Do I Qualify for a No-Cost Captioned Telephone? A Simple Guide to ClearCaptions Eligibility

Key Takeaways 

• You may qualify for a ClearCaptions Phone if hearing loss makes phone calls difficult. No doctor’s note or medical exam is required. 
• Service is available to residents of the United States and its territories. 
• A home internet connection is required to display captions during calls. 
• ClearCaptions is currently only available in English, so customers need to communicate in English to use the service. 

Finding out if you qualify for a no-cost captioned telephone doesn’t have to be complicated. ClearCaptions has four simple requirements, and if you meet them, you can receive a caption phone, along with the setup and training that comes with it, at no cost to you. This guide breaks down exactly what qualifies you, and what happens next once you do. 

What is ClearCaptions, and How Does it Help? 

ClearCaptions provides a caption phone service for people with hearing loss who need captions to communicate over the phone. As a caller speaks, the words they say appear as text on a screen attached to the phone, so you can read along as you listen. If your hearing loss has made phone calls difficult or frustrating, ClearCaptions helps to make calls simple again, so you can rediscover the joy of connecting over the phone. 

Hearing loss can make people pull back from phone calls altogether, which often leads to missed conversations with family, doctors, and friends. A captioned phone helps you stay independent, so you can keep making calls on your own terms. 

While many of our customers are seniors, ClearCaptions can help anyone whose hearing loss makes phone calls difficult, including veterans and people with hearing loss at any age. 

Why Is ClearCaptions Free? 

ClearCaptions comes at no cost to those who qualify, thanks to these two pieces of federal support: 

Title IV of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 

This federal law protects the right of people with hearing loss to accessible telephone communication. Captioned telephone service exists because of this law, giving qualified individuals a legal right to a phone service built for their needs. 

The FCC Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) Fund 

The TRS Fund is a federally managed fund that covers the cost of every captioned call. Telecommunications companies pay into this fund, which is why you’ll never see a bill for the captioning service itself. Between the ADA and the TRS Fund, your ClearCaptions Phone, its setup, and every caption you read cost you nothing. 

Who Qualifies for a ClearCaptions Phone? 

Meeting these four requirements is all it takes to qualify. 

Hearing loss 

If your hearing loss makes it difficult to use the phone, you may qualify for ClearCaptions at no cost. You don’t need a doctor’s note or a formal diagnosis to apply. If phone calls have become stressful, hard to follow, or something you’ve started avoiding, that’s a strong sign captions could help. 

United States residency 

You need to live in the United States or a U.S. territory to use ClearCaptions. The service is only available within the U.S. and its territories. Note that you do not have to be a natural citizen of the U.S.; you just have to currently live within the states or a territory.  

Home internet access 

Your ClearCaptions Phone needs a home internet connection to work, along with reliable electricity to power the phone itself. 

Communicate in English 

ClearCaptions currently only provides captioning for calls conducted in English. 

Who Doesn’t Qualify 

A few situations mean ClearCaptions isn’t the right fit: 

• You don’t have hearing loss that affects your ability to use the phone. 

• Other people in your household want to use captions on the phone, but don’t have hearing loss themselves. Federal law reserves captioned telephone service for the individual with hearing loss who registers for it. Others without hearing loss can use the phone with captions turned off, however. 

• You don’t have home internet access or live outside the United States and its territories. 

What Does ClearCaptions Include? 

When you qualify for a ClearCaptions Phone, you get more than just the phone itself. Your service includes: 

• A large-screen phone designed for easy reading, with adjustable text size and volume. All call captions are privately saved in a call log, so you can always go back and read your past conversations to remember a key detail or date. 
• Built-in FEMA Emergency Alert System (available for internet-enabled phones only) support in certain areas, so weather and safety alerts can appear right on your screen at no added cost. 
• Setup at no added cost, whether that’s an in-home visit from a specialist or a guided setup over the phone. 
• One-on-one training on how to use your phone and adjust your settings so you feel confident from day one. 
• Ongoing U.S.-based support whenever you have a question or run into an issue. 

How to Apply for a ClearCaptions Phone 

Getting started takes just a few minutes, however you’d like to do it. 

1. Call ClearCaptions: Call us at 866-996-1498 to speak with a member of our team. We’ll walk you through the requirements and get your application started over the phone. 
2. Apply online: Apply for a ClearCaptions Phone online. Fill out our short online form to check whether you qualify and apply in just a few minutes. 
3. Use our online chat: Prefer to chat instead? Look for the chat icon on our website to talk with a team member right away. 

Phone calls don’t have to be stressful. Checking whether you qualify and filling out the form takes just a few minutes, and if you qualify, your ClearCaptions Phone comes at no cost to you. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Do I need a doctor’s note to qualify for a ClearCaptions Phone? 

No. ClearCaptions uses a simple self-certification process, so you don’t need a doctor’s note or formal diagnosis to apply. If your hearing loss makes phone calls difficult, you may qualify. 

Will my current telephone number change? 

It depends on your setup, since some ClearCaptions phone options can keep your existing number while others assign a new one. A member of our team can walk you through your options and confirm what’s possible for you when you apply. 

Are there any hidden fees or contracts? 

There are no monthly bills or contracts for your ClearCaptions Phone or its captioning service, since the cost is covered by the FCC’s Telecommunications Relay Services Fund. Our team will always explain any additional details specific to your account before you get started.