November SNAP benefits were issued. December SNAP benefits will be issued as normal.
Last-reviewed: Nov. 17, 2025
Table of Contents
Latest News
- November SNAP benefits were issued.
- For nutrition supports Call UnitedWay 211 or use this interactive Emergency and Supplemental Food Map for a list of food pantries, meal sites and updates on services.
SNAP benefits (food stamps)
- SNAP eligibility information. As of November 1, new SNAP work requirements and eligibility go into effect. Impacted SNAP recipients should have received a “Benefit Decision Notice” describing these changes. Changes include:
- A narrowing of eligibility based on immigration status to those who are Haitian and Cuban immigrants and some greencard holders.How the Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) is calculated. SUA will be limited to households with an elderly or disabled member.
- New work requirements for SNAP recipients with dependent children under the age of 14. People between the ages of 18 and 64 who are not disabled and don’t have kids under 14 are required to do “community engagement” in order to keep their benefits longer than 3 months at a time. Community engagement includes doing a work search, volunteering or going back to school.
- The new work requirements also ended certain exemptions from the work requirement. These groups include people who are experiencing homelessness, veterans, and adults under 24 who aged out of foster are now required to meet the community engagement requirement.
- A preliminary injunction currently blocks the federal government’s attempt to access confidential SNAP data. RI has joined this lawsuit challenging the federal government’s demand that states share the private information of those enrolled in SNAP. Immigrant families with data privacy concerns can review this fact sheet for more information.
- Families with eligibility questions based on immigration status can use this guide. Families with questions about privacy and benefit use can use this guide (available in multiple languages).
- DHS announced that walk-in ASL services will be available at the Pawtucket location at 249 Roosevelt Ave.
- SNAP Connect is now available to SNAP applicants in Pawtucket. This is an on-demand service that assists applicants and beneficiaries with interview scheduling.
- Locally and nationally there has been an increased in EBT fraud activity, involving a scam called “skimming.” Skimming happens when unsuspecting customers swipe their EBT cards at check-out into devices that look like authentic credit card machines.
- To prevent fraud, SNAP households are encouraged to:
- Change their PIN number frequently
- Monitor their account
- Be on the lookout for overlay devices attached to keypads, card readers and credit card machines
- If someone believes they have been a victim of skimming, they can: contact the RI Department of Administration’s Internal Audit, Fraud Detection and Prevention office at 401-574-8175 or file a report online.
- DHS has more information about EBT fraud activity.
- To prevent fraud, SNAP households are encouraged to:
- Families with SNAP who use their EBT cards at participating farmers markets can receive “Bonus Bucks.” This means that for every $1 spent, they receive a bonus $1 that can be used on local produce. There is also a mobile van with the same discount.
- RI SNAP recipients can get extra money for fresh produce purchased at Rhode Island Stop and Shop and Walmart locations. For every $1 that people spend on fresh produce, 50 cents will be added to their SNAP card, up to $25. More information at EatWellBeWellRI.com.
- Reminder about inclement weather: SNAP households who experience power outages of 4 or more hours are entitled to SNAP replacement benefits. Benefit replacement requests must be submitted within 10 days of power loss. More information here under “How to Report Loss of Food.”
WIC
- WIC eligibility information.
- Updated information about WIC programing as well as a list of WIC offices.
- The WIC Shopper App can be downloaded to help locate WIC vendors and offices, the WIC food guide, and a scanning tool to help check if a food is on the approved food list.
Food pantries
- Contact UnitedWay 211 for pantry locations.
- Use the Rhode Island Community Food Bank’s tool to find food pantries, meal sites and updates on services.
- The RI Food Policy Council has issued its 2024 Factbook.
Other programs
- RI’s National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs provide free or reduced cost meals to qualified students.
- Meals on Wheels offers several services including home-delivered meals, senior restaurant program, and pet food program. The federal government shutdown may impact the funding of local programs.
- The Commodity Supplemental Food Program is at capacity and not open to new applications. This program offers older adults facing food insecurity food boxes delivered monthly. To be eligible, adults must be over 60 years of age and have a household income at 130% or lower of the federal poverty level.
Unlocking Access® Resources for Care Teams
There are many ways care teams can support people with food and nutrition-related needs. For more specific legal information and strategies, care team members who have access to Legal Key’s Unlocking Access® Hub should log in.
If you are a Legal Key partner who does not have their login information, or you’d like to learn more about how to gain access to the Unlocking Access® Hub, get in touch with us!
Key Resources
Advocacy Corner
Individual Advocacy
Individual advocacy for food security includes helping people identify and get healthy food by assisting with nutrition support applications or connecting people to local food banks. Advocacy can also include sharing legal rights information about benefit denials and appeals.
Policy Advocacy
Care teams can support policy advocacy efforts by:
- Working towards universal school lunch or funding for the food bank or other food security programs.
- Connecting with a local food policy organization like the Rhode Island Food Policy Council or the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.