Attention RI SNAP Beneficiaries Please be aware there is currently fraudulent activity taking place in other states affecting SNAP Benefits on EBT cards. While we do not believe there is any activity of this nature currently taking place in Rhode Island, please be advised you will never be asked to sign up for instant cash benefits or be asked to provide personal information, your card number, or PIN. If you ever receive a call, email, text, or social media invitation to do so, never click any links or provide the requested information.Please know, ebtEdge will never request this type of information from you. Please remember to protect yourself by changing your PIN frequently – using a different PIN each time – or by freezing your card. If you are uncertain about or confused by a suspicious inquiry, please contact DHS and call the EBT customer service line at 1-888-979-9939 to change your PIN. You can find more information on how best to protect yourself from possible SNAP-related fraud here.
Call Center Update DHS offices will be closed July 4 in observance of the holiday. To help ensure customers have ample opportunity to connect with DHS staff the week of July 4, the Call Center will adjust its schedule to take incoming calls Monday-Wednesday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Call Center will return to its normal schedule the following week.
Summer EBT Update This summer, families with school-age children who were income-eligible for free or reduced-price meals during the 2023-2024 school year will receive SUN Bucks (formerly Summer EBT), a $120 dollar benefit per child that can be used to buy groceries. Families will either see the benefit added to their SNAP EBT card or to a separate SUN Bucks card that will be mailed this month. Benefits will be available to use beginning July 1. If you have questions about SUN bucks, please call United Way of Rhode Island at 2-1-1. Additional information about SUN buck can be found here: https://dhs.ri.gov/sun-bucks
Translation Services Available If you are seeking information about DHS programs and services in a language other than English, translation services are available to you at no cost. Persons with disabilities requiring another form of communication, such as auxiliary aids for hearing and the visually impaired, can inform DHS about their needs so appropriate accommodations can be made.
Contact Us The following is contact information for some of our dedicated staff, including leadership and program administrators. Our Call Center staff can be reached by calling 1-855-MY-RIDHS (1-855-697-4347) Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, except holidays, 8:30AM-3PM and should be first called if you have questions about applying, your pending application and/or your current benefits. More information regarding how to apply can be found here. A Customer Resource Guide is available below. The document details the best ways to complete actions, answers general questions and provides a list of community partners who can also be of assistance. The guide is available in English, Spanish and Portuguese. DHS Best Ways - English - (rev. 2.26.2024) PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes DHS mejor maneras - Español- (rev. 2.26.24) PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes DHS melhores maneiras - Português- (rev. 2.26.24) PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes Leadership Kimberly Merolla-Brito Director Deputy Director/Chief Administrative Officer Louis Pasteur Building 25 Howard Avenue Cranston, RI 02920 Phone: (401) 462-2121 Marisa Petreccia Deputy Director Louis Pasteur Building 25 Howard Avenue Cranston, RI 02920 Phone: (401) 462-2121 Saurabh Gosai Associate Director, IT Systems Louis Pasteur Building 25 Howard Avenue Cranston, RI 02920 Phone: (401) 479-0249 Kimberly E.B. Rauch Associate Director, Policy and Programs Louis Pasteur Building 25 Howard Avenue Cranston, RI 02920 Phone: (401) 462-2121 Ronald Racine Senior Associate Director, Child Care, Child Support and Rehabilitation Services Louis Pasteur Building 25 Howard Avenue Providence, RI 02903 Phone: (401) 462-2121 Frank DiBiase Associate Director, Office of Child Support Services 77 Dorrance Street Providence, RI 02903 Phone: (401) 458-4400 Joseph Murphy Associate Director, Office of Rehabilitation Services 40 Fountain Street Providence, RI 02903 Phone: (401) 787-2901 Deborah A. Barclay, Esq. Executive Legal Counsel, State Public Records Contact (FOI) Louis Pasteur Building 25 Howard Avenue Cranston, RI 02920 Phone: (401) 462-2121 Erica Norcini Chief Financial Officer Financial Management Louis Pasteur Building 25 Howard Avenue Cranston, RI 02920 Phone: (401) 462-2121 Zulma Valenzuela Assistant Director, Training and DEI Chief Officer Financial Management Louis Pasteur Building 25 Howard Avenue Cranston, RI 02920 Phone: (401) 462-2121 Jim Beardsworth Chief Public Affairs Officer Louis Pasteur Building 25 Howard Avenue Cranston, RI 02920 Email: James.Beardsworth@dhs.ri.gov Phone: 401-408-1661 Jose Garcia Legislative Affairs Louis Pasteur Building 25 Howard Avenue Cranston, RI 02920 Email: Jose.Garcia@dhs.ri.gov Phone: 401-569-7846 Program Administrators Nicole Chiello Child Care Licensing & Regulations Louis Pasteur Building 25 Howard Avenue Cranston, RI 02920 Phone: (401) 462-3009 Email: DHS.childcarelicensing@dhs.ri.gov George Bowen Management Operations Louis Pasteur Building 25 Howard Avenue Cranston, RI 02920 Phone: (401) 462-6468 Rose Leandre Long Term Services and Supports P.O. Box 8709 Cranston, RI 02920 Phone: (401) 602-6891 Bethany Caputo Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Phone: (401) 559-7077 For SNAP Eligibility and Benefit Questions: 1-855-697-4347 Donna Rook RI Works/Temporary Aid to Needy Families Program Louis Pasteur Building 25 Howard Avenue Cranston, RI 02920 Phone: (401) 462-0138 Fred Sneesby Federal Grant Programs Louis Pasteur Building 25 Howard Avenue Cranston, RI 02920 Phone: (401) 462-1669 Denise Tatro Field Office Administrator 249 Roosevelt Avenue Pawtucket, RI 02860 Phone: (401) 721-6601 Linda DeMoranville Providence Field Office Administrator 41 West Road, Hazard Bldg 74 Cranston, RI 02920 Phone: (401) 462-7951 Office of Healthy Aging Maria E. Cimini Director, Office of Healthy Aging Louis Pasteur Building - 2nd Floor 25 Howard Avenue Cranston, RI 02920 Phone: (401) 462-0501 Office of Veterans Services Office of Veterans Services Kasim J. Yarn Director of Veterans Affairs 560 Jefferson Boulevard, Suite 206 Warwick, RI 02886 Phone: (401) 921-2119 Rhode Island Veterans Resource Center David Dos Reis, Chief 560 Jefferson Boulevard, Suite 206 Warwick, RI 02886 Phone: (401) 921-0951 Rhode Island Veterans Home 480 Metacom Avenue Bristol, RI 02809 Phone: (401) 253-8000 Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery 301 South County Trail Exeter, RI 02822 Phone: (401) 268-3088 Office of Rehabilitation Services Joseph Murphy Associate Director, Office of Rehabilitation Services 40 Fountain Street Providence, RI 02903 Phone: (401) 787-2901 Office of Child Support Services Frank DiBiase Associate Director, Office of Child Support Services 77 Dorrance Street Providence, RI 02903 Phone: (401) 458-4400 DHS Call Center and Resource Info Lines DHS Call Center Includes RIte Care, RI Works, Early Intervention, Children with Special Needs Phone: 1-855-MY-RIDHS (1-855-697-4347) Health Coverage Phone: 1-855-840-4774 DHS Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Mailing Address: P.O. Box 8709, Cranston, RI 02920 Email: DHS.LTSS@dhs.ri.gov Phone: (401) 574-8474 Fax: (401) 574-9915 DHS Senior Staff Line Includes Directors and Administrators Phone: (401) 462-2121 RIte Share Phone: (401) 462-0311 Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Customer Service Phone: 1-888-979-9939 Child Support Enforcement Phone: (401) 458-4400 Earned Income Tax Credit Information Phone: 1-800-829-1040 Locating Child Care in Your Area RI Child Care Resource & Referral Center Phone: (401) 739-6100 Phone: (855) 398-7605 BrightStars DHS Child Care Licensing Phone: (401) 462-3009 Medicaid Provider Help Desk Phone: (401) 784-8100 (in-state and long-distance callers) Phone: 1-800-964-6211 (in-state toll calls and border communities) Need More Help? There are many community partner agencies who can meet you in your community to help you with applications and forms. Find a medical assistance navigator at HealthyRhode RI. Find a local Community Action Program at the RI Association of Community Action Agencies website. To contact DHS directly, view the "Other Inquiries" section located here.