To those oblivious to what the Lifeline program is, it is a government assistance initiative. It was created to provide communication service to eligible households in the form of free phone or internet service.
The Lifeline benefit is meant to be enjoyed by a member of a household and is not limited to a carrier or company. Your first Lifeline choice doesn’t have to be your only or last option. As a result, Lifeline consumers can switch between providers if or when they feel dissatisfied with phone or customer service from their current providers, amongst other reasons.
Making the switch between Lifeline providers might sound tricky, but it isn’t, as we will demonstrate here. If you or a member of your household is in the Lifeline program with their current provider, Assurance Wireless, and desire to switch to QLink, then you are in the right place.
Follow The Steps For Switch From Assurance to QLink Wireless
Assurance Wireless and QLink are free or subsidized phone services for low-income households on a government assistance program. Owning either company’s phone or SIM card gives you access to free communication services such as texts, calls, or the internet. However, the fact that you are still reading this post indicates a desire to switch to QLink from Assurance Wireless, your existing service provider.
If you are dissatisfied with your current provider or have a preference for a new one, you can change to a different Lifeline provider because you aren’t bound to an annual contract. The only caveat is that you can only change your Lifeline provider if you have used your current provider’s service for at least sixty days.
- To switch, you should simply sign up with QLink as your new Lifeline provider. To go about this, you should contact Assurance Wireless, your current service provider, and mention your desire to change your Lifeline company to QLink. QLink will probably ask for proof of your participation in the Lifeline program before finalizing the process, but it shouldn’t be an issue since you already applied once and have relevant documents.
- The second approach is to file a formal complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). However, the response rate using this approach is slower compared to the former, which is mostly caused by bureaucracy in government and its institutions, such as the FCC.
- It is important to mention that you don’t need to cancel your service with Assurance Wireless before enrolling with QLink. This would ensure that there is no interruption in service during the switch.
You Can Transfer Your Assurance Wireless Lifeline Benefit to QLink
We already highlighted the approach you can use to switch from Assurance Wireless to QLink. Now, we will highlight the steps you should follow to have your Lifeline benefit transferred to QLink from Assurance Wireless.
After you show your interest in having your Lifeline benefit transferred, QLink, your new provider, will request relevant information to process your request. It include:
- Your full name.
- Your date of birth.
- The last four digits of your Social Security Number (SSN) or Tribal ID number.
- Your phone number.
- Your home address.
- A verbal or written consent acknowledging loss of benefit with the previous provider after the successful transfer. In addition, you will also provide consent, acknowledging that you understand that a household can only have one Lifeline benefit.
In some cases, existing customers may have to reapply before their Lifeline benefit can be transferred to a new company. So, you might need to be patient, but your service shouldn’t be disconnected during the period. If, for some reason, it does, you shouldn’t worry as it won’t be for long.
We mentioned a caveat earlier about how transfer is only possible after you have used your current provider’s service for at least 60 days for telephone service. Additional caveats include only making a transfer to a different company once every twelve months for internet access. This means that you can only request a transfer once every two months for phone service and once every two months for Lifeline internet service. However, under some conditions, you can transfer sooner, which we will highlight below.
You are permitted to transfer your Lifeline benefit faster if:
- You move to a new state or a new address.
- Your current provider no longer offers Lifeline service.
Assurance Wireless vs QLink
QLink appears to have coverage in more states in the United States, about 48 states compared to Assurance Wireless’s about 40 states. So, in terms of coverage, QLink appears to have an edge over Assurance Wireless.
In addition, the Q Link plan includes unlimited text, 1,000 minutes of talk, and 4.5 GB of data for customers eligible for the Lifeline Program. On the other hand, Assurance Wireless phones come with 350 free 350 minutes of talk time and 500 MB of free data. Considering this, it shouldn’t come as a surprise when Lifeline customers opt to transfer their benefits from Assurance Wireless to QLink.
Furthermore, both Assurance and QLink provide their wireless service through T-Mobile, which comes with 4G LTE and 5G.
Lastly, customers’ satisfaction with the company’s service varies, with some dissatisfaction about both companies’ customer service evident.
FAQ
If I switch from Assurance Wireless to QLink, Can I Keep My Old Number
Yes, you can because your number isn’t locked to Assurance Wireless. In addition, QLink allows you to keep your old number when you transfer to the provider.
If I switch from Assurance Wireless to QLink will I lose Lifeline Eligibility
The lifeline benefit is for eligible households, and they can choose to transfer if they are not satisfied with the current service they are receiving. So, no, you won’t, as long as you successfully transfer your Lifeline benefit from Assurance Wireless to QLink.
Are there any special conditions for switching from Assurance Wireless to QLink
Besides the conditions and requirements highlighted above, there aren’t any special conditions you have to meet before you can switch from Assurance Wireless to QLink. Following the steps identified above will guarantee you a successful transfer from Assurance Wireless to QLink.