Are you looking to get Free Phones for Seniors in California? Your search ends here.
There are nearly 5 million people in California who are living their life below the poverty level, and due to this, they lack many opportunities, which badly affect their living standards.
So, to aid them, the government has initiated a program to offer smartphones to seniors without charging a single penny.
In this article, we have covered a detailed guide on how to get free phones for seniors in California for free, eligibility criteria, and more.
So, let’s delve right into it to learn more –
How to Get Free Phones for Seniors in California
The Federal Communications Commission ( FCC) initiated a government assistance program in 1985 called Lifeline Assistance, which helps low-income households and seniors.
Seniors can effortlessly apply for the program as the application process for Lifeline is quite easy, but they must complete the eligibility criteria.
If you are a senior in California and want to get a phone without any charge, then you must participate in any social program the government provides.
How is one eligible for the California Lifeline Program?
To get a free phone in California, you first must be eligible for the Lifeline program. You can get eligible for the Lifeline program in three ways, and these are –
Program-Based Eligibility
You are qualified if you and any of your family members take part in the public assistance programs mentioned below –
- Tribal TANF
- Medicaid
- Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC)
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Head Start Income Eligible (Only for Tribes)
Income-Based Eligibility
Your household’s annual income must be at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Income Level.
Disability Eligibility
The Lifeline has made the qualifying process very easy for the disabled, and they can easily become eligible for free smartphones from the government. At the time of submission, they must show proof of their disability.
Who Qualifies for Free Phones in California
You must pass the eligibility criteria to qualify for the Free Phones in California.
- You should be above 18 to qualify for free phones in California.
- You should be a legal resident of California.
Best Free Government Phones in California for Seniors
Some of the best free government phones for seniors in California are –
Apple iPhone 7
Apple iPhone 7 is one of the most eminent free government phones from AirTalk Wireless. Here is a table of Apple iPhone 7 features.
|
Operating system
|
iOS 10 up to iOS 15.7
|
| Display |
4.7-inch (diagonal)
|
| Processor |
A10 Fusion chip
|
| RAM | 2GB |
| ROM |
32GB, 128GB, or 256GB
|
|
Rear camera
|
12MP camera |
|
Front Camera
|
7MP camera |
| Battery |
1960 mAh, Built-in lithium-ion rechargeable battery
|
LG G8 ThinQ
LG G8 ThinQ has a Hand ID that lets you unlock your phone easily and has mid-air gestures to control the volume.
|
Operating system
|
Android 9.0 Pie up to Android 10
|
| Display |
6.1-inch P-OLED display 3120 x 1440 pixels
|
| Processor |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
|
| RAM | 6GB |
| ROM | 128GB |
| Rear camera |
12MP main camera + 12MP ultrawide camera + 16MP telephoto camera
|
|
Front Camera
|
8MP camera |
| Battery |
3500mAh battery
|
Apple iPhone 13 from T-Mobile
Apple iPhone 13 offers customers excellent 5G network connectivity, and its accessibility characteristics are very helpful for those with vision and hearing problems. You can get a free government Apple iPhone 13 through the Lifeline assistance program.
It has an M3/T4 hearing aid and compatibility rating, making it suitable for seniors with hearing problems.
|
Operating system
|
iOS 16 up to 17.1.1
|
| Display |
6.1-inch Super Retina with 2532 x 1170 pixel
|
| Processor |
A15 Bionic chip
|
| RAM | 4GB |
| ROM |
128GB, 256GB, 512GB
|
|
Rear camera
|
Dual 12MP camera
|
|
Front Camera
|
12MP TrueDepth camera
|
| Battery | 3240 mAh |
Apple iPhone 6 Plus
AirTalk Wireless also offers the Apple iPhone 6 Plus. It has a front FaceTime HD camera and an 8MP rear-facing camera with optical image stabilization.
|
Operating system
|
iOS 8 up to iOS 12.5.6
|
| Display | 5.5-inch |
| Processor |
A8 chip
|
| RAM | 1GB |
| ROM |
16GB, 32GB, 64GB, or 128GB
|
|
Rear camera
|
8MP camera
|
|
Front camera
|
1.2MP camera
|
| Battery | 2715mAh |
Samsung Galaxy S8
Samsung Galaxy S8 has been listed as Samsung’s best product.
|
Operating system
|
Android 7.0 up to 9.0
|
| Display |
5.8-inch Super AMOLED display with 1440 x 2960 pixels
|
| Processor |
Exynos 8895 processor
|
| RAM | 4GB |
| ROM |
64GB or 128GB
|
|
Rear camera
|
12MP camera
|
|
Front Camera
|
2MP + 8MP camera
|
| Battery | 3000mAh |
How to apply for free California Phones for Seniors
Follow the steps given below to get free California phones for seniors –
- Head over to the airtalkwireless.com website.
- You will be redirected to the homepage and get the ‘Apply’ option there.
- Click on Apply and fill in your email address and zip code.
- Now, fill in all the required information and upload documents showing your eligibility.
- Now, you will be redirected to the homepage of AirTalk Wireless to select a smartphone of your choice.
Your smartphone will be shipped to you within a week once your application gets approved.
Which Mobile Carrier offers the Lifeline program in California
The mobile service providers that participate in the Lifeline program to offer free Government phones in California are mentioned below –
Access Wireless
Access Wireless has good network coverage in California. It offers a free government smartphone, 1000 minutes of talk time, unlimited texts, and 6 GB of data.
Assurance Wireless
The Assurance also offers Assurance Wireless free government phone through the Lifeline program in California. The Federal Universal Service Fund supports it.
The service offers smartphones for free, unlimited texts, and free data every month. After getting subscribed, one can avail of these exciting benefits.
Safelink Wireless
Safelink Wireless offers free phones to California seniors and free voice calls, internet, voicemail, caller ID, and free emergency calls. You can apply for Safelink Wireless free government phone through various government assistance programs.
SafetyNet Wireless
SafetyNet is another eminent mobile carrier that offers SafetyNet Wireless free smartphones, unlimited text and talk time, and 100 MB of data every month.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can a Senior Get free Government Phones in California?
Seniors can get a government phone in California by participating in government assistance programs or providing low-income status.
Where can I get free phones for hard-of-hearing seniors in California?
Seniors in this category can get smartphones from the California Telephone Access Program (CTAP).
Where can I get a free iPhone in California?
You can get a free iPhone from T-Mobile and AirTalk Wireless providers.
Can I change my service provider?
Yes, you can shift to another service provider if you are not satisfied with your current provider’s service.
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