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.
State Energy Assistance Programs Download our State Energy Assistance Programs Guide Do you need help paying your energy bills? There are several government and private programs that can help you. Financial Assistance to Help Pay for Home Energy Costs Rhode Island households can apply for financial awards to help pay for heating bills. The funds go to the utility or deliverable fuel company (e.g., oil companies) to be credited to customers’ accounts. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) LIHEAP is a federal program that offers financial relief to households for their heating costs. The program is administered by the RI Department of Human Services in partnership with the Community Action Agencies throughout the state. Applications are accepted at Community Action Agencies. To find the Community Action Agency serving your town or city, go to: Community Action Agencies Near Me | Find Your Local CAA (ricommunityaction.org) To learn about the program and how you might be eligible, go to: Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) | RI Department of Human Services The Good Neighbor Energy Fund The Good Neighbor Energy Fund provides financial assistance to Rhode Island households who are unable to meet a current energy expense due to financial difficulty. To learn more, go to: Good Neighbor Energy Fund - United Way of Rhode Island (unitedwayri.org) Keep the Heat On Keep the Heat On provides financial assistance to households that have either exhausted or are ineligible for all other state, federal or private heating assistance. To learn more, go to: Keep the Heat On - Providence, RI (heatri.com) Heating Oil Energy Prices To review current heating oil prices, please visit: https://energy.ri.gov/heating-cooling/fossil-fuels/oil-heating-only/heating-oil-energy-prices Programs Aimed at Reducing Energy Usage Free Home Energy Assessment Program At no cost, an energy specialist will assess your current energy use, help you develop a plan to make your home more energy-efficient, and educate you on rebates and incentives. Free home energy assessments are available to all households, including homeowners and renters. For more information, go to: https://www.rienergy.com/ri-home/energy-saving-programs/home-energy-assessments Pascoag Utility District: https://pud-ri.org/residential/home-energy-audits Block Island Utility District: https://blockislandpowercompany.com/energy-audits-2/ Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) Households participating in LIHEAP may take advantage of the Weatherization Assistance Program, which offers customers whole house energy efficiency services. These services may include installing insulation and providing health and safety measures. For more information, go to: Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) | RI Department of Human Services Heating System Repair and Replacement Program (HSRRP) Households participating in LIHEAP may take advantage of HSRRP. This program provides a one-time service to increase the heating system efficiency of owner-occupied residences. For more information, go to: Heating System Repair and Replacement Program (HSRRP) | RI Department of Human Services Conservation Measures There are many resources with good advice about saving energy in your house or apartment (one example: 25 Energy Efficient Tips That Lower Costs | Direct Energy) Managing Energy Bills in the Winter Help Making Payments Through Rhode Island Energy it is possible to apply for discounts on your monthly energy bills, create a payment plan to handle unpaid back bills, or create a 12-month budget to help smooth out the high winter bills. For more information, go to: Help Paying Your Bill | Rhode Island Energy (rienergy.com) Discounted Rates Households may be eligible for discounted rates on their energy bill if they are receiving certain public benefits disbursed by DHS. To learn more, go to: https://www.rienergy.com/RI-Home/Bill-Help/Discount-Rates State Energy Assistance Program Guides State Energy Assistance Programs - English PDF file, about 1mbmegabytes State Energy Assistance Programs - Spanish PDF file, about 2mbmegabytes State Energy Assistance Programs - Portuguese PDF file, about 2mbmegabytes
Heating Oil Energy Prices To review current heating oil prices, please visit: https://energy.ri.gov/heating-cooling/fossil-fuels/oil-heating-only/heating-oil-energy-prices