Our standards
- Official sources first. Program facts like benefit amounts, income limits and qualifying programs come from the FCC, USAC, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and state regulators such as the CPUC. We link to sources beneath charts and in "Official sources" boxes.
- Program information is separate from our offers. We clearly distinguish what Lifeline and California LifeLine provide (service discounts) from what Combo Wireless provides (service and device offers).
- No invented claims. We don't publish fake reviews, testimonials, statistics or partnerships. Charts show published figures or our actual offer lineup.
- Plain language. We explain terms like "household," "recertification" and "eSIM" in everyday words.
- Honest limitations. We tell you when a device is older, refurbished, subject to availability, or has software support limits.
About search terms like "free government phone"
We use common search phrases such as "free government phone," "free government tablet" or "free tablet with EBT" because that's how people look for help. Every page that uses these phrases explains what they really mean: government programs discount service, and devices are provider offers.
Review and updates
Content is reviewed by the Combo Wireless editorial team before publishing, and again when programs change. For example, federal income limits change each year after HHS updates the poverty guidelines, and California LifeLine limits change each June 1. Each page shows when it was last updated.
Corrections
If you find an error, email editorial@combowireless.com with the page address and what should change. We review every report, and when we confirm an error we correct the page promptly.
Not legal or financial advice
Our content is general information to help you understand programs and our offers. Final eligibility decisions are made through the official Lifeline verification process. See our disclaimer.