You walk out of a VA facility and see a tent booth with people offering free phones and cell service for veterans, all thanks to a government program. It sounds too good to be true, right?
However, “free” might actually end up costing you a lot of money. The FTC has had reports about these booths and what happens next. A few months after signing up, you get notices saying they need you to provide personal information and documents to prove you meet the income requirements. Nothing of the sort was mentioned by the people pitching the program. Many veterans find that their incomes are too high to qualify for the program and face losing service or paying for something they thought would be free.
Here are the facts: there is a government program — called Lifeline — that offers free or discounted phone service. It’s supported by the Universal Service Fund — a fund all telephone companies and other telecommunications providers pay into (a cost you might see passed on to you in the form of a “Universal Service” line charge on your phone bill). But the program is based on income, not whether you’re a veteran. If you don’t meet the income requirements, you don’t qualify.
To learn more about the Lifeline program, click here.
Think you might be eligible for the program? Go to our pre-screening tool to see if you qualify for a free phone. You can also search for Lifeline providers in your state.
Even if you don’t qualify, try checking with your phone service provider to see if they offer any discounts for veterans.