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.
SUN Bucks Update Families who received SUN Bucks benefits for their eligible school-age child on July 1, 2024 have until October 30 to use the benefits on their EBT or SUN Bucks card(s). These benefits were issued over the summer, automatically with some exceptions, to eligible school-age children who would have received free or reduced priced lunch during the regular school year. These extra benefits will be removed from cards if they are not used by October 30. Additional information about SUN Bucks is available online here: https://dhs.ri.gov/programs-and-services/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap/supplemental-nutrition-10
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.
Refugee DHS Benefits Cash Assistance Update Recent updates to RI Works will also support beneficiaries of the Refugee Assistance Program. To learn more about the recent changes to RI Works, please visit: https://dhs.ri.gov/programs-and-services/ri-works-program Refugees are immediately eligible for benefits. These are crucial to their survival in a new country and are essential supports until they can become gainfully employed, which they are expected to be within a year. Agencies to help refugees apply for and get the benefits below as well as additional resources can be found here. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) SNAP helps low-income individuals and families purchase food. Recipients can use SNAP benefits, which are given monthly, to buy food at local grocery stores, markets, and farmers markets that accept Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. A household’s income (earned and unearned), certain allowable deductions, and other criteria are used to determine eligibility. Refugee Cash Assistance A federally-funded program that helps refugee adults without children by providing cash assistance during their first 12 months in the United States. It also provides individualized services, job readiness, preparation and placement, employment or vocational training, and retention services. Rhode Island Works (RIW) RIW provides cash assistance to eligible families in need of support and also provides individualized and family supportive services, job readiness, preparation and placement, employment or vocational training and retention services. Medicaid The Medicaid Program provides comprehensive medical coverage low-income families with children, pregnant women, older adults and persons with disabilities and special needs who otherwise might not be able to pay for or get access to affordable health care. Child Care Assistance (CCAP) CCAP is available to certain Rhode Island families to cover child care costs for the hours parent/guardians are working or training. Families may be required to pay a co-payment based in their household size and income level. How do I apply? All the details for applying for these benefits can be found here. There are also agencies that can help refugees with applying and they can be found here.