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.
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.
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.
A Message from DHS Director Courtney E. Hawkins regarding DHS Measures for COVID-19 Published on Monday, March 16, 2020 As news about the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) continues to develop, I want to share with you the steps we are taking at the RI Department of Human Services to prepare and keep you connected to the services and benefits you need. I want to stress that the health and safety of our customers and employees is the utmost importance at RI DHS. Prevention is essential as this public health emergency continues to evolve. This is a good opportunity to remind you of our other customer service channels that do not require a visit to our contact center. You can: Call us at 1-855-MY-RIDHS (1-855-697-4347) from 8:30am – 4:00pm, Monday through Friday. Login to your Customer Portal account to access your benefits. Customer portal Instructions can be found on the DHS website (visit http://www.dhs.ri.gov/Programs/index.php). We will continue to follow developments with the Coronavirus in Rhode Island with our partners in state government. Our commitment is to keep our customers updated as the situation evolves in the event we need to make any changes to the way we do business in order to appropriately respond to the Coronavirus. Our priority is, and will continue to be, ensuring that Rhode Islanders have access to their public benefits. Please be sure that you are aware of the following sources of information and are checking back with these sources frequently: The State of Rhode Island Department of Health - Cornavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) page; see link below CDC Center for Disease Control and Prevention - Cornonavirus (COVID-19) page; see link below The Rhode Island Department of Health has launched a 24-hour hotline for anyone with questions about the Coronavirus (401-222-8022). Residents can also call 211 after 4:30pm for assistance. I also encourage everyone take preventative actions as recommended by the CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/index.html). Rhode Islanders are also encouraged to contact the BH Link if you or anyone you know or care about is experiencing a behavioral health care crisis (see link below). State of RI Department Of Health CDC Center for Disease Control and Prevention BH Link