My friend Alex is a low-income person and needs a free phone. I suggest him to apply for the Lifeline program. Lifeline is a government initiative that offers discounts on phone service with free internet to eligible low income people. Alex applies for the program and gets approved. Now he needs a provider to get the free phone and other benefits. I told him to contact Access Wireless, because I have used their service and know that their network coverage is excellent. Now, Alex has a nice phone that he got for absolutely free from Access Wireless and we talk to each other on our cell phones for hours, seamlessly.
If you are a low income person and want to get a free phone with free internet, then you can apply to the Government lifeline program and may choose Access Wireless as your preferred provider.
Steps To Get Access Wireless Free Government Phone Through The Lifeline Program
Access wireless generally offers free phones with free internet under the Government lifeline program. But you may have the option to bring your own phone also. (Please Remember: A new free phone may not be offered by all states) .To get a free phone/ Bring your own phone to Access Wireless, follow these steps.
- Enroll Lifeline Program
- Prepare your eligibility documents
- Visit Access wireless physical store or visit their official website
- Submit your application & Wait for approval
The Application Process For Access Wireless Free Government Phone
- Go to : “www.accesswireless.com“
- On the homepage , you will find Apply Now Button.Click on it. Then enter your Zip Code and tap ‘Apply Now’.
- Now Choose a Plan.
- Now the option comes: Bring my own phone/ I need a phone.
- If you bring your own phone and need only a SIM card, then please choose: ‘Bring My Own Phone’ Option. If you need a new phone and a SIM then choose: No, I need a phone.( Please note: new phone offerings may vary by different states).
- Now enter your email address.
- Now re-enter the email address.
- Click on the ‘Go To Enrollment’ option.
- Follow the onscreen instructions. Thus complete the application process.
If you are already enrolled in the Government lifeline program, then follow the above mentioned process to apply for a free phone from Access Wireless.
But if you are not a lifeline beneficiary, then what should you do to get a free phone? You have to be enrolled in the lifeline program first , then apply for the phone.
To be enrolled in the Government Lifeline Program, first check your eligibility and submit eligibility proof documents. Then apply and enroll in the Lifeline and get a free phone from Access Wireless.
The process is in short described here .
Eligibility for the LifeLine Program
You are eligible for the program by your income or by participation in some government program.
If your Annual income is at or below 135% of the federal poverty guideline, then you are eligible for the Lifeline Program.
If you participate in a Government Program, such as SNAP, , Medicaid, SSI , etc, then you are also eligible for the lifeline Program.
To know details of the eligibility, please visit: “www.lifelinesupport.org/do-i-qualify” .
If you are eligible , you have to submit proof documents of your eligibility. You need to submit income, identity, address, and program participation proof, etc.
To know detail of the required documents, please visit: “www.lifelinesupport.org/documents-needed“.
Enroll In The Lifeline Program
To enroll in the Government Lifeline Program, you can apply via Access Wireless, via Lifeline official website, or via mail. In the following section I describe how you may apply for the Lifeline Program.
Apply Via Access Wireless:
- Go to : “www.accesswireless.com“
- On the homepage enter your Zip code and tap ‘Apply Now’.
- Now Choose a Plan.
- Now follow the onscreen instructions to complete the application process.
Apply Online ( Via Lifeline’s Official Webpage)
- Visit lifeline official application page at: “getinternet.gov/apply“
- On the homepage, please select your state or territory.
- Click on “get started.”
- Then the main online application form will be opened.
- Now, fill up the form with your personal information , like Your legal name, date of birth, social security number, contact and home address, etc.
- Upload the necessary eligibility and identity documents.
- Follow on-screen instructions to complete the application process.
Apply Via Mail
- Download lifeline paper application form from this url: “lifelinesupport.org/get-started” .
- Take print out of the form and fill up the form with authentic and required information that is asked for.
- Now attach the required documents’ photocopies with the application and send it to: “Lifeline Support Center, PO Box 1000, Horseheads, NY 14845“
Process To Check The Status Of Access Wireless Free Government Phone Application
You can learn your application’s Status instantly by following these steps:
- Visit Access Wireless Website at: “www.accesswireless.com” .
- Now, click on the My Account tab.
- Log in to your account with your phone number and passcode.
- After logging in, go to the ‘Application Status Check ‘ section and you can see your application’s status there. The status can be pending, approved, or rejected.
Types Of Free Phones That You Can Get From Access Wireless After Your Application Is Approved
Which phone brand and model you get from Access Wireless is uncertain. It depends on their phone availability, distributional state, and some other factors. Here are some possible brands and models you may get from Access Wireless.
- Nokia 225 4G
- NUU A11L
- BLU C5L
- Samsung Galaxy A12
- Motorola G7 Play. etc.
The Way To Activate Your Access Wireless Government Phone And SIM
You can activate your phone and SIM in the following way.
- Insert the SIM card into your phone.
- Turn on the phone.
- Enter your SIM card PIN code which is a four-digit code provided with the SIM card.
- Enter your phone number that is associated with your SIM card account.
- Now, enter your activation code which is unique and provided by your cell phone carrier. You can find the activation code on the packaging that came with your SIM card . But it can also be found on your carrier’s website.
- Now, review and accept the terms and conditions of service.
- Tap on “Activate” or “Submit.”
- Wait for your phone to be activated. This may take a few minutes.
Once your phone is activated, you will be able to make and receive calls, send and receive text messages, and use the data services.
Types Of Plans And Services Offered By Access Wireless
Access Wireless offers some Lifeline plans for various states. Some states may offer a free Phone with a certain amount of data and a certain amount of minutes. Some states may not offer free phones but allow more data and minutes. It varies from state to state. For your consideration, Here I mention a Basic plan for most of the states. You may see slight changes in this plan for various states.
Lifeline Plan:
- 1000 minutes.
- Unlimited text.
- 4.5 GB data.
The Limitations On Using The Free Government Phone From Access Wireless
There are some limitations on the use of Lifeline benefits and Access Wireless free phones. These are:
- Only one monthly service discount and one time only device discount is given to a household.
- Lifeline benefits are non transferable. That means you cannot transfer your ownership of the device to another person, though he/she is eligible for the Lifeline program.
- The address you provide for your phone service must be your place of residence.
- Your provided information in your application and other documents should be authentic. And if you provide wrong and unauthentic information willingly to get the benefits, then you will be punished. You even can be imprisoned , or barred from the program.
- In the Lifeline program , you may choose a phone brand and model. But there is no guarantee that you get the same brand and model.
- You must use your service at least once a month. If you don’t do so your Lifeline Benefits will be dismissed.
- You must notify Access Wireless within 30 days if you are no longer qualified for the program, or if you change your address.
- You must recertify for the Lifeline program every year.
- Any violation of rules for the Lifeline program will result in your de-enrollment from the program.
FAQs
Can I get the Access Wireless free phone for completely free?
Yes, you can get the Access Wireless free phone for completely free of cost.
What is the coverage area of Access Wireless and the quality of their network?
Access Wireless covers most of the states of our country . You can visit their website and there you get the map of the coverage area. Access offers the latest 4G/LTE, 5G technology and seamless service nationwide.
How long does it take to receive an Access Wireless free phone after applying?
After you have approved for the free phone from Access Wireless, you will receive your free phone within 7 to 10 business days via mail. You will get a shipping notification with tracking information once your phone has been shipped. But if you do not get the phone within 10 business days, then you can contact Access Wireless customer support at 1-888-900-5899 .
What if I have more questions about the Access Wireless free phone?
If you have more questions about the Access Wireless Free phone , you can contact the customer care at:
- New Customers: 1-888-900-5899
- Existing Customers: 1-866-594-3644
Customer Care Hours of Operation:
- Mon – Sat: 10am – Midnight EST
- Sunday: 10am – 7pm EST
Can I upgrade my phone that I get from Access Wireless under the Lifeline Program?
Yes, you can upgrade your phone that you get from Access Wireless under the lifeline program. For that, please contact the customer care at: 1-888-900-5899 . The customer care agent will be able to determine if you get an upgraded phone.
If you want to upgrade to a phone that is more expensive than your current phone, then you may need to pay the difference in price.