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.
Looking for Additional Food and Meals Published on Friday, March 20, 2020 The RI Department of Human Services (DHS) is committed to helping its customers get the resources they need while the State responds to coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). If more is needed beyond what can be received with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food assistance benefits, here are other options for vulnerable populations: For families with students out of school, there are meals being provided by the school districts. Please contact your local district for more information on the plan for food distribution. In the meantime, a full list of free food sites across Rhode Island for school children can be found here: Department of Health Food Sites for Children (see link below). You can search by city or town. Across Rhode Island, the Office of Healthy Aging helps fund roughly 70 Community Table meal sites for our senior residents. Currently, all meal sites are closed to congregate dining, but are doing either grab-and-go and/or deliveries to their CURRENT clients. Visit http://www.oha.ri.gov/what-we-do/connect/nutrition/community-tables/ to find a meal site in your city or town. The RI Coalition for the Homeless has a list of meal sites for this vulnerable population. This list can be found at: https://www.rihomeless.org/meal-sites. The RI Community Food Bank has made some adjustments to its operations, but continues to deliver food through our statewide network of member agencies. To find a food pantry near you, go to the Rhode Community Food Bank (see link below). Department of Health Food Sites for Children RI Community Food Bank