Families with Children
Working People
Immigrants
Homeless Individuals
Students
Single Adults
Seniors & Disabled Individuals
Sometimes, it can be difficult to pay all of your bills. Wouldn’t it be great if even one bill were lower? If you have a hard time making ends meet, you may be eligible for food stamp benefits.
FACTS ABOUT THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM
The Food Stamp Program is an entitlement program. Anyone who applies and qualifies for the Food Stamp Program will receive benefits! Therefore, you aren’t taking money away from anyone who is needier than you.
- All across Rhode Island families are using food stamp benefits to eat better today.
- Food stamp recipients purchase more nutritious foods with their EBT debit cards, freeing up the cash normally spent on food for non-food purchases.
- Over 70% of RI seniors get more than $10 a month in food stamp benefits.
- If everyone in the household is elderly or disabled and unemployed, you may have a 2 year recertification period.
- If you live in a group home where meals are already prepared, you may still be eligible for food stamp benefits.
- Grants and loans, which cover tuition costs, are not counted as income.
- If you live with roommates but do not share food costs, you can apply as a separate household.
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Immigrants
Legal permanent residents (those who have a green card) may be eligible for food stamp benefits if they:
- Have been residing in the U.S. for 5 years as a qualified immigrant, even if other members of their household have not been here five years or are undocumented, OR
- Are serving or did serve in the U.S. Armed Forces, OR
- Are receiving disability benefits regardless of their date of entry, OR
- Came to the U.S. as a refugee, asylee, or withholding of deportation, and certain other immigrants regardless of when they came to the U.S., OR
- Are legal immigrant children, no matter when they came to the U.S., OR
- Are legal permanent residents who have worked in the U.S. for at least 10 years
ADDITIONALLY:
- Ineligible adults can apply for their citizen children.
- An immigrant WILL NOT be deported, denied entry to the U.S., or denied permanent status or a “green card” because he or she or their family recieves food stamp benefits.
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Seniors
Did you know:
- Over 70% of RI seniors get more than $10 a month in food stamp benefits.
- If everyone in the household is elderly or disabled and unemployed, you may have a 2-year recertification period.
- If you live in a group home where meals are already prepared, you still may be eligible for food stamp benefits.
- You don’t have to leave your house to apply for food stamps:
You may call to receive an application by mail, or have someone else pick up an application for you. Once the application is completed, you may mail it to DHS or have someone drop it off for you. If you are unable to visit a DHS office, you may request a telephone interview.
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Students
Did you know:
Food stamp benefits are available to low-income individuals of all ages and from all walks of life. Typically, traditional college students are not eligible to receive benefits. However, you may be eligible for food stamp benefits if you are between the ages of 18-49, a half or full time student, and at least one of the following applies to you. Do you?
- Work at least 20 hours a week, OR
- Work in a state of federally financed work study program, OR
- Have responsibility for the care of a child under age 6 or a child age 6-12 and do not have adequate childcare, OR
- Have a documented disability
If you meet the above student related guidelines, apply now! or check eligibility with the eligibility calculator. If you are outside the age-range of 18-49, or not enrolled at least half time in school, you do not need the guidelines mentioned above.