Free government phone in Delaware

Delaware residents who qualify for Lifeline can get free or discounted phone service. Here is who qualifies, where to apply, and which companies serve the state.

Who qualifies in Delaware

Under the federal rules, either one of these is enough:

• Someone in your household gets one of these benefits:
  • SNAP (food stamps)
  • Medicaid (called the Diamond State Health Plan in Delaware)
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • Federal Public Housing Assistance (including Section 8)
  • Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit
  • a qualifying Tribal program
• Your household income is at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines. These are the government's yearly income levels by household size.

Each household can get only one Lifeline benefit.

What to know in Delaware

• Delaware has no state-funded Lifeline add-on.
• The Delaware Public Service Commission (PSC) says Lifeline is paid for by the federal Universal Service Fund.
• The PSC's Lifeline Awareness Week news release gives the federal income limit: 135% of the poverty guidelines.
• Delaware joined the National Verifier in the February 2019 group. That is the federal system that checks who qualifies.
• It checks Medicaid, public housing and the Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit automatically. For SNAP, SSI, Tribal programs or income, you need to send documents.
• Senate Bill 307 was signed on August 26, 2026. It moves the power to approve wireless Lifeline carriers in Delaware from the FCC to the PSC.
• That happens once the PSC adopts rules or six months pass.
• The bill's summary says about 8,700 people in Delaware use Lifeline.
• The PSC does not regulate wireless service. So wireless complaints go to the FCC.
• PSC: (302) 736-7500 or (800) 282-8574.

Check if you qualify with our quick tool, or read the full rules.

How to apply in Delaware

In Delaware, the National Verifier checks who qualifies. It is the federal system for Lifeline. You can apply on your own, or through a provider. Both lead to the same check.

Apply at getinternet.gov. This is the FCC's official National Verifier site. Have proof of who you are ready, and proof of your income or your benefit.

Companies that give Lifeline service in Delaware

In May 2026, 3 companies gave Lifeline cell phone service in Delaware. Here they are, with the most customers first. The counts come from USAC, which runs Lifeline. They show who serves Delaware, not who is best.

* SafeLink Wireless: This count also includes Lifeline customers of Straight Talk, Total Wireless, Simple Mobile, Walmart Family Mobile and TracFone. USAC counts them together with SafeLink.

Free plan data is from each company's own site. We show it for the companies we have a page on.

Some local phone companies give Lifeline on a home phone instead. In Delaware, 2 companies did this, with 747 customers in all.

Not every company serves every part of Delaware. To see who serves your address, enter your ZIP code in the official company finder.

If you don't qualify

Lifeline is only for households that get one of the benefits above or have a low enough income. If yours doesn't, you can still get a phone line for little or nothing. These are this month's picks from our plans page:

• Best free plan: TextNow Free, $0 a month (550 MB, select apps)
• Best under $15: Red Pocket Essentials, $10 a month (3 GB)
• Best free trial: Visible Free Trial, $0 for 15 days (Unlimited)

Each one has a catch, and the plans page says what it is. Our guides compare more options: plans that are genuinely free and free trials. The plans page also lists every plan at $15 or less.

If you applied and were turned down, read why Lifeline applications are denied first. It covers each reason and the document that fixes it.

How many people use Lifeline in Delaware

Phone companies claimed Lifeline for 7,338 subscribers in Delaware in May 2026, down 20.7% since May 2025 (USAC). That is the 46th highest count among the 50 states and DC. Lifeline enrollment in every state.

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