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.
Forms SNAP applicants and recipients may need to fill out forms beyond the application, such as a change report form, recertification form, interim report form and a request for replacement of food Purchased with SNAP benefits. Find these forms below. Change Report Form: Use the SNAP RIW-200 Change Report Form to report any changes in your household circumstances. SNAP recipients should report things such as an updated address, a change in income or changes to the number of members living in your household. SNAP RIW-200 Change Report Form (English) SNAP RIW-200 Change Report Form (Spanish) SNAP RIW-200 Change Report Form (Portuguese) Recertification: Once you are approved for SNAP, your case will be “active” for a certain period of time. This is called your “certification period.” You will have to recertify every 12 or 24 months depending on your household circumstance to continue receiving SNAP. You will be mailed a recertification packet to the mailing address you reported to DHS in the the 11th or 23rd month of your certification period. If you did not receive the form, you may: call DHS to request a new one complete your recertification online by logging into your account at healthyrhode.ri.gov, or you can complete the SNAP-2 Recertification form below Recertification (English) Recertification (Spanish) Recertification (Portuguese) Interim Reporting: SNAP households that have a 12-month certification period will need to fill out an Interim Report before the end of the sixth month of their certification period. An interim report form will be mailed to you in the fifth month of your certification period. If you did not receive the form, you may call DHS to request a new one, or you can complete and mail the SNAP-2M form below. Interim Report (English) Interim Report (Spanish) Interim Report (Portuguese) How to Report Loss of Food: If your food spoiled due to a loss of power or other misfortune, you may qualify for replacement SNAP benefits. You can ask for replacement SNAP benefits if you lost food that you bought with SNAP because: You lost power for 4 hours or more, Your utilities were shut off (for any reason), Your freezer or refrigerator stopped working, or There was damage from a fire, flood, or storm Tell DHS within 10 days of the food loss. You can do this in person (when offices are open), by phone or mail. Within 10 days of when you report the loss, you also need to give DHS a SNAP-55 Request for Replacement of Food Purchased with SNAP Benefits form below. This can also serve as your initial report. SNAP 55 (English) SNAP 55 (Spanish) SNAP 55 (Portuguese) Want to appeal your SNAP or any other benefit decision? Appeals information can be found here.