SafeLink Wireless Review
SafeLink Wireless is a new website that promises to give you a free cell phone with unlimited texting. What’s the catch? Here’s our SafeLink Wireless review.
What is SafeLink Wireless?
SafeLink Wireless is an online service found at safelinkwireless.com. The online service has a program where you can apply for a free cell phone with unlimited texting and 500 free minutes.
All you need to do is enter your zip code to see if you qualify.
The website is accompanied with pictures of smiling moms using their cell phones beside their happy children. It all seems fun and safe.
But how does SafeLink Wireless work? It is a scam or is it legit? Do you actually get a free phone? Let’s find out more.
How Does SafeLink Wireless Work?
SafeLink Wireless is supported by Lifeline, which is a government benefit program designed to provide low-income individuals with low-cost phone service.
SafeLink Wireless itself is provided by TracFone Wireless Inc.
In order to qualify for a free phone through SafeLink Wireless, you may need to prove your income or your dependence on government programs. If you’re not a low-income individual, then you will not qualify for the free SafeLink Wireless phone.
After entering your zip code into SafeLink Wireless’s online form, you’ll be redirected to a state-specific website.
If you qualify for the program, then you’ll be given a free Android phone with unlimited talking and texting and 500MB of free data every month.
You also get free voicemail, free caller ID, free 3 way calling, free 411 calling, 911 access, and free calls to customer care.
You also don’t need to sign a contract or pay a bill. You pay nothing for the service – if you’re low income status, then you qualify through the American government’s Lifeline program.
The specific phone model will vary depending on your location, although you can always expect to get a lower-end Android phone.
Your cellular provider, however, never changes: you always sign up through TracFone Wireless.
You can actually view a list of supported phone models here. There are dozens of phone models listed – including lower-end smartphones from LG, Samsung, Huawei, and other major providers.
About Lifeline
Lifeline is a government-funded cell phone subsidy program that gives you a free cell phone with a free monthly plan based on your eligibility.
There are two different ways to qualify for Lifeline: Program-based or Income-based.
Program-Based
If you or another person in your household is currently enrolled in any of the following public assistance programs, then you can qualify for a Lifeline cell phone plan:
-Medicaid (or your state-specific medical plan, like Medi-Cal in California)
-Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
-Federal Public Housing Assistance or Section 8
-Food Stamps or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
-Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC)
-Healthy Families Category A
-National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
-Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
-California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs)
-Stanislaus County Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (StanWORKs)
-Welfare-to-Work (WTW)
-Greater Avenues for Independence (GAIN)
-Tribal TANF
-Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
-Head Start Income Eligible (Tribal Only)
Income-Based
You may qualify for a Lifeline cell phone if your total annual household gross income is at or less than annual income limits for your household size. Annual income limits look like this:
-1 to 2 Household Members: $25,700 Annual Income ($2,142 Monthly Income)
-3 Members: $29,900 Annual Income ($2,492 Monthly Income)
-4 Members: $36,200 Annual Income ($3,017 Monthly Income)
-5 Members: $42,500 Annual Income ($3,542 Monthly Income)
-6 Members: $48,800 Annual Income ($4,067 Monthly Income)
-7 Members: $55,100 Annual Income ($4,592 Monthly Income)
-8 Members: $61,400 Annual Income ($5,117 Monthly Income)
If you have more members of your household, then add $6,300 to your annual income limit or $525 to your monthly income limit. If you’re below any of these limits, then you can qualify for a Lifeline phone.
Lifeline is available throughout many parts of America. However, two states in particular have led the way in terms of Lifeline adoption: Oklahoma and California. Both states offer generous Lifeline programs.
About SafeLink Wireless
SafeLink Wireless is a low-cost phone program created by TracFone Wireless Inc.
TracFone is the same company that sells its phones through Walmart. The prepaid phones are typically the cheapest phones money can buy.
The company’s About Us page describes TracFone as America’s largest no-contract cell service provider. The company currently has 25 million subscribers and is a subsidiary of “América Móvil S.A.B. de C.V.”, which is the 5th largest cellphone company in the world and is the largest in all of the Americas with more than 265 million wireless subscribers.
TracFone emphasizes low-cost cell phone service. SafeLink Wireless is the company’s attempt to cater to a new market.
TracFone and SafeLink Wireless don’t actually offer their own mobile coverage or networks: instead, their signals are carried on the towers of 30 major carriers across America.
You can get in touch with the company by calling 1-800-723-3546 (for enrolment and plan changes support). The company’s listed mailing address is:
PO Box 220009
Milwaukie, OR 97269-0009
Is SafeLink Wireless a Scam?
SafeLink Wireless is certainly not a scam. It’s one of many phone providers that offers free phones through the United States government’s Lifeline program. That program gives free phones to certain low income households.
In this day and age, having a phone is considered an essential service. The US government has recognized that – which is why they support programs like Lifeline.
There are dozens of providers across America that offer similar free phone programs. SafeLink Wireless is a subsidiary of TracFone, which is one of America’s largest prepaid cell phone providers.
Ultimately, you don’t lose anything when you enter your zip code into SafeLink Wireless’s online form to test your eligibly. Just note that there are other providers out there that offer plans with different levels of minutes, different data rates, and other cellular services – all for free when you qualify through the Lifeline program. So be sure to compare different options before you sign up for SafeLink Wireless.
