Provides that a family eligible for cash assistance pursuant to § 40-5.2-11, shall if qualified, be provided SNAP benefits.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would require Rhode Island to automatically connect families who qualify for cash assistance under the Rhode Island Works program with food assistance benefits, known as SNAP (formerly called food stamps), if they meet the eligibility requirements for both programs. Essentially, it aims to make sure that families already receiving one form of public assistance are not missing out on food benefits they may also be entitled to receive.

Currently, families may need to navigate separate application processes to access these different types of assistance. This bill would create a clearer link between the two programs, so that when a family is found eligible for cash assistance, the state would also determine whether they qualify for SNAP benefits and provide those benefits if they do. This could help reduce gaps where eligible families are receiving cash help but unknowingly missing out on food support.

The families most affected by this bill would be low-income Rhode Island households — particularly those with children — who are enrolled in the Rhode Island Works welfare program. For these families, the practical effect could mean more reliable access to grocery assistance without having to go through a separate, potentially complicated application process. The bill has been introduced and referred to the House Finance Committee, where it will be reviewed before any further legislative action is taken.