It goes without saying that connecting with your close ones today is so very important. We are lost in the world of social media, forgetting that it might not be the only and best way to stay connected with your friends and family for all. For instance, when it comes to senior citizens and differently-abled people might not be comfortable with using a device as complicated as a smartphone.
This is where the traditional landline phone connections come to our rescue. With their better quality and easy-to-use structural design, even seniors and disabled people can easily use landline phones. So, to help you out with this further, here we have mentioned the Best Ways to Get Free Landline Phone Service for Seniors.
Since communication is one of the crucial aspects and many vulnerable groups of people, such as senior citizens and disabled people, might need a landline connection, the government offers free landline phone service to seniors who are eligible in the United States. Stay tuned with us throughout this article to get more insights on how to get free landline service for seniors.
Best Ways to Get Free Landline Phone Service for Seniors
Given below are the Best Landline Services of 2023 for seniors. You can choose any of the below options, some of which also provide free trial periods so that you can try their services without paying for anything.
AT&T Landline
AT&T is a well-known landline and network service provider in the United States. This landline provider offers different packages based on the pricing structures, features, and coverage offered. The basic package starts at $33 per month and offers unlimited local calling.
One can get various amazing features with AT&T that include calling features as well, like call waiting, caller ID, call blocking, anonymous call rejection, and so on. Apart from the usual 4 types of landline packages, AT&T offers bundled plans with DirecTV satellite television and internet service packages.
Pros
- Features like anonymous call rejection and screening services to deal with robocalls rejection
- Bundled options available with TV and internet services
- Special Discounts for Federal Assistance program
- Discount packages for international calling
Cons
- Installation fees needed
- Quite expensive
- To discontinue their services, you will have to pay termination fees.
Verizon Fios Landline
Now coming to the Verizon Fios Landline, this landline service provider is one of the best options if budget is your concern and if you are someone who is looking to get bundled service with both or either cable TV or internet connection.
The downside of this service is that you will get the landline service only as a bundle with other services, i.e., TV or internet. But when it comes to the charges, you will end up saving a lot.
The cost for landline service, excluding the TV/internet, whoever package you choose, is around $20 per month. Amazing, right? They generally have a contract of 24 months for their customers and provide worthy service through it.
Another cool part of Verizon Fios is that one can also apply for the Lifeline Program discount if they are eligible for the same, and they might get discounts on their landline service through Verizon.
As for the service and features, you will get unlimited calling and also distance calling to a few countries. They also have additional calling features, and one can even set their profile online and listen to voicemails anytime, anywhere using the online tools.
Pros
- Helpful for international calling
- Some extraordinary calling features
- Online calling features like voicemail access
- Clear HD audio and connection service
Cons
- You can get landline service only as bundled with TV or internet service.
Cox Landline
Cox landline phone service is one of the most popular network providers in the United States. For this landline service, you will have to enter into a 24-month contract that comes with a 30 days trial period as well, throughout which you can cancel the subscription for free of cost.
This landline service is distributed similarly to that of the WiFi internet, with one good part being that the subscribers of this service do not need to have an already present internet connection. Through this landline service, one can get an amazing connection and call quality.
Some of the best features of the Cox landline service are that the robocalls are blocked automatically by the system. One can get HD audio through Cox, and thus it can be helpful for any hearing issues.
One of the coolest features of Cox landline is that the simultaneous ring future will call to ring on your smartphone in case you are out of the home, that too without any charges.
Cox will help you with all the equipment that is required to set up the landline with detailed instructions on how to do it. Apart from that, they also provide customer support for any technical issues that may arise. The package offered by Cox starts at just $30 each month.
Also, Cox has a special international calling plan for which it charges just an additional $2.99 per month. Through this, one can get discounted rates on over 80% of the international destinations. It goes without saying that a landline connection is ideal when it comes to international calling demands as it charges a lesser cost than regular cell phones.
Pros
- Simultaneous calling feature
- Blocks robocalls
- 24/7 Customer support
- Visual Voicemail feature
- High-quality call audio
Cons
- Does not offer Lifeline Program in the majority of the areas
Spectrum Voice
Yet another one of the best landline service providers is Spectrum Voice. This service provider is particularly known for not charging any hidden costs or making contracts. You can get transparent pricing and affordable services through Spectrum Voice.
You can get Spectrum home phone service with bundles of internet or TV or both services. Through Spectrum, you might not get any special discounts for senior citizens. However, you can definitely get discounts on the Spectrum Internet Assist program that offers high-speed internet.
This network provider is a part of the Lifeline program in the states of New York and California. With their amazing service, they also offer some remarkable features such as a Call guard which blocks robocalls and reduces the risk of fraud.
One of the cool features of Spectrum is that if one orders a cable TV, the spectrum will show the caller ID on your TV so that you will not have to go and check the landline to see who is calling.
Pros
- No binding contracts
- No additional cost or hidden charges
- Amazing battery backup
- Quite budget-friendly
- Ideal for international calling
Cons
- Not as many discounts available
- Outages due to weather conditions can be experienced
Xfinity Landline
Another one of the most heard names in the industry of landline phone service providers is Xfinity Landline. Xfinity is known to offer unlimited calling in the United States in certain areas.
Their very basic plan starts from $30 per month and includes some of the best features like – caller ID, nationwide calling, call waiting, and so on. You can also get their unlimited international calling that offers to call a few countries like China, Canada, India, etc., by paying a little extra.
One of the best parts of this service provider is that they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee using which you can have a trial of their services for free and judge for yourself!
Pros
- No contracts are required to use the service
- Offers a 30-day money-back guarantee
- Improvised 911 service.
- You can get around $150 gift cards on
- Unlimited international calling
Cons
- They offer limited coverage in the United States
- A few hidden charges have been included
How to Apply for Free Government Landline Phones for Seniors
Now that you know the criteria of eligibility for free landline phones for seniors, given below is how you can apply for cheap landline phone service for seniors.
Before you apply for the program, make sure that you check the eligibility criteria according to that time and have all the essential documents required. Note that the documents, as well as all the information you have entered, will be cross-verified. And in case the information or documents come out to be fraud, then you will be debarred from the procedure.
Now to apply for the Lifeline assistance program to get free Landline Phone Service For Seniors, you can either visit the office or call them to know the procedure. Or else you can check their online website to fill out and submit the application for the program.
Alternative Way To Get Free Landline Phone Service For Seniors
Apart from the options mentioned above, you can also get cheap landline phone service For Seniors using the below services. If you think that there are very limited ways using which you can get a free landline for seniors, then I have to say that you are quite wrong. There are a few other interesting service providers and ways to get free landline phone service for seniors. Do give them a chance!
Safelink Wireless
Safelink is one of the oldest Network service providers in the United States and, indeed, the largest free government cell phone manufacturer in the United States. They are also a part of the Lifeline Support Services.
This company is known for offering free landline phone service to seniors. One can get 500 minutes free for the first 30 days and also unlimited texts each month if you are qualified for their program.
In order to be eligible for their free cellphone service, you must be eligible and a participant of any of the federally assisted programs such as Medicaid or SNAP. You should also be a resident of the United States for this program.
Apart from this, if you are someone with an income below the poverty guidelines, then you are eligible to apply as well. Just make sure that, at the time of submitting your application and required documents, you are submitting all the relevant and genuine documents, as these will be verified later on.
magicJack
One of the most amazing ways to get free landline services for seniors and low-income families and people is the magicJack. This service allows one to link the VoIP adapter to the PC. You can connect the phone cord to the PC using the USB adapter.
So, if your PC is operating, then you will be able to use your phone as the PC takes the place of the VoIP router. This is a very simple yet efficient way of getting cheap landline service for seniors. You don’t even have to indulge in any additional devices or installation costs apart from the adapter of $20 and the MagicJack service fee of again just $20.
Skype
If you are in search of free landline phone services for seniors, then Skype is yet another cool option available. If you did not already know, Skype is a famous online platform that allows phone-to-phone or computer-to-computer calling.
But with that, it can also offer VOIP services that link your landline phone to your recipient’s home phone. Also, you get a lot of options for subscriptions that include different services such as limited, unlimited calling, and so on. You can choose any of them as per your convenience and needs.
Setup Landline With Google Voice
Google Voice is one of the best ways to get landline home phone service for free. You also get a number of amazing features, such as free voice calls, free text messages, call blocking, call forwarding, and so on. This service will connect your phone number to that of the recipient without costing any charges.
Using this option, you can directly connect your landline or home phone number to your smartphone. In order to use Google voice, all you need to do is sign up for a Google account which is a free process. Then you sign up for Google Voice, which again is a free procedure. After you have gone through all the terms and conditions of Google voice use, you can then search for the recipient number and call for free using Google Voice.
Budget Wireless
Budget Wireless is one of the best options to get cheap landline phone service for seniors. The basic free plan of Budget wireless offers 250 minutes of talk time along with 250 minutes of texts every month. Indeed you can pay an additional $5 to increase the number of texts and calling minutes.
One of the best parts about this network provider is that they stick to their name and offer a range of prepaid plans that have increments of $5 for additional service, hence very flexible to the customers. They also do not charge any additional costs or hidden charges and do not make it mandatory for the customers to have a contract signed.
Assurance Wireless
Another one of the Best Ways to Get Free Landline Phone Service for Seniors is through an Assurance Wireless service provider. This service is offered by Virgin Mobile and provides free cell phones along with unlimited text messages for those eligible.
In order to apply for this program, having membership in federally assisted programs such as SNAP, LIHEAP, SSI, Medicaid, etc. would be beneficial. In case you are not a participant in any of these programs, then you can also apply if you have a low income below the mentioned guidelines of poverty according to your state.
Phone.com
Another great network provider is Phone.com. One can get trustworthy and one of the best free VOIP services for eligible people. The charges for this service are very low – 19.99$ for unlimited call minutes.
They also offer some great features, such as voicemail to mail, call queuing, call blocking, and so on. Apart from the landline phone service plans for seniors, this provider also offers the best VOIP business plan at just $19.99.
Reachout Wireless
If you are looking for the cheapest landline phone services for seniors but did not find anything yet, then one of the nearest options you have is Reachout Wireless service. Reachout Wireless offers free government phones in the United States to low-income families and needy people.
In order to be eligible to receive the benefits from Reachout Wireless, you must also be eligible for the Lifeline assistance program, which is offered by the government in the United States.
You can get nearly 250 minutes of talk time in different cities and unlimited talk time in California. For the text messages, each one will be considered as one minute of the allowance. You can get more information about this provider from their official website.
Free Landline Phone for Seniors in California
One of the best broadband plans for the citizens of the United States is the California Telephone Access Program (CTAP). This program is known to offer free landline phones for seniors and disabled citizens.
As has been already mentioned, landlines are the best gadget for people with hearing problems. Some differently-abled people might be facing hearing problems, and most senior citizens always face hearing issues.
Landlines can be a great option for them as they offer better audio quality. Also, not all seniors might be well equipped with the smartphone technology of today.
As the name suggests, the California Telephone Access Program is meant for the citizens of California. Through the program, needy and eligible citizens are given free landline phones for seniors and the disabled that are specially curated, keeping in mind the needs of this class of citizens.
You will find large buttons, a much better audio quality and connection, and remote-controlled speakerphones for easy use by the seniors and disabled. The program has very simple eligibility criteria that up can check from its official website.
Eligibility for Free Government Landline Phones for Seniors
In order to be eligible for Free Government Landline Phones for Seniors, you will be required to fulfill certain criteria. Either your income should be below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines or you must be a participant in any of the federally assisted programs that are mentioned below.
- Food Stamps
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
- Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
- Head Start
- National School Lunch Program’s Free School Lunch.
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Tribally-Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
So, suppose you are eligible for or participating in any of the above-mentioned programs. In that case, you will automatically be eligible for the Lifeline Service program and get free landline phone service.
If you do not fulfill that criterion, then you can apply if your income is below the poverty level mentioned in the poverty guidelines. Also, you should be a resident of the area where the Lifeline Assistance Program is available.
Why should you have a Landline Home Phone Service?
Nowadays, most households in the United States have cut off their landline services and rely mostly on phone connections. Although it is not as feasible to use a landline service nowadays, there are a lot of good reasons why you should own a landline phone.
If you did not know yet, landline phones have a better sound quality than that regular cell phones. Such landline phones can be helpful for those who have hearing problems or for the ones who spend most of their time at home.
Landlines have the ability to show the exact location through the connected IP address and the apartment number in case you are staying in a high-rise apartment.
So in case of any emergency, the 911 operator would know your exact location through a landline connection as opposed to a phone whose location one might not be able to trace exactly at places like a high-rise apartment.
Some other advantages of a landline phone over a cellular phone include – a reliable connection through a landline. You do not have to worry about the battery that would die anytime. One can also get affordable international calling plan options through a landline service provider.
Features of Landline Phone
Some of the best features of a landline phone include – Assigned ringtones that ring certain tones for certain people as assigned so that you can know who is calling. You can also select the numbers that you wish to block from calling you.
Other features that one might get through landline phones are three-way conference calling, call forwarding, speed dial, do not disturb mode, anonymous call rejecting, call return, call waiting for caller ID, international calling, and so on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Given below are some of the most Frequently Asked Questions that many people have been wondering about regarding free landline service for seniors. You can further go through them to get any of your doubts cleared.
What is a landline?
A landline is one of the most popular ‘home phones’ using which you can connect with anybody you want through your home. Landline uses a copper wire or fiber optic cable for voice transmission.
Are landlines free?
Not exactly but you can get discounts on government landline phone service using the Lifeline Assistance program and with providers such as CenturyLink, AT&T, Verizon, and so on. There are a lot of alternative ways using which you can get discounts on landline phone service.
Is it still possible to get a landline?
Yes, it certainly is! One might think that the age of landlines has passed by but that isn’t the truth. One can still use landlines to connect with their loved ones. A lot of mobile phone companies manufacture landlines and one can also get free government landlines for senior citizens and other needy people.
How much does a landline cost per month?
Generally speaking, landline services can cost around $30 per month. The cheapest landline service would be CenturyLink which offers a monthly basic landline plan for $23.34. Verizon service provider charges $20 per month but they would also require you to take internet or TV connection in a bundle. Cox, AT&T, and Xfinity Landline are other popular landline service providers.
Can you get a landline for free?
Yes. You can get a landline for free through various government programs in some states. If you are eligible for these programs then you can get free landline phone service.
How can I get a free landline?
If you are wondering How can I get a free residential phone service or ways to get Free government landline phone service, then there is one way. If you are someone who is already eligible for or participating in government assistance programs such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) or Medicaid/Medicare, then you could get qualified for discounted landline phone service under the Lifeline Assistance program.
What is the cheapest landline phone service?
The cheapest landline service is offered by CenturyLink which is their Basic Home Phone Plan priced at $23.34 per month. Next to it is the Cox Voice Premier Plan starting at $29.99 per month. Spectrum, Xfinity, and other service providers also charge $29.99 per month for landline phone service.
What is some alternative way to get free landline phone service?
Some of the alternate ways to get Cheapest landline phone service are Phone.com, MagicJack, Google Voice, etc.
Who has the cheapest landline service?
Some of the cheapest landline services are Century Link, Spectrum, Cox, Verizon Fios, and so on. The plans start from $23.34/mo but could also be lesser in some cases. A little research can help you get more idea about the cheapest landline service.
Summing it up
Those were the free landline phone service for seniors in the United States. I hope you all could find the above post informative.
I am sure by now you might have understood that if you are eligible for Lifeline Assistance Program, you can get cheapest landline phone service. And for that eligibility for any other government program such as SNAP, LIHEAP, Medicaid would be very beneficial.
In case you are not eligible for Lifeline Assistance Program, you can also check out the Emergency Benefits Program which is somewhat similar. Or, you can also give a try to the bundled packages from service providers. For example, Verizon offers landline services at $20 per month if you have it bundled with either a TV or internet package or both.
Apart from the different cheapest landline phone services for seniors, nowadays, there are also many other easy ways to stay connected with your near and dear ones such as online apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and so on. You can also try experimenting with them.
In case you have anything to add further, then do let us know in the comments below. We welcome your feedback.
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