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.
Stop & Shop Now Accepting EBT Card Payments for Online Orders Published on Friday, August 27, 2021 The Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS) is pleased to share a prominent Rhode Island retailer is now accepting EBT card payments for online orders. Stop & Shop is joining the growing list of Online Purchasing Program participants, which allows families to purchase groceries online using their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which are federally funded and state administered through our Department. The Online Purchasing Program was implemented by the federal Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) during the pandemic as a way to help vulnerable families stay safe while buying essential groceries. This community retailer joins Aldi’s, Amazon, BJ's Wholesale Club and Walmart in accepting EBT payments online. Taxes, fees, and related driver tips cannot be deducted from EBT balances. "Offering EBT payment online is an integral part of Stop & Shop’s commitment to serving our communities,” said Gordon Reid, President of Stop & Shop, in its recent news release about the online option. “We’re proud to make accessibility to healthy food easier and more convenient, especially for those impacted by the pandemic.” Added interim DHS Director Celia J. Blue, “Our mission at DHS is that all Rhode Islanders have the opportunity to thrive at home, work and in the community, but you can’t flourish without the life essentials – such as food, housing and employment, It is why increasing access to healthy food and other basic needs continues to be at the core of what we do daily. We are very excited to have Stop & Shop add this much-needed online shopping option for our SNAP recipients." Items eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits will be labeled accordingly. For more information, or to place a delivery or pickup order with Stop & Shop, visit www.stopandshop.com/new-customer. You can also purchase groceries with Stop & Stop through Instacart at https://www.instacart.com/stop-shop. Read more about all the participating retailers here.