Phone services play a crucial role in helping people to connect in this rapidly advancing technological age. Even though smartphones have become the primary means of communication, landlines still play a pivotal role in keeping seniors connected.
Unlike mobile phones, landlines use fiber cables or wires to transmit sound from one location to another, making them less prone to network outages. This is important, especially for seniors who might need to make calls in an emergency.
However, accessing landline phone services has become a challenge since most service providers do not provide them as standalone services. Instead, they lump up landline phone services with TV and Internet services. This drives up the cost making it unaffordable for many seniors.
AARP has partnered with a few service providers to offer these services at discounted or lower prices. If you want to know how to get AARP landline phone service for seniors, you’ve come to the right place.
What is AARP?
AARP stands for American Association of Retired Persons in full. This organization is tasked with uplifting the lives of older individuals by offering essential services in sectors such as health, education, communication, research, and many more.
It also plays a significant role in providing landline phone services to seniors. As mentioned above, AARP collaborates with service providers to offer landline phone service discounts to senior citizens. AARP also provides landline phones with modern features that can help seniors to continue communicating efficiently.
Who Can Join The AARP?
The AARP was instituted to benefit people who are 50 years and older. Once you join this organization, you can bring your spouse without incurring extra charges. However, people below the 50-year age limit can still join the organization but will receive fewer benefits compared to their 50+ counterparts.
All members are required to remit a $12-$16 fee annually to continue benefitting from the program. Many seniors find this fee to be very affordable for them.
How To Join The AARP?
It is straightforward to join this organization if you want to benefit from the AARP landline phone service for seniors and get access to their vast array of exemplary phones. Just follow the following procedure:
- Start from the membership section on AARP official website.
- Still in this section, select the ‘JOIN NOW’ option.
- After that, you should create your account. Here, you will be required to accurately fill out your details, for example, your name, email, and address. You will also have the option to fill in your spouse’s detail where applicable.
- Once you’ve created your account, you can choose the method you will use to pay and the payment terms. You can choose from three subscriptions: 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year. The longer the subscription period, the more you will be able to save from it. However, long subscriptions have high initial fees.
- Go through the terms and conditions of the organization and accept them.
- Submit your application so you can start reaping the benefits immediately.
The Best Providers of AARP Landline Phone Service For Seniors
Many service providers offer landline phone services to AARP members. Some offer lifeline discounts on their landline services while others provide voice-only packages which lowers the overall cost of the services for seniors. Below are the two major categories of landline service providers for seniors.
Lifeline Landline Service Providers for Seniors
The following companies provide landline phone services to AARP members who meet the eligibility criteria for the Lifeline program offered by the Federal Government.
1. Verizon
One of the best providers of AARP landline phone service for seniors is Verizon. This company offers a Lifeline discount to customers who are eligible for the Lifeline. The discount helps lighten seniors’ load when settling landline service bills monthly. Customers who reside in Tribal lands will not only get a lifeline discount but also receive help with installing the home phone service.
Verizon’s Home Phone Connect plan costs only $10.74 after you apply the Lifeline discount. This plan lets you enjoy unlimited minutes and long-distance domestic calls every month. The only other cost you will incur is a one-time $35 activation fee.
You can get a Verizon Lifeline discount for your landline bills if you live in any of these states: Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, Delaware, New York, and Maryland.
2. Century Link
Seniors can benefit from two assistance programs if they get landline phone services from CenturyLink: the Lifeline program offered by the Federal Government and the Telephone Assistance Program provided at the state level.
Customers who meet the prerequisite criteria for the Lifeline can get $9.25 knocked off their landline phone bill every month. If you reside in Tribal lands, you can get an even more significant Lifeline landline discount and free installation services.
3. AT&T
AT&T is one of the most popular telecommunication companies that still offers landline phone services to seniors who are members of the AARP. Customers enrolled in the Lifeline program can get a monthly discount of up to $9.25 to help them settle their phone bills.
Seniors citizens who live in Tribal lands that the Federal Government recognizes will get $25 more each month to serve as a discount for their landline bills. AT&T requires customers to renew their Lifeline yearly to continue receiving the monthly discount.
Residents of Ohio and Illinois may be eligible for installation assistance from AT&T. Additionally, residents of Michigan who are 65 years and above can get more discounts on their landline bills every month.
You can access the AT&T landline phone service for seniors if you are a resident of one of the following states: Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kentucky, Michigan, Kansas, Florida, Alabama, Illinois, South Carolina, Texas, Indiana, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana, Arkansas, Ohio, California, Nevada, and North Carolina.
Affordable AARP Landline Phone Service for Seniors
TV and internet services usually make landline phone services more expensive. However, there are many other places you can get affordable landline phone services if you don’t qualify for Lifeline. These service providers give you voice-only plans which are cheaper than other conventional plans. Below are some of them:
1. Spectrum
Spectrum has recently become a popular service provider among seniors because it doesn’t tie you down to any contracts and has no extra charges. This company has a voice-only package for landline phones for $14.99 monthly.
This package includes a call waiting feature, caller ID, unlimited long-distance calls, unlimited local calls, and 3-way calls. You can make long-distance calls to Canada, Mexico, the US, American Samoa, and Puerto Rico. If you decide to include extra services such as TV and Internet, you will be required to part with an extra $9.99.
2. Cox
Cox provides landline phone services at a reasonable price. Their superior audio quality and good customer support have increased demand for their services. The lowest voice-only plan costs $29.99 monthly. The voice-only plan comes with the following features:
- Voicemail
- Long-distance calling to countries such as Canada and Mexico
- Directory Listing
However, you may need to sign a 24-month contract before using their landline services. The upside is that you have a 30-day trial period where you can gauge the effectiveness of Cox’s services. If their services do not suit you, you can opt-out. Cox allows you to retain your current number or choose a new one.
3. Xfinity
Xfinity offers a variety of voice-only AARP landline phone service plans for seniors. The lowest costing plan, the Xfinity Voice Unlimited, goes for only $29.99. This plan offers unlimited calls all over the country and internationally. You will not have communication issues since the voice quality is always top-notch.
All Xfinity voice-only plans for seniors do not require you to sign any contract. They also come with a 1-year price guarantee and numerous calling features.
4. T-Mobile
T-Mobile is among the leading carriers that provide AARP landline phone service for seniors. You can choose one of the following plans that come at discounted prices:
- An essential unlimited plan that goes for $27
- A magenta unlimited plan going for $35
- A magenta plus unlimited plan going for $45
These discounted plans will enable you to save more than $30 every month when paying your landline phone service bills.
Best AARP Landline Phones for Seniors
Many devices have come up in recent times; however, Landline phones remain the preferred means of communication for many seniors. However, finding one with all the right features can be challenging. Below are some of the best AARP landline phones and the features that make them stand out.
1. Panasonic KX-TG7875S
The Panasonic KX-TG7875S is an impressive device in all its rights. First, it comes with five additional handsets, making it more convenient to operate. It also has a Bluetooth feature that enables you to connect a smartphone so you can answer calls or text directly on the smartphone.
This phone features a huge display and buttons, making it more suitable for seniors. It boasts an ultra-modern answering machine that informs you who is calling or has sent a message. Additionally, it comes with noise-reduction technology that enhances audio clarity. This is suitable for seniors who have hearing problems.
Aside from the features above, this gadget has a USB charging port to facilitate the recharging of this device in case its power runs out.
2. AT&T EL52313
This landline was tailored to suit the needs of seniors. The AT&T EL52313 comes with large buttons that are well-lit to ensure that you can use them efficiently during the day and at night. It also has five handsets that can be conveniently operated anywhere inside the house.
When it comes to functionality, nothing tops the AT&T EL52313. This is because it has keys that are soft to press and a reliable answering machine, making it easier for the visually impaired to operate it. Audibility is not an issue with this phone since its speakers are ultra-clear.
You also have an ‘any key answer’ that makes it simpler for seniors to answer calls in an emergency. The phonebook directory can also be accessed very quickly from the home screen.
3. Panasonic KX-TGDD532W
The Panasonic KX-TGGDD532W is the perfect device you can use to access the AARP landline phone service for seniors. This is due to its state-of-the-art answering machines with 1.6 inches of ultra-clear display, making picking calls simpler for seniors.
This gadget comes with two handsets, but you have the option to add six more if you don’t want to miss phone calls anymore. For more audio clarity, the Panasonic KX-TGDD532W comes with loudspeakers with an incredible noise cancellation feature.
If you’ve significantly lost your hearing ability, then this phone will suit you because it has a hearing aid compatibility feature. On top of that, you have message counters that save all the messages you missed and a caller ID feature identifying people calling you.
Some other worthy mentions include:
- AT&T CL4940 Corded Standard Phone
- VTech CS6419
- The Panasonic TGE433B
- AT&T L82407
- Panasonic KX-TGE233B
The Bottom Line
It is becoming increasingly necessary to have a reliable connection in this day and age where everything is digitized. However, the spiraling cost of smartphones and phone services poses a challenge for many seniors who don’t have the means to stay afloat.
That is where the AARP landline phone service for seniors comes in handy. It helps many seniors to continue communicating effectively without straining their pockets too much. There are many landline phone service providers in the country. Ensure you look up which ones are available in your state and send your application.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
You cannot get landline phone services absolutely free of charge. However, you can get a significant monthly discount on your telephone bill if you participate in the Lifeline program the Federal Government offers. Enrollment in government-aided programs such as SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid guarantees you a place in the Lifeline program.
Landline phone services cost approximately $40 per month. However, you can get service providers that offer voice-only services, which lowers the costs to roughly $30 per month.
Yes. A few companies offer standalone voice services, which come at a cheaper price when compared to all-inclusive services. Examples include Xfinity, CenturyLink, Cox, and Spectrum.
No, it is not. If you are 50 years or above and have all the documents verifying your age, joining AARP should be straightforward. However, you can still apply even if you haven’t attained the age of 50 years