Free government phone in Minnesota
Minnesota 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.
- Minnesota also has its own program, Telephone Assistance Plan (TAP): $7.00 a month on landline service (from a PUC brochure dated August 2018; current amount not confirmed).
- 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 Minnesota. The most customers were with Infiniti Mobile, AirTalk Wireless and TAG Mobile.
Who qualifies in Minnesota
Under the federal rules, either one of these is enough:
- Someone in your household gets one of these benefits:
- SNAP (food stamps)
- Medicaid (called Medical Assistance in Minnesota)
- 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 Minnesota
- The Telephone Assistance Plan (TAP) covers Minnesota households that qualify for federal Lifeline under the rules above.
- The service must be in the applicant's name. One discount per household.
- TAP applies only to landline service.
- Send your application and proof to your phone or broadband company. You must recertify every year.
- We could not open the telephone page of the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) at mn.gov/puc. A bot check blocked it.
Check if you qualify with our quick tool, or read the full rules.
Telephone Assistance Plan (TAP)
- TAP is a state discount for customers of approved landline companies.
- Minnesota Statutes 237.70 created it. A surcharge on each phone line pays for it.
- The PUC sets the credit amount.
- The PUC's 'Telephone Discounts' brochure (August 2018) lists the TAP discount as $7.00 a month, on top of a $9.25 federal Lifeline discount.
- Today a phone-only line, such as a basic landline, gets $5.25 a month from federal Lifeline. The $9.25 is now for internet or bundled service.
- One application covers both TAP and Lifeline.
Extra discount: $7.00 a month on landline service (from a PUC brochure dated August 2018; current amount not confirmed)
Official Telephone Assistance Plan (TAP) page
How to apply in Minnesota
In Minnesota, 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 Minnesota
In May 2026, 16 companies gave Lifeline cell phone service in Minnesota. These are the 8 with the most customers. The counts come from USAC, which runs Lifeline. They show who serves Minnesota, not who is best.
| Company | Lifeline customers | Free plan data |
|---|---|---|
| Infiniti Mobile | 17,806 | |
| AirTalk Wireless | 17,382 | 5GB |
| TAG Mobile | 7,748 | Up to 16GB |
| SafeLink Wireless | 7,020* | Not stated |
| Assurance Wireless | 6,753 | 10GB |
| StandUp Wireless | 4,117 | 5GB |
| TerraCom Wireless | 2,951 | |
| TruConnect | 2,577 | At least 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 Minnesota, 91 companies did this, with 6,480 customers in all.
Not every company serves every part of Minnesota. 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 Minnesota
Phone companies claimed Lifeline for 77,997 subscribers in Minnesota in May 2026, up 3.0% since May 2025 (USAC). That is the 29th highest count among the 50 states and DC. Lifeline enrollment in every state.
Other states
- Alabama
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