Community Reminder DHS offices will be closed on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, Veteran’s Day, Monday, Nov. 11, and Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 28. For the weeks of Election Day and Thanksgiving, the Call Center will be open for the remaining four days of the week to accept incoming calls between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. The week of Veteran’s Day, the Call Center days of operation will be Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Customers will continue to have access to the Customer Portal (healthyrhode.ri.gov), the mobile app, and the self-service Call Center during the observances. Please plan accordingly.
Warwick Office Update Due to facility maintenance, the DHS regional office at 195 Buttonwoods Ave., Warwick, will only be open for document drop-offs until further notice. All planned appointments and customer interviews at the Warwick office have been rescheduled for other times, locations, or over the phone. The Customer Portal (healthyrhode.ri.gov), the mobile app, the Call Center (1-855-697-4347), and other regional offices remain available.
Interpretation Services Available If you are seeking information about DHS programs and services in a language other than English, please be advised that interpretation services and/or interpreters 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.
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) LIHEAP helps eligible low-income households pay their heating bills through federal grants to the household. There are two components to this program. Heating Assistance: A grant to assist a household in meeting heating costs. The grant may be paid to either a heating fuel vendor or utility company, or in a few cases, directly to the applicant. Crisis Assistance: A grant to help resolve a home heating crisis caused by a heat shut-off because of failure to pay a regulated energy bill, the inability to pay for deliverable fuel, or the failure of a heating system that is not repairable. Reporting Fraud: Fraud occurs when a person makes false statements and/or misrepresents facts or circumstances to the Rhode Island Department of Human Services to receive benefits illegally. For examples of fraud, click here. If you suspect fraud is occurring, report online and fill out a Office of Internal Audit Fraud Complaint Form or by calling the Fraud Unit at (401) 574-8175. Other Resources Learn about eligibility for heating assistance and how to apply here. Find helpful resources here.