Welcome to South Carolina Lifeline Free Government Smartphones and Free Government Cell Phones Page!
South Carolina dropped out of the list of the poorest states in 2016. It is now in 11th position, with the overall poverty rate being 16.7%. This number means that 790,715 South Carolinians had their income below the poverty threshold last year. The government tries to support these low-income Americans by increasing the quality and variety of services and assistance available to eligible people. Owing to the nature of today’s life, a free government cell phone or a free government smartphone is something many in South Carolina would want to get. This free gadget and the minutes that come at no charge allow people to be more efficient in various ways, including job search. In essence, this might help an overall economy.
Lifeline Free Government Cell Phones Program in South Carolina
The Palmetto State residents who want a free phone from the government can apply for one with several companies that bring the South Carolina Lifeline services to their subscribers. The providers vary by the number of customers, the free phones they give away in South Carolina, the number of free texts, minutes, data, and many other things. Below is the list of the Lifeline program partners in South Carolina.
- Access Wireless
- American Assistance
- Assurance Wireless
- EnTouch Wireless
- FeelSafe Wireless
- Life Wireless
- Q Link Wireless
- Safelink Wireless
- StandUp Wireless
- Tag Mobile
- Tempo Communications
Who is eligible for free government smartphones and free government cell phones in South Carolina?
If you participate in any or several of the following government assistance programs, you are probably eligible for a free phone from the government by South Carolina Lifeline:
- Medicaid
- Food Stamps/ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Veterans Pension and Survivor’s Benefit
- Section 8/ Federal Public Housing Assistance
- Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance (BIA)
- Tribal Head Start (only those households meeting its income qualifying standard)
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR).
You can also qualify based on the household income rule: your household income has to be lower or at the level of 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for South Carolina. For 2022 this number is shown in the table below.
| Household size (number of people) | Eligible annual income per household |
|---|---|
| 1 | $17,388 |
| 2 | $23,517 |
| 3 | $29,646 |
| 4 | $35,775 |
| 5 | $41,904 |
| 6 | $48,033 |
| 7 | $54,162 |
| 8 | $60,291 |
| For each additional person, add | $6,129 |
Click here to see all steps needed to enroll in South Carolina Lifeline free government smartphones and a free government cell phone program.