Food Stamps Program
The Department of Human Services (DHS) Food Stamp Program helps elderly Rhode Islanders, who may or may not be working but are struggling financially, to buy food and provide nutritional meals for themselves. The program, the largest food and nutrition support program in the state, is a partnership between the federal government and the state. The federal government pays the full cost of an elderly individual’s food stamp benefits and approximately half of the state’s cost to administer the program.
Like several other DHS programs, elderly Rhode Islanders qualify to receive food stamp benefits based on their income, the resources they have and the number of individuals in their household. The Food Stamp Program is an important part of the services offered by DHS, but elderly individuals do not need to be participating in other DHS programs to receive food stamp benefits. They can be unemployed, working, or receiving a pension to qualify for food stamp benefits. Homeless individuals can also qualify to receive food stamp benefits.
Example of Food Stamp Eligibility
Elderly individuals (60 years of age or older) will be eligible for food stamp benefits if their household’s net monthly income (income after deducting countable expenses) is 100% or less of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), or $687 per month for a household/family of 1. Additional eligibility criteria will also be taken into consideration including the amount of resources an individual/household owns (e.g. cash, stocks, bonds, checking/savings accounts, automobiles, etc.) before eligibility is determined.
How to Apply for Food Stamp Benefits
Applications for food stamp benefits are available at local DHS offices. To locate the office nearest you visit our office locations page.
Elderly individuals may pick up an application in person, call to receive one by mail, or have someone else pick up an application for them. An in-person interview is also part of the application process. However, if an individual is unable to visit one of the DHS offices for an interview – the in-person interview may be waived.
Accessing and Using Food Stamps
Elderly individuals who qualify for food stamp benefits are now able to receive their benefits using a special debit card through the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) program. To help enhance security and reduce the stigma often associated with receiving food stamp benefits, paper coupons and checks are no longer issued. Instead, through EBT, benefits are transferred electronically into a special account on a monthly basis. Elderly individuals can access their benefits by using their EBT card at point-of-sale (POS) machines located right at the checkout counter of grocery and retail stores across the state.
For more information about food stamps call:
DHS Food Stamp Program:
Providence Area Residents: 401-222-7276
Northern RI area residents: 401-235-6300
Warwick area residents: 1-800-282-7021
South County area residents: 1-800-282-7021
East Bay area residents: 401-222-7276US Department of Agriculture (USDA): 1-800-221-5689
or visit the USDA Web site.
