Free government phone in Indiana
Indiana 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.
In short
- Lifeline takes up to $9.25 a month off internet or a phone plan with data, or up to $5.25 off phone-only service. On Tribal lands it is up to $34.25. Indiana has no extra state program.
- Apply at getinternet.gov, the FCC's National Verifier site, or through a Lifeline company. Both lead to the same check.
- In May 2026, 16 companies gave Lifeline cell phone service in Indiana. The most customers were with AirTalk Wireless, SafeLink Wireless and Assurance Wireless.
Who qualifies in Indiana
Under the federal rules, either one of these is enough:
- Someone in your household gets one of these benefits:
- SNAP (food stamps)
- Medicaid
- 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 Indiana
- We could not confirm any active state Lifeline add-on in Indiana.
- The Lifeline page of the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC) says the programs are "funded and regulated at the federal government level".
- The Indiana Universal Service Fund supports rural carriers. It does not help low-income customers.
- A state law allowed an Indiana Lifeline Assistance Program, and its funding was approved in 2007. But no official page shows it running today.
- Current pages state no state income limit or extra qualifying program.
- Indiana joined the National Verifier in the March 2019 group. That is the federal system that checks who qualifies.
- It checks SNAP, Medicaid, public housing and the Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit automatically. Medicaid is checked against both federal and state data.
- Apply online at getinternet.gov (the link is below). The OUCC cannot process applications.
- You can also apply by mail with a paper form from USAC (the Universal Service Administrative Company). Get it in English or Spanish on USAC's How to Apply page.
- The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) approves Lifeline carriers. That includes wireless ones, such as TAG Mobile in March 2026.
- IURC Consumer Affairs Division: 1-800-851-4268.
Check if you qualify with our quick tool, or read the full rules.
How to apply in Indiana
In Indiana, 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 Indiana
In May 2026, 16 companies gave Lifeline cell phone service in Indiana. These are the 8 with the most customers. The counts come from USAC, which runs Lifeline. They show who serves Indiana, not who is best.
| Company | Lifeline customers | Free plan data |
|---|---|---|
| AirTalk Wireless | 54,690 | 5GB |
| SafeLink Wireless | 16,149* | Not stated |
| Assurance Wireless | 13,599 | 10GB |
| Gen Mobile | 11,396 | |
| StandUp Wireless | 7,917 | 5GB |
| TruConnect | 4,410 | At least 4.5GB |
| Access Wireless | 2,890 | Not stated |
| American Assistance | 1,986 | 4.5GB |
* 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 Indiana, 34 companies did this, with 733 customers in all.
Not every company serves every part of Indiana. 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 Indiana
Phone companies claimed Lifeline for 118,564 subscribers in Indiana in May 2026, down 3.8% since May 2025 (USAC). That is the 19th highest count among the 50 states and DC. Lifeline enrollment in every state.
Other states
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