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.
SNAP-Ed Resources DHS and the University of Rhode Island SNAP Nutrition Education (SNAP-Ed) program has partnered to deliver comprehensive nutrition education since 1997 to address the health-related nutrition and physical activity needs of SNAP eligible individuals. SNAP-Ed aims to prevent or reduce health disparities such as diet-related chronic diseases and obesity in the RI low-income population. The Rhode Island SNAP-Ed plan focuses on improving nutrition and physical activity behaviors, addressing food insecurity and enhancing health-related policies, systems and environments. Latest Resources Here is its EBT Online Shopping Resources Guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese and its Food and Fun for Everyone spring edition newsletter for families in English and Spanish. EBT Online Shopping Guide Online Shopping Resource Guide (English) PDF file, about 4mbmegabytes Online Shopping Resource Guide (Spanish) PDF file, about 4mbmegabytes Online Shopping Resource Guide (Portuguese) PDF file, about 4mbmegabytes Nutrition Newsletter SNAP-Ed's quarterly Nutrition Newsletter features money saving ideas, seasonal nutrition tips, and recipes. Below, you'll find the newsletter in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. You can also find other community resources from SNAP-Ed here. Fall 2023 Adult Newsletter (English) PDF file, about 2mbmegabytes Fall 2023 Adult Newsletter (Português) PDF file, about 2mbmegabytes Fall 2023 Adult Newsletter (Español ) PDF file, about 2mbmegabytes