Welcome to Washington, D.C. Lifeline Free Government Smartphones and Free Government Cell Phones Page! Our capital is famous for many things. After all, it is where decisions of the highest importance are made. Do you think there are no poor people in the District of Columbia? There are, and the poverty rate is 17.7% for the political center of our nation. As many as 110,000 D.C. residents have meager incomes qualifying them for different assistance programs, including the Lifeline help that comes in the form of free government smartphones and free government cell phones with complimentary monthly minutes and texts.
Lifeline Free Government Cell Phones Program in Washington, District of Columbia
Coupled with a small population, there are only a few free government smartphones/cell phones companies in Washington, D.C. At the same time, it is always better to have at least several options to choose from. So, here is the list.
Who is eligible for free government smartphones and free government cell phones in Washington, D.C.?
You can qualify for a free smartphone from the government, as well as a free cell phone based on your participation in any of the following government-assisted programs:
- 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 choose to enroll in a free phone program if you prove you get a small annual income. Your total household income for a year preceding your application has to be below or at the level of 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for Washington, D.C. 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 Washington, D.C. Lifeline free government smartphones, free government cell phones program.