Staying connected these days is perhaps more important than ever before. During the COVID-19 pandemic, people had to stay away from seniors for the longest time, as they were particularly susceptible to the novel coronavirus, which put them at an increased risk of getting seriously ill or dying. What if the elderly didn’t have phones? Then, they were simply left feeling isolated and alone.
Hence, that just goes to prove the point, and it is now more important to be connected to the outside world than ever before. After all, humans are social animals, and they need to interact with others. But what’s the best way for seniors to stay connected? That answer will vary, depending on who you ask, but when money is a concern, did you know that free landline phone service for seniors might be available? It’s true.
There are government landline phone programs that make this so. In other words, it is not a gimmick, fad, or scam, and you’ll be in good hands. Lifeline Assistance Programs are only available to one person per household. A Lifeline free landline phone service can be acquired from a participating provider. Those include:
- Verizon Landline Phone Service
- Skype Phone Service
- AT&T Phone Service
- Safelink Wireless Phone Service For Seniors
- Google Voice Landline
- CenturyLink Free Landline Phone Service
First things first, you’ll need to contact the provider of your choosing. Don’t just go into the decision blindly, though. Even if there are only a couple of providers in your particular area, research them to ensure you land with the one that’s going to give you the best experience. You’ll be happy you didn’t skip this step in the long run. Now, let’s look at the steps you’ll take after picking a provider.
How To Get Free Landline Phone Service For Seniors
1. Get An Application
Contact the provider you wish to do business with and request an application. They may mail it to you, or you might be able to pick it up at their office. It is also worth looking online at the company’s website. The document could be available there for you to print.
2. Fill In And Sign The Application
After the application is in your possession, it will then be time to fill in the blanks with your information. Be sure to pay attention and put the right data in the right field. You don’t want to have to collect another application to start over. Also, once everything is where it should be, apply your signature to the document in the correct location. If it asks for the date, check your phone, ask someone, or do whatever you need to do to print today’s month, day, and year.
3. Attach The Required Documents
To qualify for a free landline phone service for seniors, a person must be actively participating in a federal government assistance program. Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) are three such programs, but there are others where they come from, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Food Stamps.
You will need to show proof of what program you are a part of and attach it to the application. Aside from that, it will also be necessary to show proof of income via check stubs, tax returns, or other means. Then, that must be attached to the file too.
4. Wait For Approval
If you’re approved for a free landline phone, you’ll be notified, and a technician or representative should contact you to schedule an appointment. However, if not, you might receive something in the mail telling you that you qualify. It should also come with directions on how to proceed with the process. Follow them to obtain your new landline.
It is important to note that Lifeline Assistance Programs vary from state to state. Therefore, what’s available to Sam in North Dakota might not be available to Sally in Florida and so on. So, get online and apply for services through the Lifeline National Verifier. That will ensure the application process goes swimmingly and connect you with companies that provide landlines in your area.
Before closing this section, there is one more thought to touch on. Did you know that Lifeline Assistance Programs have actually been helping people since 1985? It’s true. Then, in 2016, The Federal Communications Commission revised and modernized things. Thus, now clients are allotted various amounts of minutes to talk, and in some instances, they can even get discounts on broadband service.
Discounts On Top Options
Sometimes, the cost of a phone with a Lifeline plan isn’t free. However, people often receive discounts that make services low-cost and budget-friendly. Hence, let’s review the providers mentioned above to help you gain an understanding of how much you may need to spend on a landline. But that’s only if free isn’t available because having a way to contact the outside world without having to pay for it is certainly the better choice.
1. Verizon Landline Phone Service
Are you searching for the absolute cheapest landline service? If that’s the case, look no further than Verizon’s Home Connect Plan. To get things started, consumers must pay one-time activation fees of $35. Then, a plan with unlimited minutes will run people $10.74 each month. Almost eleven dollars isn’t free, obviously, but according to the research, this is the closest thing to it when it comes to a government landline phone.
2. Xfinity Voice Unlimited
Meanwhile, Xfinity is an excellent option too. The company offers a number of different stand-alone home service plans catered to seniors. However, research suggests the cheapest of the programs is Xfinity Voice Unlimited. It is $29.99 a month after the Lifeline discount but comes with loads of bells and whistles. Some of the top features seniors get with this plan include calling features, unlimited nationwide, and crystal-clear voice service.
3. CenturyLink Basic Home Phone Plan
CenturyLink is another home service provider worth considering with its Basic Home Phone Plan at only $23.34 per month. But there is a catch. Consumers get a reliable and precise connection with it, but it’s only for local calls. Also, features such as Caller ID, Voicemail, and Call waiting don’t come with the service. Therefore, if someone is planning on making long-distance calls or wants the latest features, they’ll need to upgrade to the Unlimited Home Phone Plan. And as you might’ve guessed, it costs more money.
4. Cox Voice Premier
A different provider besides the ones mentioned above could also be in your area. So, don’t fret if you can’t get a landline from Verizon, AT&T, or another known commodity. There may very well be another reputable company nearby that can give you the phone that you need. If you’re still looking for the perfect low-cost landline provider, maybe this name will do the trick. Cox Voice Premier has landline phone services for seniors, which start at $29.99 per month. What does a person get for that monthly fee? The phone line comes with up to 14 calling features and unlimited long-distance calls within the United States. Seniors can also call Canada, and they have access to voicemail to get messages and return calls.
5. Spectrum Voice Package
Last but certainly not least is Spectrum. The Spectrum Voice Package has local unlimited and long-distance calls, among other things. People can make calls within the U.S., Canada, Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. As a landline-only plan, customers pay $29.99 per month. However, people can also save some cash by bundling with other Spectrum services. Then, they will only pay $9.99 monthly for the Spectrum Voice Package. This is a company and product that are definitely worth looking into.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of what a free landline phone service for seniors is and how to acquire one. And what about the benefits of owning such a landline? You should understand those perks presently too. And it’s even alright if you can’t get a no-cost home phone service, as we have provided you with low-cost alternatives. So, what are you waiting for? Start researching and find the best landline phone provider for your particular situation. Then, get the line installed and ensure you can talk to anyone at any time.
People Also Asked
There are free landline services for seniors, but one won’t just land in a person’s lap. Instead, an interested party must fill out an application for a Lifeline Assistance Program. Additionally, they must include the correct documentation to show they qualify for the plan. Then, if approved, the applicant will receive a free government landline phone.
To be eligible for a free landline, a person must receive assistance from the federal government. Programs that qualify people include SNAP, SSI, etc., but it is always a good idea to look at the requirements before applying. That way, if anything changes and your particular program isn’t covered, you’ll know about it and not waste your time filling out the application.
Inflation seems to be out of control, and consumers, including seniors, feel the crunch daily. Therefore, it’s no wonder people want to know what the cheapest landline service is if they can’t get one for free. They simply can’t afford another high-dollar bill. Verizon Landline Home Phone Service is by far the cheapest. With it, people get unlimited minutes for a one-time activation fee of $35 and $10.74 per month.