AirTalk Wireless has one of the most appealing free government phone programs in the United States. It targets low-income families that qualify for Lifeline Assistance and Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).
Therefore, if you have no other way to get a phone, applying for a free one from AirTalk Wireless is the best option. But how do you get an AirTalk Wireless free government phone? This article provides you with all you need to know to make that possible.
Qualification for AirTalk Wireless Free Government Phone
To get AirTalk Wireless free phone, you must meet the eligibility requirements for Lifeline Assistance. Lifeline Assistance and ACP are pathways through which you can get an AirTalk Wireless free government phone.
Besides the free phone, you’ll get a discount on your monthly phone service bills. But you must meet the Lifeline eligibility criteria determined by the Federal Communications Criteria (FCC). The following are how you qualify for a free government phone from AirTalk:
1. Low-Income Status
One of the ways you can qualify for a free government phone is if your income is 135% below the prevailing Federal Poverty guidelines. The government may occasionally revise the guidelines, so you should keep abreast of the changes.
The following are the poverty guidelines for different states and territories in the United States:
2022 Poverty Guidelines for 48 States and the District of Columbia
| No. of persons in a family or household | Poverty guideline |
|---|---|
| 1 | $13,590 |
| 2 | $18,310 |
| 3 | $23,030 |
| 4 | $27,750 |
| 5 | $32,470 |
| 6 | $37,190 |
| 7 | $41,910 |
| 8 | $46,630 |
According to the poverty guidelines, single-person households qualify for a free phone if their income falls below $13,590*1.35, which is at most $18,346.50. A two-member household should have an income of up to $18,310*1.35 or $24,718.50.
2022 Poverty Guidelines for Alaska
| No. of persons in a family or household | Poverty guideline |
|---|---|
| 1 | $16,990 |
| 2 | $22,890 |
| 3 | $28,790 |
| 4 | $34,690 |
| 5 | $40,590 |
| 6 | $46,490 |
| 7 | $52,390 |
| 8 | $58,290 |
For the residents of Alaska, a one-person household qualifies for a free government phone with an income below $16,990*1.35 or $22,936.50. For a three-member household, the income limit is $28,790*1.35 or $38,866.50. For each additional person, the income increases by $7,965.
2022 Poverty Guidelines for Hawaii
| No. of persons in a family or household | Poverty guideline |
|---|---|
| 1 | $15,630 |
| 2 | $21,060 |
| 3 | $26,490 |
| 4 | $31,920 |
| 5 | $37,350 |
| 6 | $42,780 |
| 7 | $48,210 |
| 8 | $53,640 |
Hawaii residents can get a free phone with an income of at least $15,630*1.35 or $21,100.50. A two-member household should have an income of at most $28,431. Each additional member pushes the household income up by 7,330.50.
2. Benefit from Government Assistance
A government assistance program can also qualify you for a free phone through Lifeline Assistance and ACP. At least one family member should participate in one of the following programs:
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
- Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Special Supplemental Nutrition Program (for ACP only)
- Free or Reduced-Price School Breakfast Program or Lunch Program (for ACP only)
- Pell Grant Award for the previous year (ACP only)
3. Benefit from Government Assistance on Federal Lands
Besides government assistance programs targeting the general population, other initiatives target residents of Tribal Lands. So, if you live on Tribal Lands and benefit from these programs, you can get a free phone. The following are some of the Tribal Lands related programs:
- Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tribal TANF)
- Tribal Head Start
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
Besides the criteria outlined above, you can only apply for an AirTalk-free phone if you are 18 years or older or an emancipated minor. You must also reside in a state with AirTalk services. The following are the states where you can apply for a free government phone from AirTalk:
- Michigan
- Oklahoma
- Ohio
- Mississippi
- Wisconsin
- New York
- South Carolina
- Kentucky
- California
- Pennsylvania
How to Apply for an AirTalk Wireless Free Government Phone
AirTalk Wireless won’t give you a free government phone without you applying for it. Besides ascertaining that you meet the eligibility criteria, you should submit an application online or in-store. The following is an outline of the steps you must take to apply for an AirTalk Wireless free government phone:
Step 1: Ascertain Your Eligibility
As a first step, you must check that you meet the Lifeline Assistance or ACP eligibility criteria. So, you should earn below 135% of Federal Government Poverty Guidelines or benefit from a government assistance program.
You can check for eligibility from the National Verifier (NV), operated by the Universal Service Administration Company (USAC). Once you have entered the necessary information on the National Verifier website and pressed Search, you should be able to know if you qualify.
Step 2: Apply for a Free Phone from AirTalk Wireless
If you’re sure you qualify for a free government phone, why don’t you go ahead and apply for it? You can submit your application in any of the following ways:
Online Application
Apply by visiting AirTalk wireless. Enter your ZIP code to check if the phone service is available in your area. If so, the website shall display the page for Lifeline Assistance in your state. You can select a phone service plan that works for you.
Click Apply Now to view the AirTalk Wireless Lifeline application form. Fill out the form by entering all the necessary information. Take your time to complete the form and attach the relevant documents.
Application Via Mail
Alternatively, you can print out the form, fill it out, and attach copies of documents proving your identity and eligibility. Then send the application to the following address:
- 9920 Brooklet Drive,
- Houston,
- Texas,
- 77099
Step 3: Attach Relevant Documents
As part of your application, you must attach documents proving your identity and eligibility for Lifeline Assistance and ACP. The documents you attach should be unexpired and authentic. The following are the various categories of documents you should attach to your application for an AirTalk Wireless free government phone:
Proof-of-Identification Documents
To prove that it’s you making the application and not anyone else, you must submit one of the following documents:
- U.S. Passport
- Driver’s License
- Birth Certificate
- Certificate of Naturalization
- Foreign Passport
- U.S Government, State, Military, or Tribal-Issued ID
- Social Security Number
Proof-of-Address Documents
You must provide your address when applying for a free government phone from AirTalk. The network carrier utilizes this address for correspondence with you. You must also prove your address by submitting the following documents:
- Current Utility Bill
- Driver’s License
- Current Lease or Mortgage Statement
- Current Income Statement, W2, or Paycheck Stub
- Federal, State, or Tribal-Issued ID
Proof of Low-Income Documents
If you qualify for an AirTalk Wireless government-free phone courtesy of having a low income, you must provide documentation. The following are some of the documents you must submit:
- The previous year’s federal, state, or tribal tax returns
- Social security statement of benefit
- Current employer’s income statement or paycheck stub
- Worker’s compensation statement of benefits
- Veterans Administration statement of benefits
- Divorce decree or child support ID
- Pension or retirement statement of benefit
Proof of Participation in Government Assistance
If you participate in a government assistance program, you should inform AirTalk Wireless about it by providing the necessary documentation. The following are some of the documents you must provide:
- Previous or current year’s statement for an eligible federal, state, or Tribal program
- Letter of participation in a federal, state, or Tribal program
- Documents providing evidence of participation in a federal, state, or Tribal program
- Any other document with your full name, program name, and the name of the issuing federal, state, or Tribal entity
Besides the documents above, emancipated minors must provide documents proving the same. That may include a certificate of emancipation or a court document. Additionally, the details on the proof-of-address documents should match those on your application.
Avoid attaching original documents since you might need them later in the future. For online applications, take pictures of the documents and send them together with the application. If you opt for a mail-in application, make photocopies of the documents.
Step 4: Wait for Approval and Delivery of Phone
You must wait for some time for AirTalk to approve your application. Once that happens, you’ll receive an email. Alternatively, you can check the approval status by calling +1-855-924-7825 or going to AirTalk wireless check status page.
AirTalk gives you the right to choose the phone to give you. Expect to get the phone via mail after a few days or weeks. So, don’t be in a hurry! Once you get the phone, choose an AirTalk plan and activate it.
Best AirTalk Wireless Free Government Phones
AirTalk has a wide variety of smartphones for those qualifying for a free device via Lifeline Assistance. Its devices are from reputable brands like Apple and Samsung. With AirTalk, you can choose the most appropriate device.
A good example is the iPhone 8, which will receive an upgrade of up to iOS 16. You also get extended support from Apple. If you prefer an Android phone, then choose the Samsung Galaxy S9. The following are some of the phones you can get:
| Phone Make | Phone Model |
|---|---|
| Alcatel | Alcatel Go Flip 4 |
| Apple | Apple iPhone 6, Apple iPhone 6-Plus, Apple iPhone 6s, Apple iPhone 6s-Plus, Apple iPhone 7, Apple iPhone 7-Plus, Apple iPhone 8, Apple iPhone SE |
| Coolpad | Coolpad Belleza |
| Google Pixel, Google Pixel XL, Google Pixel 2, Google Pixel 2 XL, Google Pixel 3, Google Pixel 3 XL, Google Pixel 3A, Google Pixel 3A XL, Google Pixel 4, Google Pixel 4 XL | |
| LG | LG Aristo 4-Plus, LG G7 ThinQ, LG G8 ThinQ, LG K10LG K51, LG Stylo 5, LG Stylo 6, LG Tribute Empire, LG V40 ThinQ, LG V50 ThinQ 5G |
| Motorola | Motorola E4, Motorola G Fast, Motorola G Play, Motorola G Stylus, Motorola Moto G7, Motorola Moto G7 Play, Motorola Moto G7 Power, Motorola Moto G8 Power, Motorola Z2, Motorola Z3 Play, Motorola Z4 |
| OnePlus | OnePlus 6, OnePlus 6T, OnePlus 7T, OnePlus N10 Nord 5G, OnePlus N100 Nord, OnePlus N200 Nord 5G |
| Samsung | Samsung A10E, Samsung Galaxy A01, Samsung Galaxy A11, Samsung Galaxy A20, Samsung Galaxy A20S, Samsung Galaxy A21, Samsung Galaxy A32, Samsung Galaxy A50, Samsung Galaxy J3, Samsung Galaxy J7, Samsung Galaxy On5, Samsung Galaxy S6, Samsung Galaxy S7, Samsung Galaxy S8, Samsung Galaxy S9, Samsung Note 8, Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, Samsung Galaxy S9 |
| Unimax | Unimax U693CL, Unimax U696CL |
| Wiko | Wiko U307, Wiko U316 |
Benefits of AirTalk Wireless Lifeline Assistance
Besides an AirTalk Wireless free government phone, you can enjoy additional benefits, including the following:
- Free talk
- Free texts
- Free high-speed data
- Voicemail, call waiting, caller ID, and 3-way calling
Additional Restrictions for an AirTalk Wireless Government Free Phone
There are several restrictions that anyone applying for an AirTalk free government phone must observe. They apply to all Lifeline Assistance/ACP applicants and include the following:
- You cannot and shouldn’t transfer the Lifeline/ACP benefit to anyone in or outside your household
- Each low-income household gets only one discount
- You must meet the eligibility requirements to enroll in the Lifeline/ACP
- No household may receive the ACP/Lifeline benefit from only one provider
- Only households that continuously use the ACP/Lifeline benefit at least once a month can keep receiving it
- Each benefiting household must renew their ACP/Lifeline benefit annually to continue getting it
How to Handle a Faulty or Malfunctioning AirTalk Free Government Phone
All the devices you get from AirTalk Wireless come with a 15-day warranty. So, if your phone malfunctions within the warranty period, call AirTalk Wireless customer service agents at +1-855-924-7825. You’d get a replacement phone if you weren’t the cause of your device’s malfunction. Sometimes, the network provider issues a replacement phone outside the warranty period, but you shouldn’t depend on it. Depending on the manufacturer, some phones may come with a one-year warranty.
The Bottom Line
You can get an AirTalk free government phone through Lifeline Assistance or the ACP program. In that case, you must meet the eligibility criteria for the two programs. The application process is straightforward.
As you hand in your application, attach various documents proving your identity, address, income, and participation in a federal, state, and Tribal assistance program. AirTalk has a variety of phones from major manufacturers. It allows you to choose a device you like.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
After getting approved for an AirTalk Wireless free government phone, you will have to wait for seven to ten business days to receive your device in the mail. So, don’t be in a hurry!
You can check your application status by going to the AirTalk website check status page. Once there, enter your ZIP code and email address. The page displays information such as application status. You will know if you need to supply an additional document.
You can switch to AirTalk Wireless from another network provider and enjoy a free device and unlimited monthly phone service. Switch the service by going to the AirTalk website.