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Free government phone in New York

New York 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. New York 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 New York. The most customers were with Infiniti Mobile, TruConnect and Assurance Wireless.
Updated · Last checked . Confirm the current rules on the official New York Lifeline page before you apply.

Who qualifies in New York

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

Each household can get only one Lifeline benefit.

What to know in New York

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

How to apply in New York

In New York, 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 York

In May 2026, 14 companies gave Lifeline cell phone service in New York. These are the 8 with the most customers. The counts come from USAC, which runs Lifeline. They show who serves New York, not who is best.

CompanyLifeline customersFree plan data
Infiniti Mobile440,922
TruConnect117,537At least 4.5GB
Assurance Wireless62,32110GB
AirTalk Wireless62,0285GB
SafeLink Wireless49,833*Not stated
TAG Mobile37,239Up to 16GB
StandUp Wireless33,6875GB
Gen Mobile20,800

* 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 York, 48 companies did this, with 61,248 customers in all.

Not every company serves every part of New York. 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:

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 York

Phone companies claimed Lifeline for 896,150 subscribers in New York in May 2026, up 2.7% since May 2025 (USAC). That is the 2nd highest count among the 50 states and DC. Lifeline enrollment in every state.

Other states