NewPhone Wireless Lifeline Plan

Louisiana residents looking for a no-contract, no-credit check, free government smartphone should take a look at NewPhone Wireless. NewPhone Wireless is a local Lifeline service provider servicing areas in Louisiana. With NewPhone Wireless eligible residents can sign up for phone service without the worry of bills, contracts or activation fees. In addition to the free smartphone, residents received free talk/text and data.

NewPhone Wireless Lifeline Plan

If you qualify for the Lifeline plan, in addition to the smartphone, you’ll receive the following:

• 1,000 free minutes each month
• Unlimited texting (includes picture messaging)
• 1 GB of Data each month
• Nationwide calling

All phones come with free voicemail, caller ID and call waiting. Calls to 911 are free. Please note, however, that the Lifeline plan does not include free international calls.

Buying Additional Minutes/Data

If 1,000 minutes and 1 GB of data is not enough to meet your monthly needs, you can always purchase additional talk/data. You could either buy them in a bundle or purchase minutes and/or data separately. Of course buying a bundle works out cheaper, but if you only need minutes or data, no need in spending for something you’re not going to use. The prices for additional talk/data are as follows:

Minutes

500 Minutes - $5
1,000 Minutes - $10
2,000 Minutes - $15
3,000 Minutes - $20 (aka unlimited talk)

Data

500 MB - $5
1 GB - $10
2 GB - $20
3 GB - $25
4 GB - $30
5 GB - $35
6 GB - $40 (aka unlimited data)

Bundles

500 Minutes and 500 MB = $10
1,000 Minutes and 1 GB - $15
2,000 Minutes and 2 GB - $25
Unlimited Talk and 3 GB - $30
Unlimited Talk and 4 GB - $35
Unlimited Talk and 5 GB - $40
Unlimited Talk and 6 GB - $45

Qualifying for Lifeline Plan

To qualify for the NewPhone Lifeline program you must live in the Louisiana service area and participate in one of the following government assistance programs:

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Medicaid
• Federal Public Housing Assistance / Section 8
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Veteran's Pension and Survivors Pension Program
• Eligibility Programs for Residents of Federally-Recognized Tribal Lands:
• Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance (BIA)
• Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
• Headstart (meeting income qualifying standards) (Tribal)
• Tribally Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TATNF)

Or have a household income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

If you meet the qualification requirements, the next step is to gather the necessary documentation. If you qualify based on income, you must provide proof of annual gross income. According to the Universal Service Administrative Company, proof of income includes:

• Current income statement from an employer or paycheck stub
• The prior year's state, federal, or Tribal tax return
• Social Security statement of benefits
• Unemployment or Workers' Compensation statement of benefits
• Federal or Tribal notice letter of participation in General Assistance
• Divorce decree, child support award, or other official document containing income information

Please note, if your income document does not cover a full year, you must provide documents for three consecutive months to prove your gross annual income.

If you meet the eligibility requirements based on program participation, you must provide a document that includes your name (or name of program beneficiary), name of the program and the name of government organization that issued the document. The document must have been issued within the last 12 months.

How to Apply for Service

Since Louisiana is not yet (as of August, 2019) subject to National Verification, you can apply directly on the NewPhone Wireless website. From their website you can sign up, upload proof and check the status of your application. Or, you can speak to one of their customer service representatives by calling 1-855-204-3667. Keep in mind their office hours are Monday - Friday from 8AM to 8PM CST.

Things to Know

1. If you have an existing phone number you’d like to keep after switching to NewPhone Wireless, call one of their customer service representatives to assist you in transferring the phone number.


2. Only one Lifeline phone service is permitted per household


3. You must use your phone at least once every 30 days or run the risk of being de-enrolled.


4. NewPhone Wireless has a Refer-A-Friend Program. If you refer a friend or family member and they sign up for service, you get an additional 250 minutes added to your account.


5. If your phone is lost or stolen, call NewPhone immediately so they can suspend service. They will then determine whether or not you qualify for a free replacement.

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: 5 August 2019