Ahhh, Minnesota. It’s the state known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, the Gopher State and the North Star State. But from now on it shall also be known as the free government cell phone state because this outstanding program is now available there.
According to the federal government’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, Minnesota’s unemployment rate in sat at an enviable 5.6%. That’s a rather remarkable 2.6% lower than the national rate and only about half the rate of states like Nevada (11.6%), Rhode Island (11.0%) and California (10.8%).
Despite Minnesota’s relatively prosperous economic condition, there are many in the state who are suffering. Many who are out of work. Many who are underemployed. And many who are disabled and simply unable to work. No matter how low the state’s unemployment rate may sink, some residents will always need a helping hand. Especially the kind of helping hand offered by the Lifeline Assistance free government cell phone program.
From International Falls in the north to Blue Earth in the south and from Moorhead in the west to Grand Portage in the east, tens of thousands of Minnesota residents need help. In fact, according to recent statistics, half a million of the state’s residents currently live in poverty.
Help is on the way for those needy Minnesotans. Life Wireless was the first company to make the Lifeline Assistance free government cell phone program available to low income state residents, and Assurance Wireless entered Minnesota in January 2013.
If they qualify they can now get a free government cell phone plus 250 free minutes per month. And that, of course, can help them land a good job and break the cycle of poverty.
Free Cell Phone Providers in Minnesota:
Here’s a list of all the Lifeline Assistance free government cell phones in Minnesota. They all offer different plans with different numbers of minutes, different refill options, and serve different geographic areas. So click through them all and find the plan that’s best for you.
Access Wireless
American Assistance
Assurance Wireless
Blue Jay Wireless
Budget Mobile
EnTouch Wireless
Life Wireless
Q Link Wireless
Standup Wireless
Tag Mobile
Tempo Communications
Terracom
Lifeline Discount Companies in Minnesota
If you qualify for Lifeline Assistance, but you find that none of the companies offer free government cell phones where you live, you have another option. The companies below, while not offering free cell phone plans, do offer substantial Lifeline discounts off their regular mobile phone plans in Minnesota:
T-Mobile
Free of Discounted Cell Phone Eligibility in Minnesota:
You are eligible if you receive benefits from any of these programs in Minnesota:
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps or SNAP)
Medicaid
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8)
Veterans Pension and Survivor’s Benefit.
Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance (BIA)
Tribally Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tribal TANF)
Tribal Head Start (only those households meeting its income qualifying standard)
Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
In Minnesota, you may also qualify if your Total Household Income is at or under 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.