Free government phone in Mississippi
Mississippi 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. Mississippi 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, 14 companies gave Lifeline cell phone service in Mississippi. The most customers were with AirTalk Wireless, TAG Mobile and SafeLink Wireless.
Who qualifies in Mississippi
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 Mississippi
- Mississippi has no state Lifeline add-on.
- The Lifeline page of the Mississippi Public Service Commission (PSC) describes only the federal rules. That means a discount of up to $9.25 a month, the 135% income limit and the federal program list.
- Mississippi was in the first National Verifier group, in June 2018. That is the federal system that checks who qualifies.
- It checks SNAP, Medicaid, public housing and the Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit automatically.
- The PSC says to apply online through the National Verifier, by mail, or with help from your phone or internet company.
- The Mississippi Public Utilities Staff publishes the state's list of eligible telecommunications carriers (the companies approved to offer Lifeline). It includes wireless Lifeline carriers.
- PSC general number: 601-961-5434.
Check if you qualify with our quick tool, or read the full rules.
How to apply in Mississippi
In Mississippi, 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 Mississippi
In May 2026, 14 companies gave Lifeline cell phone service in Mississippi. These are the 8 with the most customers. The counts come from USAC, which runs Lifeline. They show who serves Mississippi, not who is best.
| Company | Lifeline customers | Free plan data |
|---|---|---|
| AirTalk Wireless | 29,936 | 5GB |
| TAG Mobile | 12,166 | Up to 16GB |
| SafeLink Wireless | 10,590* | Not stated |
| TruConnect | 9,644 | At least 4.5GB |
| Assurance Wireless | 6,811 | 10GB |
| Gen Mobile | 6,271 | |
| StandUp Wireless | 3,947 | 5GB |
| TerraCom Wireless | 3,381 |
* 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 Mississippi, 31 companies did this, with 1,096 customers in all.
Not every company serves every part of Mississippi. 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 Mississippi
Phone companies claimed Lifeline for 87,238 subscribers in Mississippi in May 2026, up 13.7% since May 2025 (USAC). That is the 25th 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
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- 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