How to get a free government phone in 2026
In short
- No federal program hands out phones. Lifeline is a discount of up to $9.25 a month, or up to $34.25 on Tribal lands.
- You qualify through Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance or the Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit. Income at or below 135 percent of the poverty guidelines also works.
- After approval, sign up with a company within 90 days. If you pay nothing each month, use the service at least once every 30 days.
On this page
No federal program hands out free phones. But if you qualify for Lifeline, a federal discount, some companies give you a phone plan for $0 a month.
Lifeline is a monthly discount on phone or internet service. The federal government pays it to the company you pick. Some companies build a plan around that discount and charge you nothing per month. Some include a handset. Some do not. This guide explains what Lifeline pays, who qualifies, and how to apply. Every number comes from the program’s own pages.
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is gone. USAC, the agency that ran it, says the ACP “ended on June 1, 2024, due to a lack of additional funding from Congress.” Lifeline did not end.
What Lifeline is
Lifeline is a federal benefit for low-income households. USAC runs it under FCC rules. You apply once and get approved. Then you take that approval to a company that offers Lifeline. The company lowers your bill by the Lifeline amount and claims it back from the program.
Lifeline is a discount, not a device. No federal rule requires a company to give you a phone. The Oregon Public Utility Commission gives an example. It notes that one of its carriers “no longer offers free phones at its own expense, but it offers a SIM card for use with an unlocked, compatible phone.” So ask before you enroll. Check the company’s page on this site too, such as our Assurance Wireless page.
What you actually get
| Benefit | Amount | Who gets it |
|---|---|---|
| Standard monthly discount | Up to $9.25 per month | Anyone who qualifies |
| Enhanced Tribal discount | Up to $34.25 per month | Qualifying residents of Tribal lands |
| Voice-only service | $5.25 per month | Plans with no data |
| Link Up (one time) | Up to $100 off a setup fee | Tribal lands only, once per address |
The $9.25 applies to broadband (internet or data) plans and to bundled plans. Voice-only service gets $5.25. On July 1, 2026 the FCC again paused its plan to phase out voice-only support. It has paused it every year since 2021. USAC says the $5.25 “remains available to eligible consumers who subscribe to voice-only service through November 30, 2027.”
The Tribal figure is the standard $9.25 plus “up to $25” extra. It is for people living on qualifying Tribal lands.
A plan priced at $9.25 or less can be free to you. That is what a “free government phone” offer is. See free and cheap plans for what companies offer at that price.
Minimum service standards
Every Lifeline plan must give you at least a set amount of service. The FCC sets these minimums, and they usually change each year. In July 2026 the FCC paused those changes until December 1, 2027.
| Service | Current minimum |
|---|---|
| Mobile voice | 1,000 minutes per month |
| Mobile data | 4.5 GB per month at 3G or better |
| Fixed broadband | 25/3 Mbps, 1,280 GB per month |
Who qualifies
You qualify one of two ways. The full rules, 2026 income table, and documents list are in our eligibility guide.
Through a program. You, or someone in your household, is enrolled in one of these:
- Medicaid
- SNAP
- SSI
- Federal Public Housing Assistance
- The Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit
On Tribal lands, four more programs count. A child or dependent in a program counts too.
Through income. Your household income is at or below 135 percent of the 2026 Federal Poverty Guidelines. Those guidelines are income amounts that change every year. For one person in the 48 contiguous states, the limit is $21,546 a year. For four people it is $44,550. Alaska and Hawaii have higher limits.
Not sure? Run the eligibility checker.
What may change. In February 2026 the FCC proposed new Lifeline rules (FCC 26-8). The FCC says Lifeline is already only for US citizens and some lawful immigrants (“qualified aliens” in the law). It asked whether those immigrants should have to wait five years before they can get Lifeline, and whether people who have not waited that long should lose it. It also asked about collecting your full Social Security number, and whether Texas and Oregon should keep their own systems for checking who qualifies. The FCC has not adopted these rules. As of October 21, 2026, the current rules still apply. Read the proposal in the Federal Register.
How to apply, step by step
Lifeline uses one central system to check applications. It is called the National Verifier. USAC calls it “Lifeline’s centralized application system.” It checks who you are, where you live, and whether you qualify.
Step 1: Pick how to apply
Lifeline Support lists three routes.
- Online at getinternet.gov. This is the FCC’s official National Verifier site. The Apply Now button on lifelinesupport.org takes you there. This is the fastest route.
- Through a company. Any participating company can submit it for you.
- By mail. Print the application and send it to Lifeline Support Center, PO Box 1000, Horseheads, NY 14845.
If you have a disability and need help, call (800) 234-9473. The line is open seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.
Step 2: Answer the questions
You give:
- Your name
- Your date of birth
- The last four digits of your Social Security number, or your Tribal ID
- Your home address
- How you qualify
Step 3: Let the automated checks run
USAC says the National Verifier “has automated database connections to verify consumer eligibility for Lifeline.” In other words, it checks records for you. It confirms who you are. It matches your address against Postal Service (USPS) records. It looks for duplicates, such as someone at your address who already has Lifeline. And it checks HUD (housing), Medicaid, VA, and state records for your program. If every check passes, you are approved on the spot.
Step 4: Send documents if asked
USAC’s rule: “If a consumer is not found in an automated database, they will need to provide documentation for manual review.” Upload copies online or mail them. Online uploads during support center hours are “reviewed within minutes.” Mail takes seven to 10 business days.
What documents to have ready
Have these on hand before you start. Full details are in the eligibility guide.
| To prove | Examples |
|---|---|
| Program enrollment | Benefit award letter, statement of benefits, screenshot of your benefits portal |
| Income | Last year’s tax return, or pay stubs for three months in a row |
| Identity | Unexpired driver’s license, birth certificate, passport, Social Security card |
| Address | Utility bill, lease or mortgage statement, government ID |
A program document needs “An issue date within the last 12 months or expiration date in the future.” Income documents must also be dated within the last 12 months. Send copies, not originals.
What happens after approval
Approval does not give you service yet. It gives you a window to sign up for service.
Choose a company. Use the Companies Near Me tool on lifelinesupport.org. Search by ZIP code or city and state. The page warns that results “may not show every nearby company.” So if you do not see a company, ask it directly.
Do it within 90 days. USAC’s guidance refers to an eligibility decision that “has expired (e.g. over 90 days old).” Let that pass and you have to apply again.
You can switch later. USAC’s Change My Company page says you may transfer “at any time.” The Lifeline Support home page says “once a month.” Plan on once a month at most. The new company handles it. Once done, your benefit with the old company ends.
The 30-day usage rule
If you do not pay a monthly bill out of your own pocket, you must use the service “at least once every 30 days.”
The FCC rule, 47 CFR 54.407(c)(2), lists what counts as usage:
- Completing an outbound call or using data
- Buying minutes or data from the company
- Answering an incoming call from someone other than the company
- Responding to direct contact from the company and confirming you want to keep the service
- Sending a text message
Receiving a text does not count. After 30 days without use, your company sends a notice. Lifeline Support says “you must use your service within the next 15 days.” If you do not, service may be turned off. One outbound call a month keeps you safe.
One per household
Lifeline Support states it directly: “Only one discount is allowed per household.” A household is “a group of people who live together and share income and expenses.” Being related does not matter. Sharing money does.
Say another adult at your address has Lifeline, and you do not share money. You can still apply. The system flags the duplicate address. You then file a Household Worksheet to show you are separate.
Recertify every year
Each year USAC checks that you still qualify. This is called recertifying. If databases cannot confirm it, you get a letter or email. You must respond “within 60 days” or lose the benefit. Recertify online, by mail, or by phone at (855) 359-4299. Have the application ID from your letter ready. Also tell your company “within 30 days” if your situation changes.
Oregon, Texas, and the California change
In two states, the state checks who qualifies, not the National Verifier. These are called opt-out states.
- Oregon. Apply through the Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) at oregon.gov/puc. Oregon adds state money. Its main Lifeline page lists a phone discount “up to $20.25 per month.” Its Discounted Service page says “up to $19.25.” Call 800-848-4442.
- Texas. Apply at texaslifeline.org.
California used to be the third. On November 20, 2025 the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau took away California’s opt-out status. USAC’s orders page confirms that “starting on February 1, 2026, the National Verifier and related federal processes will determine eligibility.” New California applicants follow the same steps as everyone else. See the California page for how this affects the separate California LifeLine state program.
Get help
Lifeline Support Center: (800) 234-9473, or LifelineSupport@usac.org. The free phone hub links to every state and provider page. Once you have a phone, read the free Wi-Fi safety guide before using free public Wi-Fi.