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.
Employment Plan Eligibility for the RI Works (RIW) program is based on a family's income and resources. For more information, please make an appointment to see a DHS worker at a local DHS office. Am I required to work? All parents who receive cash assistance must enter into and comply with an employment plan to prepare for and enter employment as soon as possible. The first activity for most parents will be a job search. Other employment, education or training may be possible. RI Works Employment Plan RI Works Employment Plan (English, rev. 02/2020) PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes RI Works Employment Plan (Spanish, rev. 02/2020) PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes RI Works Employment Plan Component/Activity Notification (rev. 12/5/2019) PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes Work Activities Employment Subsidized employment Unpaid work experience or community service On-the-job training Job search Job readiness Vocational education training (not to exceed 12 months) Adult education in an intensive work readiness program (not to exceed 6 months) If an individual is already doing at least 20 hours per week of a core work activity (see list above), they also have the option to do one of the following: Job skills training Education (may be full-time for a youth under 20 years old who does not yet have a High School diploma or general equivalency diploma) If you don't meet work requirements If you do not meet work requirements, as defined in your individual employment plan, you will be notified in writing that you may be subject to a financial penalty unless you contact DHS and can prove good cause for not participating. If you don't comply with the employment plan, your cash benefit could be reduced for up to 3 months or until you comply. After 3 months of non-compliance, the entire cash benefit to the family is ended. Parents may reapply but must demonstrate compliance with their employment plans for a minimum of two weeks before they receive benefits again. Benefits will be restored on the first of the month, following the month of demonstrated compliance with work requirements and employment plan activities.
RI Works Employment Plan Component/Activity Notification (rev. 12/5/2019) PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes