Free government phone in Michigan
Michigan 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.
- Michigan also has its own program, Michigan Lifeline Program: $8.25 to $10.25 a month under age 65; at least $12.35 a month at 65 and older (landline only).
- Apply at getinternet.gov, the FCC's National Verifier site, or through a Lifeline company. Both lead to the same check.
- In May 2026, 14 companies gave Lifeline cell phone service in Michigan. The most customers were with Infiniti Mobile, AirTalk Wireless and TAG Mobile.
Who qualifies in Michigan
Under the federal rules, either one of these is enough:
- Someone in your household gets one of these benefits:
- SNAP (food stamps, called the Food Assistance Program in Michigan)
- 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 Michigan
- If you enrolled after January 1, 2020, the federal rules above apply.
- If you enrolled before January 1, 2020, you keep older, broader rules.
- Under those, you qualify with income at or below 150% of the poverty guidelines.
- Or you qualify through Medicaid, Food Assistance, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance, LIHEAP (energy bill help), TANF (cash aid for families) or the National School Lunch Program.
- Survivors covered by the Safe Connections Act qualify at 200% of the poverty guidelines.
- They can also qualify through WIC, school lunch or breakfast, or a Pell Grant.
Check if you qualify with our quick tool, or read the full rules.
Michigan Lifeline Program
- This state program is for landline voice phone service only. It comes on top of federal Lifeline.
- Customers under 65 who qualify get a state discount of $8.25 to $10.25 a month. The amount depends on the provider.
- Customers 65 or older get at least $12.35 a month off.
- Apply through your service provider.
Extra discount: $8.25 to $10.25 a month under age 65; at least $12.35 a month at 65 and older (landline only)
Official Michigan Lifeline Program page
How to apply in Michigan
In Michigan, 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 Michigan
In May 2026, 14 companies gave Lifeline cell phone service in Michigan. These are the 8 with the most customers. The counts come from USAC, which runs Lifeline. They show who serves Michigan, not who is best.
| Company | Lifeline customers | Free plan data |
|---|---|---|
| Infiniti Mobile | 212,217 | |
| AirTalk Wireless | 62,002 | 5GB |
| TAG Mobile | 33,148 | Up to 16GB |
| SafeLink Wireless | 25,597* | Not stated |
| Assurance Wireless | 20,800 | 10GB |
| TruConnect | 19,474 | At least 4.5GB |
| StandUp Wireless | 16,677 | 5GB |
| American Assistance | 3,009 | 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 Michigan, 35 companies did this, with 871 customers in all.
Not every company serves every part of Michigan. 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 Michigan
Phone companies claimed Lifeline for 399,305 subscribers in Michigan in May 2026, up 1.0% since May 2025 (USAC). That is the 3rd highest count among the 50 states and DC. Lifeline enrollment in every state.
Other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming