Free Government phones in Ohio.   Many low-income consumers can benefit from the ACP and Lifeline phone programs.  Assurance Wireless, Airtalk Wireless, Qlink Wireless, and TrueConnect Wireless are some providers offering free government phones.  Like many communities throughout the United States, unemployed and low-income families struggle in this economic environment.

Find out which phone companies in Ohio offer free phone service & tables through the Affordable Connectivity Program, and how to qualify.

Let’s face it when you have to pay $6.00 for a carton of eggs that used to be $1.45, times are incredibly challenging. Paying $60 or $90 monthly for a phone plan is out of the question and not doable for many families.  

The Lifeline program offers free phone and minutes for qualified state residents. And ACP is available to provide free Internet or discounted services. Ohio first brought Assurance Wireless to the state and later Safelink Wireless. Now, Ohio is wide open to many free government provider programs. 

How to Qualify for Free Government Phones in Ohio

The Lifeline Program

You could be eligible for Lifeline assistance if you have a total household income of 135% of the U.S. federal poverty guidelines, even if you are working. There are many other ways to qualify for a free government phone in Ohio. If you participate in one or more government programs, you should be eligible for the Lifeline free phone program.

• Medicaid
• Tribal Head Start
• Veterans Pension and Survivor’s Benefit
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps or SNAP)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8)
• Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance (BIA)
• Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
• TriballyTemporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tribal TANF)

Household Size 150% of HHS Poverty Guidelines*

Size of Family Unit	48 Contiguous States and D.C.	Alaska	Hawaii
1	$14,580	18,210	$16,770
2	$19,720	$24,640	$22,680
3	$24,860	$31,070	$28,590
4	$30,000	$37,500	$34,500
5	$35,140	$43,930	$40,410
6	$40,280	$50,360	$46,320
7	$45,420	$56,790	$52,230
8	$50,560	$63,220	$58,140
For each additional person, add	$5,140	$6,430	$5,910

  Add $7,710 for each person.

Ohio Phone Providers that Offer Free Government Phones

Access Wireless

ACP & Lifeline Plan

• Unlimited Talk & Text
• Unlimited 15 GB High-Speed Data
• Hotspot Activity

ACP Only

• 1000 Minutes
• Unlimited Talk & Text
• Unlimited 10 GB High-Speed Data
• Hotspot Connectivity

Lifeline only

• 1000 Minutes Talk  
• Unlimited Texting
• 4.5 GB Data

AirTalk Wireless

LifeLine Plan

• The Lifeline plan offers
• Bring your Phone
• 1 SIM card
• 4.5 GB of Data
• 1,000 Mins talk
• Unlimited SMS
• Caller ID
• 3-Way Calling
• Voicemail

The Lifeline & ACP Combo

Cell Phones Include iPhone 7, iPhone 6 & Galaxy S8, etc.

The Plan Includes

• Caller ID
• Unlimited Talk
• Unlimited Messaging
• Call Waiting
• 3-Way Calling
• Voicemail
• Unlimited Talk
• 15 GD of Hight-Speed 4G Let/5G Data
• Update to 25 GB for $12 per year or 1 Month

American Assistance

• Free Smartphone and Free Monthly Plan
• Free Unlimited Data Talk & Text
• No Credit Check
• No Monthly Payments

Assurance Wireless

• Free Unlimited High-Speed Data
• Free Unlimited Talk & Text
• 10GB  Hotspot Data (4G LTE)
• Free Android@ Smartphone

EnTouch Wireless

Lifeline & ACP Plan

• Free 5.5 Phone
• 10 GB Data
• Unlimited Talk & Text

Lifeline Only Plan

• 100 MB Data
• 1000 Talk Minutes
• 500 Texts

i-Wireless

Lifeline and the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Plans

• Free Unlimited Talk & Text
• Unlimited Data
• Free Smartphone (or BYOP)
• 5GB Hotspot
• Free Long Distance

Life Wireless

Lifeline Plan

• Free Smartphone
• 500 Minutes
• Unlimited Text
• 4.5GB Data

ACP Plan

• Free Smartphone
• Unlimited Talk & Text

Q Link Wireless

Lifeline Plan

• Free SIM card
• 1000 Minutes Talk
• Unlimited Text
• 4.5GB data ACP Plan
• 1000 Minutes Talk
• Unlimited Text and Data

Lifeline & ACP Plan

• New tablet*
• Unlimited Talk, Text, & Data

*Free SIM card* (Subject to product availability and ten-dollar co-pay)

Safelink Wireless

Lifeline + ACP

• Free smartphone or BYOP
• Unlimited Talk & Text
• 350 Voice Minutes
• 25GB High-Speed Data
• Up to 5GB of Hotspot Connectivity
• Free SIM card
• 4.5GB data
• Calls to Canada and Mexico

ACP Plan

• Free SIM Card
• Unlimited Talk & Text
• Calls to Canada and Mexico
• 10GB data

StandUp Wireless

Basic Lifeline & ACP Plan

• Free Phone
• Unlimited Talk & Text
• 5.0GB High-Speed Data
• Unlimited Low-Speed Data

Best Lifeline & ACP Plan

• Free Phone
• Unlimited Talk & Text
• 10GB High-Speed Data
• Unlimited Low-Speed Data

What is the Affordable Connectivity Program?

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a Federal government program facilitated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program. This program is designed to help low-income households pay for internet services so they can use computers, tablets, and laptops at an affordable cost. Many communication companies such as Spectrum, Comcast, and others participate in this government. Contact your local cable company to determine if they receive SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, WIC, Pell Grant, or Free and Reduced-Price Lunch. Apply here.

If your family is eligible, you could receive the following:

1. $30/month or less discount on your internet service per household
2. $75/month or less value if your family is on qualifying Tribal lands, per household
3. A one-time maximum value of up to $100 for computers, etc., per household

How Do I Qualify for ACP Services

Qualifying for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) services is even easier. You are eligible for this benefit program if your gross family income is at or below 200% of the U.S. Government Poverty Guidelines. Or you participate 

• AT&T
• Comcast
• Comporium
• Cox
• Frontier
• IdeaTek
• Jackson Energy Authority
• Mediacom
• Spectrum (Charter Communications)
• Verizon (Fios only)
• Vermont Telephone Company