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The United States government has launched various programs for low-income households, offering subsidies on broadband bills and free electronic equipment like laptops and mobile phones. These programs aim to narrow the gap between the haves and the haves-not and to usher in the financial inclusion of the low-income and the marginalised.
In this article, we’ll explain how to get a free iPhone from the United States government.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program was launched to provide low-income households with funds to buy food and other necessary items.
To qualify for SNAP, applicants must meet specific criteria, both financial and non-financial. The latter includes citizenship status, work registration and registration with the IMPACT program. The former includes income and other financial information, such as household size.
According to the rules, if you are above the age of 60 years and are disabled, you should meet the following two criteria:
- Net real income should be less than or equal to the federal poverty line (FPL)
- Your assets should be less than $4,250.
If you qualify for the SNAP program, you will also qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and the Lifeline Assistance Program.
Also read: How to get a free laptop with EBT?
Affordable Connectivity Program
The Affordable Connectivity Program was launched to offer a subsidy and discount to low-income households to help them pay for broadband. For example, a low-income household will get a discount of up to $30 and the tribals will get a discount of up to $75.
If you are eligible for this program, you will also get a one-time mega discount for purchasing electronic equipment such as a laptop or mobile phone.
Here are the eligibility criteria:
- Household income should be below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines.
- Your household should receive a Federal Pell Grant.
- At least one member should have lost the job.
- At least one member of your household must qualify for one of the following programs — SNAP, Medicaid, Veterans Pensions and Survival Benefit, Tribally-Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TTANF), Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), among others.
You can register for this program after submitting your ID proof, date of birth, and other documents. Note that the registration for this program will end on February 7, 2024.
Also read: How to get free 5G government phones in USA?
Lifeline Assistance Program
The Lifeline Assistance Program offers a subsidy of $9.25 to low-income households for phone and internet bills.
The Universal Service Fund funds this program and here’s the criteria for registration in this program:
- The household income should be below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines.
- At least one person must be eligible for the following programs — SNAP, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Federal Public Housing Assitance (FPHA), Veterans Pensions and Survivors Benefit, and Food Distribution Program on Indin Reservation (FDPIR), among others.
Once you are done, you can contact any participating providers and services, such as Assurance Wireless and Safelink Wireless for iPhones or other electronic equipment. Here’s a list of service providers:
- Assurance Wireless
- TruConnect
- Assist Wireless
- Safelink Wireless
- Q Link Wireless
- TruConnect
- Life Wireless
- Gen Mobile
In conclusion, you can get free or subsidised iPhones by enrolling into one of the several assistance programs that the United States federal government runs. Afterwards, head to any of the above distributors and vendors for your free iPhone. You may have to submit some documents and verify your ID to confirm your enrollment in the programs.
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