Access Wireless

Access Wireless is another phone company that participates in the federal Lifeline program. As a result, they’re able to offer free government cell phones to qualified low-income individuals/households. With Lifeline there’s no credit check, contract or fees. Currently, Access Wireless operates in the following states:

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin

The above list is subject to change, so to ensure they offer service in your state, visit their website, click Enroll and insert your zip code. You’ll quickly learn if your state has been added to their service area. If they don’t currently operate in your state, either check back at a later date or click the State Listing link in the menu above to find more options.

Access Wireless Free Lifeline Services

Qualified individuals can look forward to receiving a free cell phone plus 250 talk minutes, unlimited texting and 3GB of free data monthly. The phones come equipped with the standard features of caller ID, call waiting, free voicemail and nationwide coverage. Be advised, however, that there is no international calling, only domestic.

You also have the option of bringing your own unlocked device. To check if your phone is compatible with the Access Wireless service, visit their “Bring Your Own” page which is located under the “Phones” menu on their home page.

If the free 250 talk minutes and 3GB of data are not enough for your monthly use, you can purchase additional airtime and data. If you have a credit/debit card, you can purchase the additional time using on the Access Wireless website. If, however, you do not have a credit or debit card, visit the nearest location to purchase and redeem airtime cards.

How to Qualify for Access Wireless Lifeline Plan

With the rollout of the National Verification program administered through Universal Services Administrative Company (USAC), some states have a two-fold verification/qualifying process. Those states for which National Verification is in place, applicants must first be approved through the verification system prior to applying to Access Wireless. Upon approval of the National Verification program, applicants will receive an approval code which is necessary to complete the Access Wireless application.

For applicants living in states that are not yet affected by the National Verification system, the eligibility criteria are based on participation in one of the following government assistant programs:

• Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA) or Section 8
• Medical Assistance Program/Health Choices
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Or

• A household income at 135% or less of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

When applying, you must have the necessary documentation to prove that you either participate in one of the above programs, or have a household income 135% or less of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Additionally, you’ll need proof of your identity. A driver’s license, military ID or passport will do. Check with Access Wireless for additional acceptable forms of ID.

How to Apply - National Verification States

For applicants in the states under the National Verification program, go to checklifline.org/lifeline to complete the USAC application. Or, if you’d prefer a paper application, you can download and print it. Once completed, mail the application with the necessary documentation to:

USAC
Lifeline Support Center
P.O. Box 7081
London, KY 40742

Once you receive the approval code, then you can take the next step and complete the Assurance Wireless application by following the steps described in the next section.

How to Apply - States Not Subject to National Verification

Access Wireless offers two ways of applying. You can either use apply online from their website, or you can download and print their Lifeline application. Once the application is completed, mail it along with any necessary documentation to:

Access Wireless
1 Levee Way Suite 3116
Newport, KY 41071

How Long Does the Approval Process Take?

Since the National Verification program is brand new and as of this writing has not been rolled out as yet, it’s difficult to say how long their application approval process will take. However, as far as the Access Wireless approval, they recommend allowing 7 to 10 days after the application is submitted. You can always log into either your National Verification account (if applicable) and/or your Assurance Wireless account to check the status of your application.

Things to Note:

• There’s only one Lifeline phone permitted per household


• To find the status of your phone order, visit shop.accesswireless.com/login.php. You don’t actually have to log in. You can check the status of your order by entering your Order ID and email address.


• Once you receive your Access Wireless phone, you must use the phone at least once every 30 days or run the risk of losing your Lifeline benefits.


• If your phone is lost or stolen, notify Access Wireless immediately so they can suspend service to prevent anyone else from using your phone. If your phone is lost or stolen, notify Access Wireless immediately so they can suspend service to prevent anyone else from using your phone. After notifying Access Wireless you have 45 days in which to either activate a new phone or inform them that you’ve found your old phone. If you do neither within 45 days, your account will be deactivated. Once it’s deactivated, you lose your remaining account balance and your number will be reassigned.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: This site was created to help people find information about free government phones. We do not mail, activate or repair free government phones nor do we provide service. If you have questions about phone service we suggest you contact the phone service provider directly.

Last Modified: 7 June 2021