SNAP Updates from RI Department of Human Services

SNAP Updates from RI DHS

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, or 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.

Learn more about SNAP from RI DHS