Do You Qualify for a Safelink Wireless Phone?
Safelink Wireless is the largest and oldest provider of free government phones in existence today. With Safelink Wireless, you can obtain a free phone in addition to 350 minutes of talking time per month and unlimited text messaging. As an eligible participant, you can receive a phone with minutes free of charge.
If you are eligible to receive a free phone from Safelink Wireless, you will not be asked to pay activation, application, or monthly service fees whatsoever. In addition, you will not be subject to passing a credit check nor will you be asked to sign a contract under any circumstances.
How to Qualify for Safelink Wireless
To qualify to receive a free phone from Safelink Wireless, you must be eligible based on government program participation or income level.
To be eligible to get a free phone, you must participate in one of the following government programs: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/Food Stamps), Medicaid, Section 8, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), the National School Lunch’s Free School Lunch Program, or one of the many other assistance programs available in your state.
Eligibility based on income is provided to you if you earn below 135 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. To determine your eligibility, Safelink Wireless may compare your information to that of a national database. Conversely, you may be required to verify your household income in order to receive a free phone from Safelink Wireless.
What You Get with Safelink Wireless
When you sign up with Safelink Wireless for a free government phone, you will receive a basic phone and up to 350 free airtime minutes. For the first three months of service, you will get 500 airtime minutes, which include unlimited text messaging capabilities.
If you feel that you may go over the given talk time minutes, you are able to purchase additional minutes for use with the basic phone provided. Cards are available for purchase to extend the talk time minutes at stores like Wal-Mart, Target, CVS, and Dollar General. When referring friends to the Safelink Wireless program, current customers can receive additional airtime minutes free of charge.
If you qualify to receive a phone from Safelink Wireless, you will be able to choose from one of three service plans:
Plan 1 provides 68 free minutes that carryover every month, free international long distance calling, voicemail, caller ID, and call waiting. Signing up for this plan will allot you three texts for one minute of airtime.
Plan 2 provides 125 minutes of airtime, voicemail, call waiting, and caller ID. Under this plan, each text message is equivalent to one minute of airtime, minutes are able to be carried over every month, and excluded is international long distance calling.
Plan 3 offers 250 free airtime minutes that do not carry over, voicemail, caller ID, and call waiting. Under this plan, international long distance calling is excluded from coverage.
Where Safelink Offers Service
Safelink Wireless provides free cell phones and service to over 4 million people across the country and that number is consistently growing. Safelink Wireless offers services to 39 states along with Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. Among the states served are Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Arkansas, Florida, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Hawaii, Kentucky, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Nevada, New York, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Texas, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
The company is still expanding its services among other states, so the list of states covered is subject to change.
To learn for certain whether or not service is provided in your area, go to the Safelink Wireless website and enter in your zip code. If service is available in your area, you will be directed to the enrollment page of the website.
How to Apply for Safelink Wireless
If you are eligible to receive a free phone based on government program participation or income level, you can apply for a Safelink Wireless phone online. Navigate to the official website and fill out an online application. In the event that you are not computer savvy, you may contact the Safelink Wireless Customer Service Department at 1-800-723-3546. Enrollments and plan changes are handled by phone between Monday and Saturday from 8AM to 10PM EST.
If you wish to print out a paper application, one can be downloaded directly from Safelink Wireless’ website. You can return the application via fax at 1-866-902-5756 or by sending it through the mail to the following address:
Safelink Wireless, Inc.
PO Box 220009
Milwaukie, OR 97269-0009
When printing the paper application, you must select between the program and income applications available. Qualifying based on income requires you to send additional documentation supporting your income eligibility. The program application allows you to apply for a free phone based on your participation in a government funded program.
