guideline, or be a member of the following programs:
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps or SNAP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8)
- Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
- National School Lunch Program’s Free Lunch Program
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Tribally-Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TTANF)
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
- Head Start (if income eligibility criteria are met)
- State assistance programs (if applicable)
Rules to be followed
- You cannot have more than one cellphone or home phone per household
- You can use this program to get your cell phone OR your home phone, but not both.
Choose a company
Use the tool on the website to find a company near you that offers Lifeline.
Ask for a Lifeline application from the company in your area. You will need the following information to apply:
- Full legal name
- Date of birth
- Last 4 digits of your Social Security number (or Tribal identification number)
- Physical Address
You should also show at least one of these items:
- Valid ID for example Driver’s License
- Social security card
- Medicaid card
- Previous year’s tax return
- Other documents that prove your identity
Your local company will process your application and may ask you to fill out additional forms.
Sign Up
You will obtain your Lifeline discount on your bill if authorized. Your local business can apply your discount to a current service as well. Have a look at some of the top phone service providers to adequately pick one.
1. AT&T Senior Nation Plan
This is a service presented by AT&T Company to meet the needs of AT&T Cell Phone for Senior. The plan encompasses features such as unlimited calls to AT&T users, 200 minutes to other networks as well as 500 minutes on weekends and nights, however, you will have to purchase another data plan.
When you sign up for the Unlimited & More Plan, you gain access to unlimited mobile hotspot plans for text, talk, and data at the price tag of $40 per month per line.
You can use the AT&T Senior Plan on both smartphones and flip phones when you pay $29.99 for the base plan. As an AARP member, you enjoy 10% off selected plans and 15% off wireless accessories.
2. T-Mobile ONE Plan
The T-Mobile ONE Plan was announced in 2017 to cater to the daily requirements of the elderly. The price of the plan is $35 per line for a month, but if you only need one line, it is $50. As a user of this plan, you enjoy unlimited calls, texts, and data with no cut-off period.
It is also well suited for people who travel frequently; you do not incur extra roaming charges. The technically inclined will be at home to surf, stream, and use social media while making unlimited calls and texts to worldwide networks in 200 countries.
3. Verizon Senior Phone Plan
This plan comes with unlimited data, calls, and texts for $40 per line per month. The Verizon Senior Plan is compatible with a vast range of individual devices, and Verizon Wireless Hotspot plans and offers affordable roaming plans.
The elderly can save a little more by choosing the Go Unlimited 55+ Plan, although this is restricted to specific billing addresses.
Extras include streaming DVD-quality videos with unlimited data usage and coverage that encompasses Mexico and Canada.
You are bound to a contract when you choose the plan that should be read carefully or risk a $350 premature cancellation penalty.
4. Consumer Cellular Phone Plan
The Consumer Cellular Phone Plans provide the bare necessities for seniors. It is the cheapest plan at a price tag of $15 per month, but you can pay for add-ons at no hidden cost and terms & conditions. With the base plan, you get 250 minutes of unlimited talk time for $20.
AARP members are awarded 5% discounts on add-ons with an extended warranty period. This plan is flexible, allowing its users the liberty to modify their plan in whichever way they want without being tied to a contract.
5. Republic Wireless Phone Plan
The Republic Wireless Phone Plan is not just for seniors but for every other person as well, and it incorporates both 4G LTE and wireless internet. The plan costs $15 for unlimited calls and texts with the option of 5GB of data for $5 per month.
There is no need to sign a contract, and you are free to cancel your subscription at any time. You can also make calls to any US number from anywhere in the world by using wireless. This plan is well suited for individuals who want a simple and straightforward plan that meets basic needs.
Additional Information
Free home phone service is also available through Lifeline. This program will cover your monthly home telephone service bill. The free home phone service is especially useful for seniors not interested in or unable to use a handheld device readily.
You will be able to get your free mobile phone and service from numerous Lifeline-associated companies in 49 states, including D.C. and the country of Puerto Rico.
From large businesses like Safelink Wireless, Assurance Wireless and Budget Mobile to regional suppliers to single-state businesses, there are odds that you will have a variety of suppliers to choose from.
The downside to this good news is that you will not be receiving the latest and most technologically advanced phone rather often you will often receive a second-hand device that has been refurbished.
You also do not get the liberty to choose any particular brand or model of phone. Another drawback would be the fact that some of the benefits are part of other welfare programs.
Final Verdict
Getting your hands on a free phone is straightforward given you just have to meet certain guidelines and find your nearest provider or store.
With lack of choice being perhaps the only drawback. In the case of Lifeline, its aim to preserve life and boost employment comes through making technology accessible to people from different age groups as well as socioeconomic backgrounds.
To start your process of getting a free home or mobile phone, visit lifelinesupport.org.
