Free Government Cell Phones: How To Apply For The Lifeline Assistance Program In Houston
In this resource guide, I will show you how to get a free government phone in Houston.
Maybe you heard of free government phones (sometimes called Obama phones) but never knew how to get one. Well, this article will provide you with 8 companies that provide these phones to individuals that qualify.
If you receive government assistance like Medicaid or food stamps, then you may qualify for this free phone program in Houston.
Times are tough, so if you could stand to save a little money by not paying a phone bill, continue reading, and I’ll tell you how to get a free Obama phone in Houston.
What Is The Lifeline Assistnace Program?
The Lifeline Assistance Program is a government program that provides qualified low-income consumers with free monthly phone service. Recipients who meet certain criteria can receive cell phones with voice, text messaging, and data capabilities for free.
How Do I Get A Free Government Cell Phone In Houston?
To qualify for Lifeline Assistance, you must be enrolled in a government assistance program or meet income requirements. We will discuss both options in greater detail in the next two sections.
Programs That Make You Eligible For A Lifeline Phone
If you are enrolled in a government assistance program, you may qualify for a free cell phone from the government through the Lifeline Assistance Program.
Here is a list of government programs that will typically make you eligible for a free government phone:
Income Qualifications For A Government Cell Phone In Houston
If you are not enrolled in any of the programs listed in the above section, you may qualify based on having a low household income. If your household income is at least 135 percent or below that of the federal poverty level, you could qualify for a free government phone in Houston.
| Household Size | Annual Income |
| 1 | $17,226 |
| 2 | $23,274 |
| 3 | $29,322 |
| 4 | $35,370 |
| 5 | $41,418 |
| 6 | $47,466 |
| 7 | $53,514 |
| 8 | $59,562 |
| For each additional member, add $6,048 annually |
8 Companies That Provide Free Government Phones In Houston
Below are 8 companies that offer free Obama phones in the greater Houston area.
- Access Wireless
- enTouch Wireless
- Q Link Wireless
- Safelink Wireless
- StandUp Wireless
- Tag Mobile
- Terracom Wireless
- TruConnect
Each company has different phone plans. The monthly minutes, text messages, and data limits will differ with each company, so be sure to pay attention to these benefits.
Access Wireless Program (Houston Free Cell Phone Company)
Access Wireless is a company that provides government cell phones to eligible customers. Access Wireless offers these free cell phones as part of its Lifeline Assistance Program, which helps those who need it most get access to reliable communication services at no cost whatsoever.
If you qualify for an Access Wireless phone, you will receive 250 minutes to talk and unlimited texts each month.
To qualify for this program, you must be on some type of government benefit like Medicaid or SNAP. You may also qualify if your household income is 135 to 150% of the federal poverty guidelines in Texas.
For more information, you can call Access Wireless at 800.464.6010 or visit the Access Wireless website.
enTouch Wireless (Offering Free Government Phones In Houston)
enTouch Wireless is a company that offers free government phones in Houston.
enTouch Wireless allows customers to own and use an affordable cell phone and prepaid wireless service plan.
With this free government phone, qualifying customers receive unlimited texts, 1000 minutes, and 100 MB of data each month.
To learn more about the free government phones offered by enTouch, you can dial 866.488.8719 or visit the entouchwireless.com website.
Q Link Wireless (Obama Phones In Houston For Low-Income Residents)
Houston residents who are struggling to pay their monthly cell phone bill should take advantage of the Q Link Wireless program.
This company offers free government phones and is a great option for making ends meet monthly. These phones will allow you to call, text or surf the web without paying anything at all.
Q Link offers the following to individuals who qualify for a free Obama phone:
- 1000 minutes per month
- Unlimited texting
- 3 GB of data per month
You can apply for a free government phone from Life Wireless by dialing 888.543.3620 or visiting the Life Wireless website.
Safelink Wireless
Safelink Wireless is a company that offers free government phones in Houston. This is especially advantageous for low-income individuals who can’t afford their monthly phone bills.
These free government phones offer the following monthly services in Houston:
- Unlimited talk
- Unlimited text messages
- 3 GB data
To sign up for a free government phone in Houston with this company, you can dial 800.723.3546 or visit the Safelink Wireless website.
StandUp Wireless (Free Government Sim Cards)
StandUP Wireless is a company that offers free sim cards to insert into your phone. Unlike other programs on this page, StandUp doesn’t offer you the actual phone.
When dealing with StandUp you must ensure that your current phone is compatible with the StandUp Wireless sim card.
If your phone is compatible with their sim card, these are the following monthly services that are offered through this government phone program:
- 1000 minutes to talk
- Unlimited text messages
- 3 GB data
You can contact StandUp Wireless to learn more about sim card compatibility with your current phone. To learn more, you can contact them at 800.544.4441 or visit the StandUp Wireless website.
Tag Mobile
If you need a free Obama phone in Houston, Tag Mobile is one company that offers them. They offer free phones and minutes to those who qualify under the Lifeline Assistance program. This is a government-sponsored program that helps those who are struggling financially.
Tag Mobile offers the following services to people who qualify for free government phones in Houston, TX:
- 1000 minutes to talk
- Unlimited text messages
To contact Tag Mobile about their free phone program in Houston, you can dial 866.469.8736 or 866.959.4918. You can also visit the Tag Mobile website to learn more about their free phones.
Terracom Wireless
Terracom Wireless is a company that offers free government phones in Harris County.
If you are on a government program like Medicaid or SNAP, you could be eligible for this free phone program.
If you qualify for a free phone in Houston, Terracom offers the following monthly services:
- 500 minutes to talk
- Unlimited text messaging
- 3 GB data
You can learn more about this Houston free government phone program by visiting the Terracom Wireless website or call them at 877.351.4747.
TruConnect
TruConnect is another company that provides free Obama phones in Houston.
If you qualify for the Lifeline free phone program, TruConnect offers:
- Unlimited talk
- Unlimited text
- Free international calling in some countries
You can call TruConnect at 800.430.0443 to see if you qualify for a free government phone. To learn more about the details of their phone plans, be sure to visit the TruConnect website.
How To Get A Homeless Mailing Address For A Government Phone
You can contact the Lord of the Streets to get a free homeless mailing address in Houston.
Most free government phone companies require you to have a mailing address, not a PO Box. I contacted Lord of the Streets directly and they informed me that they do allow you to use their physical address of 3401 Fannin Street to receive mail, including your government phone.
To get a homeless mailing address you will need to contact Lord of the Streets at 713.526.0311. Their address is 3401 Fanning Street. This is located in Midtown Houston. Their hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8 am to 12 pm. You can also visit the LOTS website to learn more about the services they offer including the homeless mailing address.
Conclusion
You can qualify for a free government phone in Houston if you receive government benefits like Medicaid or SNAP benefits.
Many phone plans come with monthly unlimited talk, text, and data that you can use to stay in touch with family or use for business purposes. Each plan is different, so search through the listing of free government phone companies in Houston to find the best plan.
Similar Articles That May Interest You:
- How To Apply For Food Stamps In Houston
- 4 Ways To Increase Your Monthly Food Stamp Benefits
- Download You Texas Medicaid Application And Apply For Benefits
- Emergency Broadband Benefit: How To Receive A Monthly $50 Discount On Your Internet Bill
Nick Bryant is the author of Understanding Healthcare Is Half The Battle and a Senior Counselor with 13+ years of experience working in community health and mental health. He enjoys spending time with his family, watching WWE on Friday nights, and working toward a Google Data Analytics certification. If you have additional questions about community resources or government assistance programs, simply leave a comment below and he will follow up as soon as possible.
