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SNAP Updates

New federal laws affect Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in Rhode Island. Some changes to SNAP will happen November 1 and some may take effect the next time you renew your benefits.  

If your benefits are affected because of these changes, you will receive a notice before November 1, 2025, or during your renewal/recertification period explaining which changes apply to you.  

Prior to November 1, 2025, you may get a Benefit Decision Notice from DHS that shows changes to your SNAP benefits because of the new federal laws. Briefly, the notice may include information about: 

  • Changes to your benefits due to your immigration status - This provision makes changes to non-citizen eligibility for SNAP  

  • Changes to your benefits due to how utility expenses are calculated - Households without an elderly or disabled member in the household are no longer eligible for a Standard Utility Allowance deduction based on a payment from the LIHEAP program.  Households without an elderly or disabled member must provide documentation of payments for heating or cooling expenses to determine eligibility for a Standard Utility Allowance deduction 

  • New work requirements you may need to meet to receive SNAP - The ABAWD exception may no longer exist if you: 

    • Are under age 65 and over age 17 

    • Do not have the responsibility to care for a dependent child under 14 years old 

    • Are a homeless individual, a veteran, or are 18 to 24 years old who aged out of foster care 

  • Loss of your exemption to the work requirements based on homelessness, veteran status, or being under age 24 and aged out of foster care 

  • Loss of your exemption to the work requirement because you do not provide care to a dependent child under age 14 

  • Other exemptions may be available. 

Click here to learn more about SNAP from DHS or click through the sections below for more information on each federal change and next steps.  

The federal changes to SNAP will limit eligibility to U.S. citizens and individuals with unique immigration statuses. This means Haitian and Cuban immigrants, and some green card holders residing in Rhode Island may still be eligible for SNAP benefits. Changes to SNAP benefits are not expected to occur until recertification. 

What Can I Do 

  • Ensure your immigration status is current with DHS 

The Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) DHS uses when determining eligibility and benefit amount for SNAP will be limited to households with an elderly or disabled member. This means impacted households, without an elderly or disabled member, should document and submit their heating and cooling expenses to DHS. The expenses are used in calculating appropriate SNAP benefit amounts. 

Households with older adults age 60 and over and disabled members who received a grant or Heat and Eat benefit last year through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will still have SUA available to them*.  

Households without an older adult or disabled member and no utility expenses will lose the SUA and will see reduced benefits. However, changes to benefit amounts are expected at time of recertification. 

What Can I Do? 

  • Submit verification of your utility expenses to DHS. Please ensure DHS has your most recent and accurate utility bills/expenses.  

  • Tell DHS if anyone in your household is elderly (age 60 or older) or someone in the household is disabled. Submit verification of the disability. 

***If your household already has an elderly or disabled household member, your household will continue to receive the SUA, and you do not need to do anything.***

For most people, there is no time limit on how long they can receive SNAP. However, some individuals must meet community engagement requirements to receive or keep receiving SNAP. For example, some Able-bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWDs) can only receive SNAP benefits for three (3) months in a three (3) year period, unless they meet community engagement requirements or are exempt from them. 

Examples of community engagement include finding work, volunteering, and going back to school. Some people may also need to submit information to the Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS) to prove that they do not need to meet community engagement requirements.   

DHS encourages customers potentially impacted by new ABAWD changes to begin searching for work or volunteer opportunities totaling 80 hours per month to minimize any disruption to benefits. Those most likely to be impacted by recent ABAWD rule changes include:   

  • Anyone ages 55-64 
  • Households with children ages 14-18 
  • Individuals experiencing homelessness  
  • Adults under age 24 and aged out of foster care  
  • Veterans  

How to Keep Your Benefits Longer than 3 Months 

To stop months from counting toward your 3-month ABAWD limit, you must meet one of the following criteria: 

  • Be under 18 or over 65 years of age, or
  • Be a parent or other household member with responsibility for a dependent child under 14 years, or
  • Are pregnant,
  • Have a medically certified physical or mental health condition/limitation (including being in a treatment program) that prevents you from working, or
  • Work and/or volunteer at least 80 hours per month, or
  • Participate in an approved training or education program at least 20 hours per week. 

Need Help Meeting the Community Engagement Requirements? 

DHS can help you connect with training, education, or volunteer opportunities. You can: 

  • Visit the SNAP Employment & Training website: risnapet.org
  • Pick up a brochure for E&T at any DHS Office and visit an E&T provider
  • Talk to DHS during your next interview
  • Visit the Department of Labor & Training office near you. 

Take Steps Now to Make Sure You Get Important Updates

Please make sure that DHS has your most up-to-date information, including: 

  • Your contact information, including your current address and phone number 

  • Who lives in your household 

  • Your work or volunteer hours 

  • Any disability or health conditions 

  • School, training, or education program participation 

Here’s how to update your information:  

  • By computer or smartphone, visit healthyrhode.ri.gov or download the HealthyRhode mobile app and log into your customer portal account 

  • Call 1-855-MY-RIDHS (1-855-697-4347) or TTY 1-800-745-5555 (for hearing impaired) to report changes 

  • Drop off documents in any of our secure drop boxes at a DHS office or bring to a document scanning center. For a full list of locations, please visit https://dhs.ri.gov/about-us/dhs-offices 

Also consider signing up for DHS Alerts – these alerts provide enrolled customers with timely notifications via text messaging. DHS Alerts give customers another tool to help ensure continuity of benefits when forms or other materials are due. Sign up for DHS alerts the next time you visit an office, over the phone, on the Customer Portal (healthyrhode.ri.gov) or through the mobile app. 

Learn about Support and Resources Near You

The United Way of Rhode Island (211) has a resource directory where you can find help with: 

  • Housing/Shelter
  • Food (like food pantries, home-delivered meals, or WIC)
  • Utilities
  • Basic needs (like clothing, diapers, or household items)
  • Criminal justice and legal services
  • Mental health and substance use disorders
  • Seasonal challenges—Fall/Winter (like warming centers or holiday toy drives) 

Click here to access the resource directory or call 211. 

More food resources: 

Other community resources: 

Need Help Meeting the Community Engagement Requirements? 

DHS can help you connect with training, education, or volunteer opportunities. You can: 

  • Visit the SNAP Employment & Training website: risnapet.org
  • Pick up a brochure for E&T at any DHS Office and visit an E&T provider
  • Talk to DHS during your next interview
  • Visit the Department of Labor & Training office near you. 

Governor Dan McKee’s Workforce Board created a guide to help Rhode Islanders connect with education, training, and career opportunities. It includes information about: 

  • Free career coaching and job search assistance
  • Adult education
  • Paid internship opportunities
  • College resources and financial assistance
  • Free workforce training opportunities
  • Job search resources
  • Other helpful information like accessing public transportation, getting a background check, and more 

Click here to access the Governor’s Workforce Board’s Education, Training, and Career Resource Guide. 

More education opportunities: 

Volunteer opportunities 

Other federal changes may impact health coverage through Rhode Island Medicaid or HealthSource RI. To stay informed, please visit the following websites: