Find out if you qualify for a free cell phone in Oklahoma!

Find out if you qualify for a free cell phone in Oklahoma! Under federal law, the FCC gives low income households with children under the age of 18 the right to receive one free cell phone and free minutes every month through its Lifeline program. Oklahoma residents may be eligible to receive these benefits, regardless of income level or family situation, but you should be prepared to provide documentation as required by the state in order to ensure you’re qualified for this program. Read on to learn more about what documentation you need and how to go about obtaining it!

Who offers the program?

You are eligible to enroll in free mobile phone program Oklahoma Assistance if you meet the following requirements: Your household income is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines; You participate in one or more of the following programs:

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly Food Stamps)
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
• Medicaid and CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program)

What are the requirements?

In order to qualify for the Lifeline program and get your free monthly minutes, text messages and data, all you have to do is meet one of the following requirements:

• You are receiving benefits from any of these programs: Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, or National School Lunch Program’s Free Lunch Program.
• You participate in any public assistance programs.
• Your income is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

How do I apply?

To be eligible to receive the Lifeline Assistance Program, the applicant must meet one of the following requirements: they are currently receiving Supplemental Security Income; they participate in any federal, state or local public assistance programs (i.e., Temporary Assistance to Needy Families); they participate in any federal, state or local veterans’ programs; they participate in any federal, state or local supplemental nutrition assistance program (i.e., Food Stamps); or their income is at or below 135% of the current poverty level guidelines. To apply for Lifeline Assistance and determine your eligibility, please visit our website and complete an application form.

What type of phone will I get?

Depending on your income and the company, you can get an old-fashioned flip phone or a high-tech smartphone. You’ll be able to choose from prepaid or postpaid plans. Prepaid plans let you pay as you go, but they’re often more expensive than postpaid monthly plans. Postpaid monthly plans usually come with early cancellation fees, so make sure that’s something you’re okay with before signing up.

How many minutes/texts/data am I allowed?

That all depends on which program you choose. There are two different programs available: Lifeline and Link-Up. If you’re over 65 years old, have an income under 135% of the federal poverty guidelines, or participate in other qualifying assistance programs, then low income cell phone service Oklahoma is likely your best choice. You’ll get 250 minutes of talk time per month with no time limit on how long your calls can last and 100 text messages with no limit on how many texts can be sent each month. If that’s not enough to meet your needs, it also includes data access at speeds of up to 144 kbps (fast enough to download email attachments). The only downside is that these minutes will expire after six months and won’t roll over to the next month.

Are there any other benefits?

This is not your typical government program. A lot of people want to know what the catch is with these programs but the answer is simple: there isn’t one. You can get up to three lines per household, and phones are provided by Trachoma Wireless. There are no contracts and no credit checks, so this program can really help someone who needs it.

What happens if I lose my phone?

What happens to my account? In the event that you lose your phone or have it stolen, your account will remain active and all of your minutes will be transferred to your new device. This is called portability. If portability is not activated, the balance of minutes on the lost or stolen device will be forfeited. The plan associated with the lost or stolen phone will be deactivated and any outstanding balances owed (e.g., overages) will need to be paid before another device can be activated with this plan. What happens to my number? Your number remains active and any call history from your lost or stolen phone will appear on the new device’s call history log when it is activated.

How often can I renew?

You can renew your eligibility every 6 months. You’ll be notified when it’s time to renew your eligibility, or you can log in and check the status of your eligibility. If you’re not eligible anymore, we’ll notify you by email and let you know when it expires.