Although the internet and devices like tablets are hard to live without, there’s still a large population that can’t afford them. This is so unfortunate because it’s nearly impossible to live a day without the internet. In aid of this, the federal government initiated programs that now offer free internet and tablets. Affordable connectivity program (ACP) is a federal program that works closely with wireless service providers to offer free internet and tablets to qualified low-income households.
To get your free tablet under ACP with food stamps, you must meet the program’s eligibility criteria. These are: you must have an income below 200% of the federal poverty guideline. Participants of government assistance programs like Medicaid, head start, SSI or food stamps also qualify for a free tablet from the government. Our focus today is on a free tablet with food stamps. Are you a food stamp member and asking how to get a free tablet from the government? We have answers for you. Here, we will discuss more about food stamps and how to get a free tablet with food stamps.
Get Free Tablet With Food Stamps
You are already aware that it’s possible to get a free tablet through Food stamps. Also known as SNAP or supplemental nutrition assistance program, this is a federal assistance program that offers food benefits to help low-income individuals/households to access healthy foods with ease.
Food stamps offer their benefits through an electronic benefit transfer card. Also known as EBT card, this card acts like a debit card that allows you to purchase healthy foods from selected food retailers and stores. Normally, food stamps deposit their benefits into your EBT card every month making it easy to make your purchases.
Although food stamps participants receive free tablets through ACP, these tablets are not entirely free. First of all, there is a fee of $10 to $50 that you must pay to get your free tablet with food stamps. Once you make this payment, you are given a huge discount of up to $100 to purchase your tablet. It is, therefore, true to say that your free tablets with food stamps are not completely free.
Eligibility Requirements For Free Tablets With Food Stamps
As aforementioned, free tablets with food stamps are given through the ACP program. We have also mentioned that you qualify for ACP if you participate in government assistance programs like food stamps. This means that as a member of food stamps, you already qualify for ACP-free tablets. When applying for ACP free tablets with food stamps, however, you must show proof that you qualify for food stamps. Below are food stamps eligibility requirements that you must meet before getting your free tablet from the government:
1. Income requirements
Food stamps or SNAP was initiated to help financially-struggling families to access food stuff with ease. Therefore, you must be a low-income individual or come from a low-income household to qualify for food stamps. Note that not all low-income citizens qualify for food stamps. The program is only meant for families who have a total monthly gross income that is less or equal to 130% of the federal poverty level. It’s important to highlight that monthly gross income is the total amount that an individual earns per month before any pensions, insurance, taxes, or any other deduction is made.
2. Work requirements
Besides income requirements, you should also meet some work requirements to receive a free tablet with food stamps. To qualify based on work, you must be within a certain age limit. To be precise, you must be a worker with a minimum age of 16 and a maximum age of 59. This, however, excludes students, incapacitated, people who can’t work due to disability, caregivers of children below 6 years and people in drug rehabilitation.
To qualify based on your work, you must also work at least 30 hours in a week. However, the working hours limit is different for able-bodied adults that are between the ages of 18 to 49 on condition that they are not pregnant. These recipients have a work limit of 80 hours per month.
3. Resource requirements
To get a free tablet via food stamps, there are also resource requirements to meet. It’s important to mention that these resource requirements vary depending on your state. Generally, to qualify for food stamps based on your resources, you must not exceed $2250 in your savings account. This is however different for individuals with disability or above 60 years of age. These recipients must have countable resources below $3500 to receive food stamps tablets.
4. Housing and immigrant requirements
To qualify for a fee tablet with food stamps, you must have a housing expenditure that is less than 30% of your total household income.
On the other hand, you must meet the following requirements if you want to qualify for a free food stamps tablet as a legal immigrant:
- Must have lived in the US for at least 5 years
- Alternatively, must have children that are below 18 years.
- Alternatively, you must be receiving disability related benefits.
Required Documents To Get Free Government Tablets With Food Stamps
When applying for a free government tablet with food stamps, lifeline national verifier will require you to attach documents with evidence that you participate in food stamps. Besides you will also be required to attach personal documents to prove your identity. Below are the types of documents needed to get a free government tablet with food stamps.
- Personal documents like: Your passport, Permanent resident card, Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) document, Birth certificate, Certificate of U.S citizenship or naturalization, Green card, Government/state/military/ Tribal ID or U.S driver’s license.
- Address documents like: Utility bill, Lease or mortgage statement
- Eligibility documents like a Paycheck stub to prove that your monthly gross income is less than 130% of the federal poverty guideline.
Apply For Get A Free Tablet With Food Stamps
To apply for a free tablet with food stamps, you must meet the above eligibility requirements and have all your documents ready. In addition, you must select an eligible service provider from which you will receive your discounted tablet. After meeting these requirements, go ahead and apply for your free tablet with food stamps through the following procedure:
Step 1: visit the affordable connectivity program website.
Yes, free tablet with food stamps is applied through the ACP official page and not from food stamps offices. When it comes to ACP application, you can download, print, and forward your application to their mailing address as follows:
ACP support center
P.O Box 7081
London, KY 40742.
Alternatively, you can apply through ACP official website as follows:
- Visit ACP online portal, affordableconnectivity.gov/how-to-apply
- Click “ apply now”
- Fill the national verifier online application form by giving out your correct details like your name, date of birth, social security number, home address.
- Attach your personal and food stamps eligibility documents mentioned above and follow prompts to finish your application.
- Get approved for your ACP free tablet and contact your wireless service provider
- Enroll to your provider’s ACP program and receive your free tablet along with other benefits.
Providers That Offer Free Government Tablets With Food Stamps
This is a federal communications commission program that was initiated early this year (2023) to help low-income families to access the internet without struggle. The program gives eligible users a discount of up to $100 to purchase a free tablet from their selected service provider. Through the program, you will also get a monthly discount of up to $30 and up to $75 monthly discounts to qualified users on tribal lands.
However, you must have a total income below 200% of the federal poverty level to benefit from this program. You can also benefit from the program if you participate in food stamps and any other related program.
Do you want to get a free government program as a food stamps beneficiary, here are some providers that offer these tablets. From these providers, you will know what tablet models to expect alongside other benefits:
Cintex Wireless
Cintex wireless is one of the most reliable ACP service provider that offers free tablets through its ACP program. However, you are required to make an upfront payment of $10.01 before receiving your free tablet from cintex wireless. In addition, you must have an income below 200% of the federal poverty guideline of participating in Medicaid, SNAP or SSI programs to receive Cintex wireless free tablet. After you meet these requirements, you will receive free tablets like Samsung Galaxy Tab 4, Samsung galaxy tab S2, Samsung Galaxy Tab S3, Alcatel joy Tab 2, Samsung galaxy tab A 2020, Alcatel joy tab, Samsung Galaxy Tab E and so on.
Q Link Wireless
Q Link Wireless is another incredible wireless service provider that participates in the ACP program to offer free tablets to low-income consumers. To receive a free tablet from Qlink ACP, however, you must make a co-payment of $10.01. It’s important to note that Qlink does not disclose the model of tablets to give through ACP. In fact, this company gives you a free government tablet based on your state and availability. One thing that the Qlink ACP program has assured customers, however, is that your free tablet will come with the latest features like WIFI and Bluetooth capabilities.
Standup Wireless
StandUp wireless also has an ACP program that offers free tablets to customers with an income below 200% of the federal poverty level. However, standup ACP tablets are not completely free. Similar to other service providers, this company gives you up to $100 discount towards purchasing your tablet. This is after making a co-payment of $10.01.
When it comes to the model of tablet, standup also doesn’t disclose which type of free tablet to give out. Similar to Qlink wireless, this company gives you a discounted tablet subject to availability and state of residence. From StandUP wireless free tablets, you are guaranteed to enjoy the following features:
- A high definition screen of 8 inches with quality picture clarity
- A lasting battery that allows you to surf the web, play games and stream for several hours
- Dual cameras one at the front and the other at the back, both with quality and clear photos.
- A sleek frame and modern on-trend design.
Sky Devices Government Tablet
Sky devices also offer free government tablets to all ACP-qualified customers. From sky devices ACP program, you can get free government tablets like, platinum View2. Platinum A7, Sky Vision2, Elite Octa, and SKY kid.
FAQ
What Is A Stimulus Tablet?
A stimulus tablet is a free tablet that is offered by the government technology stimulus to all families that participate in assistance programs like food stamps, Pell grant, free or reduced lunch, social security, Medicaid, housing assistance, and veteran’s benefits. Similar to ACP tablets, stimulus tablets are also given out as one tablet per household. What makes Stimulus tablets special is that they avail with built-in internet access.
Is The Government Giving Out Free iPads?
No, currently, it’s not possible to get a free IPad from the government. However, you will get a discount of up to $100 towards purchasing an iPad if at all you qualify for the government’s ACP program. You can purchase your discounted ACP iPad from companies like standup wireless, sky mobile, and Qlink wireless. If you need a completely free iPad, you can try your luck from non-profit organizations, churches, local libraries and grants.
Does Government Offer Free Laptops Under ACP Program?
Similar to IPad, the government also doesn’t offer free laptops under ACP program. However, qualifying for ACP assures you a discount of up to $100 towards purchasing a laptop from laptop service providers like PCS for people and Human-I-T.
Does Government Offer Free Tablet With Smartphone
Yes, it’s very possible to get free tablets with smartphones through wireless providers that offer lifeline/ACP combo plans. As long as you qualify for either ACP or lifeline program, you can get a free tablet with smartphones from service providers like cintex wireless, NewPhone wireless, and Qlink wireless among many others.
