DHS Home Page->Services for Children and Families->Food Stamps
Food Stamps Program
The Department of Human Services (DHS) Food Stamp Program helps families, who may be working but are still 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 a family’s food stamp benefits and approximately half of the state’s cost to administer the program.
Like several other DHS programs, families qualify to receive food stamp benefits based on their income, the resources they have and the size of their family. The Food Stamp Program is an important part of the services offered by DHS, but families do not need to be participating in other DHS programs, including the Family Independence Program, to receive food stamp benefits. Families can be unemployed, working, or preparing for work to qualify for food stamp benefits. Homeless families can also qualify to receive food stamp benefits.
Example of Food Stamp Eligibility
A household (without a member 60 years of age or older, or disabled) will be eligible for food stamps if its gross monthly income is 130% or less of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), or $1504 per month for a household/family of 3. Additional eligibility criteria will also be taken into consideration including the amount of resources an household/family 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.
Families 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 the head of the household is unable to visit one of the DHS offices for an interview – the in-person interview may be waived.
Accessing and Using Food Stamps
Families who qualify for the Food Stamp Program 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 are no longer issued. Instead, through EBT, benefits are transferred electronically into a special account on a monthly basis. Families 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.
