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.
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.
Loss of Food Reminder for SNAP Customers Published on Friday, September 15, 2023 Rhode Island’s weather can certainly be unpredictable. With that in mind, the Department of Human Services (DHS) would like to remind those we serve that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) customers may seek and receive replacement SNAP benefits due to a loss of food caused by a disaster. Anyone who receives SNAP and experiences a power outage lasting four or more hours may be eligible to have SNAP benefits replaced. Households seeking to replace benefits must report the loss within 10 days. They then have an additional 10 days to submit their signed affidavit of loss; see the SNAP-55 form to report loss of food that can be found on dhs.ri.gov on the SNAP Other Forms page (direct link listed below). Link for SNAP 55 form: https://dhs.ri.gov/programs-and-services/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap/supplemental-nutrition-1 DHS typically gets a list from Rhode Island Energy to confirm power outages. Though this may happen, the verification of loss can be from a landlord, neighbor, community agency staff member, etc. It does not need to be the power company. DHS staff are trained on assisting customers with the SNAP-55 process and are ready to help those who need support. SNAP recipients who lose food due to power outage are encouraged to seek replacement benefits. However, in the event that at least 50 percent of a certain community (eg. city, zip code) is reported to be without power for more than four hours, the Department may opt to apply for and receive a waiver from the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) for mass replacement of benefits. This will allow for an automated mass replacement of a percentage of SNAP benefits for households in the designated cities and towns.