Tag Mobile’s Low-Income Plan: Features, Benefits & More
Tag Mobile offers a low-income plan called the Lifeline plan that provides discounted cell phone service to qualifying low-income households. The Lifeline program is part of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Universal Service Fund and aims to make communication services more affordable for low-income consumers.
To qualify for Tag Mobile’s Lifeline plan, you must either have an income at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines or participate in certain assistance programs like Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Federal Public Housing Assistance, Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit, or Tribal Programs. You must also not already be receiving a Lifeline benefit from another provider and no one else in your household can be subscribed to the Lifeline program. https://www.inmyarea.com/resources/guide-internet-low-income-customers
Costs & Fees
TAG Mobile’s low-income plan costs $15 per month for unlimited talk, text, and 1 GB of data. According to their website (https://www.inmyarea.com/resources/guide-internet-low-income-customers), there are no activation fees, no overage charges, and no contracts required. Customers simply pay the $15 monthly fee with no hidden costs or surprises. As long as your usage stays under 1 GB per month, the $15 covers everything you need including nationwide coverage.
Data Allowance
The Tag Mobile low-income plan includes 5GB of high-speed data per month. Once you’ve used the 5GB, speeds are reduced to 2G for the remainder of the billing cycle (Cox $9.95 Low-Income Internet: SNAP, TANF, School Lunch). While 5GB may not seem like much compared to standard unlimited data plans from major carriers, it provides an essential service for low-income households and allows you to check emails, browse social media, stream music, and more without hitting full speed throttling limits.
If you do max out the 5GB before your cycle renews, you’ll still have unlimited 2G data access at reduced speeds. This allows you to continue using data services albeit at a slower pace. The 2G speeds are about the equivalent of old school dial-up internet, so you’ll mostly be able to load simple webpages and send messages. Streaming video and music will be challenging at 2G speeds.
Overall the 5GB high-speed data allowance gives you enough full-speed data access every month for essential online activities while reducing your bill. Just beware of speed throttling once you pass the 5GB threshold.
Talk & Text
TAG Mobile’s low-income plan includes unlimited talk and text to any number in the U.S. This means there are no monthly limits on the number of minutes or texts customers can use. Customers can make unlimited calls to local and long distance numbers across the country without worrying about overage fees. They also get unlimited text messaging to any U.S. number without incurring extra charges. This unlimited talk and text feature makes TAG Mobile’s low-income plan stand out from other discounted cell phone service plans that may limit minutes or texts.
Coverage Area
TAG Mobile utilizes the T-Mobile network to provide coverage in all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. According to the company’s website, over 98% of Americans are covered by the T-Mobile network that TAG Mobile relies on (https://www.tagmobile.com/coverage-map/). This makes the TAG Mobile low-income plan widely accessible for qualifying customers across the country.
The coverage spans urban, suburban, and rural areas. T-Mobile, and by extension TAG Mobile, has focused efforts in recent years on expanding rural coverage. However, there may still be some remote or mountainous regions with limited connectivity. Customers can check the latest coverage map on the TAG Mobile website to view predicted coverage levels down to the neighborhood level.
TAG Mobile and the T-Mobile network utilize both 5G and 4G LTE technology to deliver fast, reliable service. The low-income plan can take advantage of these latest generation networks wherever available.
Supported Devices
TAG Mobile offers service on a wide range of devices including both iOS and Android phones. Their coverage works on most modern unlocked smartphones including iPhones as well as popular models from Samsung, Google, LG, Motorola and more. Users just need to have an unlocked device that is compatible with TAG Mobile’s network bands.
For customers who need a phone, TAG Mobile offers affordable financing options and payment plans to get the latest devices. Phones can be purchased upfront or paid off over 12 or 24 month installments. There are also certified pre-owned and refurbished devices available at lower price points.
Before purchasing a phone for use with TAG Mobile, be sure to check that the device is compatible with their network. The best way is to enter the device model number into TAG Mobile’s IMEI checker on their website. This will confirm if it can be activated or not.
How to Apply
To apply for the Tag Mobile Low-Income Plan, customers need to visit the Tag Mobile website and fill out an online application form. The application process typically requires providing the following information and documentation:
Full name, date of birth, and contact details like mailing address and phone number.
Proof of identity such as a driver’s license, passport, or state ID.
Proof of income eligibility like prior year’s tax returns, pay stubs, or documentation of government assistance participation (Source).
Social security numbers for all members being added to the plan.
Consent to run a credit check as part of eligibility verification.
Tag Mobile may require documentation to be faxed or mailed in after starting the application online. Customers who meet the eligibility requirements will receive plan details and next steps via email or mail within 2-4 weeks of successful application.
Benefits
TAG Mobile’s low-income plans come with several beneficial perks for eligible customers. According to Guide To Internet Plans For Low- And Fixed-Income …, TAG Mobile provides free phone upgrades to newer models after 12 consecutive on-time monthly payments. They also waive activation fees, which typically cost $35 per line. Additionally, TAG Mobile does not charge overage fees, unlike some other low-income cell phone plans.
Limitations
Like other budget cell phone plans, Tag Mobile’s low-income plan comes with some restrictions. According to Guide To Internet Plans For Low- And Fixed-Income Customers, the plan limits video streaming quality to 480p and hotspot data to 5GB per month. This is likely to prevent excessive data usage that could strain the network. The low-income plan is also restricted to one line per household.
Other limitations may include:
- No international calling or roaming
- Lower priority data compared to regular Tag Mobile plans
- Slower speeds in congested areas
Customers should be aware of these limitations before signing up. The lower prices come with some trade-offs in terms of video quality, hotspot usage, and potentially data speeds at busy times. However, the core talk, text and data allowances remain useful for basic smartphone usage on a budget.
Alternatives
Tag Mobile’s low-income plan offers good value, but there are other cheap cell phone plans worth considering as alternatives. Some other top low-cost cell phone plans include:
Visible – Uses Verizon’s network and offers unlimited talk, text, and data for $40/month. No contract required.
Mint Mobile – Provides unlimited talk, text, and data on T-Mobile’s network starting at just $15/month when you pay for 12 months upfront.
Boost Mobile – Runs on T-Mobile’s network with monthly plans starting at $10/month for limited data or $35/month for unlimited data.
