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.
Choosing Child Care Families that qualify for the CCAP program can choose their own child care provider. DHS will reimburse authorized child care providers up to a certain amount. Most eligible families share in the cost of care, called a co-payment, based on their income, family size and the number of children receiving child care subsidies. This fee is paid directly to the child care provider. A chart listing co-pay amounts is below: CCAP 2023 Family Income & Co-Pay Charts PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes Parents can select the child care provider of their choice and, if necessary, may use more than one provider to meet their child care needs so long as the hours of care do not overlap. Options for child care include: A DHS licensed child care center or before/after-school program A DHS licensed family child care home A license-exempt provider (relative) that has received approval from DHS Delia Hall, who serves as the director of the University of RI’s Dr. Pat Feinstein Child Development Center, discusses why child care is essential for the social and mental development of kids. Licensed child care providers in Rhode Island are safe and give the quality care needed in these important brain development years. There is space for your children. To find providers, including those approved for CCAP, check out our consumer website. It can be found by clicking the learn more button at "Find an Early Learning Program" on the Rhode Island Children's Cabinet website, which has a multitude of prenatal to pre-K resources to keep RI kids strong. (You can also click on the picture above to go straight to the search tool.) Our partner, BrightStars, are also available to help you find a CCAP child care provider. You can reach them by phone at (401) 739-6100 or 1-855-398-7605 or by email at info@BrightStars.org. Services are available in both English and Spanish. DHS’ first priority is to protect the health and safety of all children and families served in child care programs statewide. The COVID-19 Child Care Playbook in English and Spanish continues to provide guidance and resources for providers and can be found here.