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.
Elderly & Disabled Simplified Application Project (ESAP) The Elderly and Disabled Simplified Application Project (ESAP) simplifies the application process and allows for a longer eligibility period for SNAP applicants and households that meet the following criteria: All members of the household are age 60 or older, are disabled* regardless of age, or are a combination of both No household members have income from working *A person with a disability is anyone determined to be disabled by the Social Security Administration and most likely receiving a federally related disability benefit including, but not limited to: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Social Security Disability (SSD) Disability-related Medicaid Veterans Administration (VA) Disability 100% Households meeting the ESAP criteria benefit from: A longer, 3-year certification period instead of the previous 2-year certification period assigned to such households; No recertification interview requirement after the 3-year certification period ends unless the household’s case will be closed, the household requests an interview, or information on the recertification form is questionable and further clarification is needed.; Less requests for documentation if DHS can verify the household’s information through data matches; A shorter application. Note: ESAP-eligible households must submit a completed recertification application and any required documents to continue to receive SNAP benefits. ESAP-eligible households who do not return a recertification application will have their SNAP case closed for failure to recertify, like any other SNAP case. New applications for SNAP are being reviewed and those meeting the ESAP criteria will be placed into ESAP. They will receive a notice that includes the benefits of ESAP and the extension of the certification period. Households already receiving SNAP and meeting ESAP criteria will be placed into ESAP automatically or at their next recertification if their recertification form is currently due. The shortened ESAP paper application can be found here: Rhode Island Assistance Application ESAP (English) PDF file, about 1mbmegabytes Rhode Island Assistance Application ESAP (Spanish) PDF file, about 2mbmegabytes Rhode Island Assistance Application ESAP (Portuguese) PDF file, about 3mbmegabytes This page will be updated periodically with ESAP related materials. Please visit this page frequently for ESAP updates.