A phone is an important part of our life. These days, you can’t think of a day without a mobile phone, even if you can’t afford it. If you can’t afford a mobile phone, you can just apply for a free government phone. Today, I will talk about how you can get free government phones in texas.
For people with low income, purchasing a mobile phone and paying for the monthly mobile phone bill is quite hard. So, the government takes the initiative and provides their phone and monthly phone service without any cost or at a low cost.
The program you need to apply for free phones is Lifeline Program. This is a federal government program started a long ago. Let’s know more about the program before we move on –
What Is Lifeline Program
The Federal Communications Commission launched Lifeline in 1985 to offer low-income Americans a method to afford telephone service.
The program has been expanded and changed several times, including President George W. Bush in 2005, when he expanded it to include smartphones.
The programs provide free phones and services from participant carriers. Notice the keyword ‘participant carriers’, which means you won’t get free from any carriers; rather will receive a considerable discount. You need to be eligible to get a free phone, and the eligibility prerequisites differ from state to state.
Let’s know what the requirements for the lifeline program in Texas are –
How To Qualify For Free Phones In Texas
As mentioned before, you need to meet some qualifications if you want to get the free government phones. You can qualify for the program in two ways – income-based eligibility and program-based eligibility.
Income-based Eligibility: You are eligible for the program if your household income is 135% below the federal poverty guideline.
In this case, the more member your household has, the easier it is to qualify. Here’s is a chart of maximum income that can be for different household sizes –
After the first member, each member adds $6,129.
| Household Size | Eligible Annual Income |
| 1 | $17,388 |
| 2 | $23,517 |
| 3 | $29,646 |
| 4 | $35,775 |
| $41,904 | |
| 6 | $48,033 |
| 7 | $54,162 |
Program-based eligibility
If you can’t qualify with your income, there is an easier way to qualify. If you are already a participant in other eligible federal assistance programs, you can automatically be qualified.
The qualifying assistance program is different from state to state. Here’s the list of qualified federal assistance programs –
- Medicaid
- Food Stamps/ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Veterans Pension and Survivor’s Benefit
- Section 8/ Federal Public Housing Assistance
- Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance (BIA)
- Tribal Head Start (only those households meeting its income qualifying standard)
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR).
The list of program increase or decreases depending on your state. But, Texas residents are qualified for the lifeline program if they participate in these programs.
How To Get Free Phone In Texas
Just by qualifying the requirements, you won’t be able to get free government smartphones in texas. You need to apply for the phone. The government doesn’t distribute the phone, and you need to apply to participant carriers ( you know them in a while) to get free government phones in Texas. And, for the application, you need personal information and proof documents.
Personal Information
Visit the provider’s website that you want a free phone from and click on the ‘Apply Now button. A form will appear, which is also downloadable.
You need to fill the form with the necessary information, like your first name, last name, date of birth, last four digits of your Social Security Number, current address, email address, and so on. Ensure to provide the correct information as they are pretty strict in this case, or you will never get approval.
Income-Based Eligibility
If you are qualified because of your low income, check the ‘Income Base Eligibility’ box. Then you need to enter the number of family members in your family and check the amount nearest to your annual income. Include your last three months’ income statements, like –
- Pay stubs.
- Veterans Benefits Statements.
- Unemployment Benefits statement.
- SS Benefits.
- Retirement or Pension statements.
Program-Based Eligibility
If you are eligible through participating in another government assistance program, check the ‘Program-Based Eligibility’ box. Also, select the program you are receiving assistance from. Lastly, you need to provide proof of participation in that program. Include one of these –
- Photocopy of your Benefits ID Card.
- Statement of your benefits for the current or previous year.
- A letter from a qualifying agency.
Other Documents You Will Need
Besides the documents mentioned above, add a softcopy or print copy of the following documents –
- Income statement from job.
- Federal letter of General Assistance.
- State or Federal Income returns.
- Divorce papers or child support documentation.
Top 5 Provides Free Government Phones In Texas
1. Assurance Wireless
Assurance Wireless is known as the best Lifeline Assistance free phone provider. You can get free monthly data, minutes, unlimited text, and a free phone if you qualify.
It is also the largest free phone provider, which offers free phones in over 40 states in the U.S.; of course, Texas is included.
Besides texas lifeline free phone service, they also offer paid phone service. Customers can get low rates international calls to over 200 countries. You won’t need extra bills, long-term contracts, or activation fees.
The monthly service can differ depending on the state you are living in. Texas residents can get generous free service from them.
What Assurance Wireless Offers in Texas
The monthly service includes various perks. And the benefits are different from state to state. Assurance Wireless offers the best option for California residences. Here’s what you can get in Texas if you qualify –
- A free phone
- Free monthly minutes.
- Free Unlimited texting.
- Free 3GB of monthly data.
And this is what California residents get –
- A free smartphone.
- Unlimited local minutes.
- Unlimited texting.
- 5GB of free monthly data.
Additional Service
If the free service isn’t enough for you, you can purchase an additional service. Here’s the rate-
- Unlimited international text and talk –
- At only $5, purchase the unlimited Assurance Wireless calling option (local) or at $10 Mexico/Canada + international text and talk to over 200 countries.
- By paying $30, you can receive unlimited calls and unlimited data per month.
2. Access Wireless
Among the Lifeline program participant carriers, Access Wireless is also a prominent player. It also has a large service area, which includes Texas.
They provide free government cellphones in Texas and data, minutes, and text messages, depending on your eligibility.
If you require more service, affordable add-ons are available with the free cell phone plans. Residents of Texas get additional benefits from free lifeline offers.
In all states except California, you get a free government phone, 250 minutes of call time, unlimited texting, and 3 GB of internet.
The minutes can be used for both local and long-distance calling. Your month will run well thanks to the additional paid service.
What Access Wireless Offers In Texas
Access wireless offers the same in Texas as in the other states. Here’s what Texas residents get –
- A free Smartphone
- 250 minutes of airtime.
- Unlimited Text.
- 3 G.B. of Data.
Additional Service
If the limited free touch screen government phones texas service is not enough for you, you can purchase additional talk and data. Here’s the rate of additional data –
- 100 MB data at $1 for thirty days.
- 500 MB data at $3 for thirty days.
- 1 G.B. data at $5 for thirty days.
- 4 G.B. data at $20 for thirty days.
These data are high-speed data, and they won’t slow down during network congestion.
3. Q Link
Q Link is also a big name among the free government phone providers. It is one of the oldest providers. Even if you don’t know anything about cell phone providers, you’re likely to come across the moniker Q Link. The organization is well-liked by low-income individuals in a number of states.
One of the main reasons for Qlink’s success is its large-area service, which serves over ten million people. In addition, compared to other carriers, their extra premium plans are more reasonable. In Texas, you may also acquire free government cell phones and monthly data, text, and call allowances.
What Q Link offers In Texas
- A free smartphone.
- Monthly up to 1000 minutes for both local and long-distance calling.
- Unlimited nationwide text.
- Up to 3 GB of monthly data.
Additional Service
Q Link has various plans for both talk and internet.
- Only Minutes Plans
- By paying $1, you can get unlimited minutes for one day, including nationwide coverage, voicemail, caller id, roaming, and texting.
- By paying $5, get 500 minutes for 30 days, including all the features above.
- By paying $15 per month, you can enjoy unlimited minutes.
Only Data Plans
- Get 100 MB high-speed data at only $1 for 30 days.
- Get 500 MB high-speed data at only $5 for 30 days.
- Get 1 GB high-speed data at only $10 for 30 days.
- Get 2 GB high-speed data at only $20 for 30 days.
- Get 3 GB high-speed data at only $25 for 30 days.
- Get 4 GB high-speed data at only $30 for 30 days.
- Get 5 GB high-speed data at only $35 for 30 days.
- Get unlimited high-speed data at only $40 for a month.
Q-Link also has different bundles; here are the bundles –
$2 Q-Link bundle includes –
- 100 MB of monthly data.
- Unlimited minutes.
- Unlimited text.
$5 Q Link bundle includes:
- 500 MB of data.
- Unlimited minutes.
- Unlimited text.
$10 Q Link bundle includes:
- 1 GB of Data.
- Unlimited minutes.
- Unlimited text.
$25 Q Link bundle includes –
- 3 G.B. of Data.
- Unlimited minutes.
- Unlimited text.
4. enTouch Wireless
enTouch Wireless may not be that famous, but their service is quite solid. enTouch offers free phones in Texas. The operator was established with the cooperation of two well-known companies – Boomerang and Ready wireless.
It offers the most versatile options among all the lifeline free phone providers. Boomerang Wireless provides free phones as part of the lifeline program, and Ready Wireless is linked to further add-ons that you might need after the free internet.
The organization has a good service area; it now serves more than twenty states, and that figure is expected to grow quickly. Again, the organization provides a fantastic bargain to California citizens. Texas, like the rest of the country, gets a fair deal.
But it’s the enTouch Wireless paid services that make it even more intriguing. The cost of their plans varies greatly. Local calling, worldwide long-distance calling, voicemail, 911 emergency services, and so on are only a few of the great features.
What enTouch offers In Texas
- A free smartphone.
- Unlimited text ( both local and nationwide long-distance)
- Unlimited talk.
- 3 GB of data.
The plans differ from state to state. Even some states can only get 100 minutes and 100 MB of internet per month.
Additional Service
enTouch has a vast range of plans, starting from $1 to an expensive $50. Here are some of them –
- By paying only $1, you can get an unlimited text option with the same 1000 minutes and 100 MB of data in Texas.
- By paying $5, you can get 1200 minutes of talk (local and nationwide domestic calling), unlimited texting, and 250 MB.
- If you upgrade to the $10 plan, you will get an additional 1 GB along with what include in the previous plan. And, starting with the $25 plan, the voice gets unlimited and data-limited increase.
5. Tag Mobile
Tag Mobile is one of the most apparent Lifeline providers, offering government phones to low-income and unemployed individuals. They are also one of the greatest possibilities for Texans.
Free smartphones, free minutes, and text without a free phone are also available from the firm. When you are from California or Texas, the state with the biggest petroleum production, the offers are more generous.
Tag Mobile operates on the Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile cellphone networks. As a result, you receive comprehensive coverage and a vast service area thanks to the network support of three major carriers.
Tag Mobile provides unlimited call and text options and 1 GB of internet access to residents of California. It’s 1000 minutes of talk and unlimited text in other states.
What Tag Mobile Offers In Texas
- 6.5GB LTE Data monthly.
- Monthly 1000 FREE Voice minutes.
- Unlimited FREE Global texts.
Besides, the texas residents also get – no contract, no cost, nationwide coverage, caller I.D., call waiting, and voicemail. Tag Mobile is the only provider that offers a special lifeline plan for Texas.
Additional Service
- Text And Talk Plans
- Premium: Pay monthly $4.95, and get 250 minutes of talk, unlimited texts.
- Platinum: Pay monthly $9.95, and get unlimited minutes of unlimited talk texts.
Data Only Plans
- Lite: Pay monthly $5.95, and get 500MB of 4G LTE high-speed data.
- Lite Plus: Pay monthly $11.95, and get 1 G.B. of 4G LTE high-speed data.
- Premium: Pay monthly $19.95, and get 3 G.B. of 4G LTE high-speed data.
Final Verdict
Plenty of options are available able when it comes to Free Government Phones in Texas. But the eligibility is the issue, more if you are a single person.
Besides free government phones, there are other ways you can get a free phone in Texas. Many non-profitable organizations offer free phones to students and unemployed youth. Also, you can purchase a used phone at a low cost.
So, in this article, you know how to get free government phones Texas and the top providers there. That’s all for today’s article.
