A few rumors make us laugh so hard and a few just develop a new ray of hope, especially in the poor people. But does the SNAP, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which is the US’ most important anti-hunger program-helping millions of people fighting hunger, deprivation, and low income, also spreads such rumors?
Many people are hearing rumors about receiving free tablets being offered by the federal government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). If you are also among those taking the rumor as truth and availing yourself of it then hold your horses back. I’m the ghost to steal your charms. No official website of the government has notified such news. The program does provide discounts to eligible households, but nothing is being offered free of cost by the government.
About SNAP -Detailed description
SNAP is a US-based program of nutritional support for low-paid working families, low-income older people (60 years or above), disabled people with fixed income, households, and individuals with low income. It is the program that assists during times of economic downturns and is the most responsive program of the federal government.
ACP is a United States government program that is sponsored. The program is run by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and several companies have signed on to be a part of the program. The program aims at providing wireless internet to low-income households and individuals. It also helps ensure that such households can avail of broadband at affordable rates when need to work for school, healthcare, office, and more.
The website of ACP tells us that the program offers amazing discount offers to its eligible participants. It offers a discount of up to $30 on monthly basis for internet service for the households who are eligible. However, a discount of up to $75 is also provided by the program to the households qualifying for Tribal lands.
The eligible households can also avail themselves of the one-time discount of up to $100 if they contribute less than $50 and more than $10 towards buying price when buying a desktop computer, a laptop, or a tablet from participating providers.
As told earlier that there are certain criteria one has to meet to be eligible for the ACP and SNAP programs. The households, if their income is below or at 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, are eligible for the services. However, if they meet some other criteria like participation in SNAP or some other, they are still eligible.
Looking all over the website’s information we could not find any credible data seconding the SNAP rumors. Nowhere, on the ACP website, is mentioned that a free tablet is being granted to the eligible recipients. However, a contribution of at least $10.01 by the eligible household can result in getting a tablet.
Besides all of this information, there is a striking contrast of data present on certain websites that claim that one can get a tablet from the government through ACP/SNP completely free of cost. For instance, a site named “Government Free Phones” is one of those sites making people believe in the rumor. The site has a blog entitled “How to Get a Free Tablet with EBT” which make people consider the rumor truth.
In the above-mentioned blog, the providers named to provide free tablets include Standup wireless, Q Link wireless, and Easy wireless. But despite the eye-catching and grabbing title, the hopes of the readers don’t stand high after giving a thorough reading to the complete blog. When we give read the provided information, we don’t get the happy news about free tablets being provided by the government.
If we look at the Q Link wireless website, we come to know that it offers ACP subscribers a new tablet under its network along with free and unlimited phone call service. But in reality, this offer is not completely free. It adds that ACP subscribers need to contribute a one-time $10.01 co-pay in advance to receive the tablet.
Visiting Standup wireless’s website, we come to know that it also offers tablets for only $10.01. they say that the least amount is needed to be charged to participants by FCC to qualify for the tablet.
Very likely, Easy Wireless service is no less different. The Easy Wireless website does not mention any free tablet offer. However, they say that one can buy an 8-inch tablet for only $10.99 which is valued at $120.
So, we can say that receiving a free tablet through ACP is not possible. One can surely avail a good deal of discount offers on anyone if one qualifies the criteria.
If you want to get into ACP, you will need to go to the “AffordableConnectivity.gov” website and submit an application or print the mail-in application. moreover, you can also contact your preferred participating provider for a selection of programs and get ready to avail yourself of a discount on your bill.
Conclusion:
After getting a detailed overview of the free tablets through the Affordable Connectivity Program as per the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) rumors, we come to know that there is no reality to the rumors. SNAP/ACP is not having any such offers of distributing free tablets. The programs do offer services at a discount but no free tablet distribution.
Are the SNAP rumors free tablets free?
No, but they are available at affordable prices for low-paid individuals and households.
What is the monthly discount offered by ACP?
It is $30 per month for internet service and $75 for qualifying Tribal areas.
