Those in charge of sending the deposits to the EBT cards of the beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the state of Rhode Island are having some problems making them on time, due to certain factors that, according to them, are out of their control. So, if your money should have arrived by now, but it didn’t, you’re probably not the only one in your community with the difficulty.
The SNAP program is financed from the federal government, but it is managed in each state by specialized local agencies, so the distribution of the money on each EBT card is decided at that level, according to the different realities of each state. The Rhode Island Department of Human Services confirmed this week that over 2,000 households are receiving cash and food assistance late this month, caused by a recent shift in federal policy that affect how the food stamps works in the state.
Why are my SNAP benefits delayed?
Generally, food stamp recipients in Rhode Island start getting their money on the 1st of every month but, until last weekend, thousands of families had not received their funds, which they are looking forward to in order to meet their basic food needs. These people are also covered by the Rhode Island Works (RIW) program, which is related to the SNAP but locally funded.
According to the authorities, the problem should be solved these days for all the families impacted by these changes. The issue is because officials are carefully reviewing eligibility changes caused by COVID-era emergency policies that ended in June. The elimination of some benefits, directly related to the already ended pandemic, could leave some families without their funds.
What to do if my food stamps money didn’t arrive on time
The first thing you should do if your SNAP benefits haven’t arrived on time is to check their status. You can do this by contacting the Rhode Island Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) customer service number at 1-888-979-9939. The customer service representatives can provide you with information about any potential delays or issues with your benefits. If you find that your benefits are significantly delayed or haven’t arrived despite their expected date, report the issue as soon as possible. Do it by calling Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS) through their SNAP hotline at 1-855-697-4347.
Lastly, be aware of the COVID-19 related changes (mentioned above) that may be affecting the timing of your SNAP benefits. The pandemic has brought about several adjustments to the SNAP program to better support households during these challenging times. One such change is the issuance of Pandemic-EBT benefits (P-EBT) to SNAP households with school-age children who have lost access to free or reduced-price meals at school.