Free government phone in New Jersey

New Jersey 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.

Who qualifies in New Jersey

Under the federal rules, either one of these is enough:

• Someone in your household gets one of these benefits:
  • SNAP (food stamps)
  • Medicaid (part of NJ FamilyCare in New Jersey)
  • 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 New Jersey

• The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) page lists only the federal rules above.
• It sends residents to participating providers.
• Verizon New Jersey Lifeline customers are told to call NJ SHARES at 1-888-337-3339.
• Do not mix this up with New Jersey's separate 'Lifeline' credit. That one is energy assistance for seniors and disabled residents.

Check if you qualify with our quick tool, or read the full rules.

How to apply in New Jersey

In New Jersey, 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 New Jersey

In May 2026, 10 companies gave Lifeline cell phone service in New Jersey. These are the 8 with the most customers. The counts come from USAC, which runs Lifeline. They show who serves New Jersey, not who is best.

* 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 New Jersey, 3 companies did this, with 11,528 customers in all.

Not every company serves every part of New Jersey. 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 New Jersey

Phone companies claimed Lifeline for 120,465 subscribers in New Jersey in May 2026, down 9.7% since May 2025 (USAC). That is the 17th highest count among the 50 states and DC. Lifeline enrollment in every state.

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