Program Overview
The Rhode Island Works program provides cash assistance, health coverage, child care assistance, and professional training to eligible households. Cash assistance is provided to needy families on monthly basis and that meet eligibility requirements. Families with dependent children (under the age of 18) and pregnant women are eligible for Rhode Island Works. There are work requirements as well and the cash assistance depends on factors such as gamily size, assets and income level. The participants enter into an employment plan developed in coordination with the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Department of Labor and Training (DLT).
Program Objectives
The purpose of the program is to assist families from poor household to become self-sufficient. The eligible families are provided temporary assistance through money and employments. The benefits are provided to
- Families with dependent children ( can be either a single parent or two parents)
- Pregnant women who qualify for the program
The program assists qualified needy families in the form of cash payments so that they can pay their household expenses. Through this program, people can
- Take care of their children expenses ( children who are below 19 years of age and are
dependent on their parents) - Get hold of their lives through helpful workshops and trainings.
- Along with that, the Rhode Island Works program assists pregnant women with out-of-
wedlock children and it also takes measures to prevent such incidents in the state. - The program also takes steps to support families with two parents.
Program Duration
The duration for the Rhode Island Works program is a maximum of 48 months in any 60 months or 5 years time. The recipient will receive the benefits of the program for no more than this time limit after which they will stop receiving it. Rhode Island’s time limits apply to parents, caretaker relatives, and children, although children whose parents receive SSI benefits. Families who reach a time limit may apply for a “hardship extension” of three months based on disability, homelessness, domestic violence, or statewide economic conditions.
The goal is to temporarily provide needy individuals with cash assistance so that they can look for employment opportunities without worrying about household expenses. During the time the recipients who are receiving the benefits, they will have to participate in work and training workshops arranged by the program. All the adults in the family must take part in the training programs other than those who have been exempted based on either their age or certain disabilities. The program provides training workshops related to,
- Job hunting
- Interview skills
- Communication skills
- Job preparation
- CV/resume building
Eligibility Requirements
- There are certain requirements that an applicant must fulfill to qualify for the Rhode Island
Works program. - The applicant must be a citizen of the United States of America or a legal alien
- The applicant must be a citizen of Rhode Island
- The applicant must have dependent children (19 years or younger)
- The applicant belongs to a poor household with low-income
- The applicant must meet the income level limit guidelines provided by the program
- The resource of the applicant must be within the limits described in the program
guidelines - Never have received the Rhode Island benefits before.
- Single parents must work or prepare for work an average of 30 hours per week (20 hours if the
household includes a child under age six). At least 20 of these hours must include one or more of
the following: - Employment, Unpaid work experience or community service
- On-the-job training
- Job search and job readiness
- Vocational education (up to 12 months)
- Adult education in an intensive work readiness program (up to six months)
Family members in a household and total household income are among important factors while considering a candidate for the Rhode Island Works program. The amount of the maximum monthly benefit depends on the household size and annual income.
The amount of annual income level might change time to time therefore; it is a good step to
contact the managing agency in your area. They will be able to provide you with the most recent
and up-to-date guidelines about the program.
How To Apply
The Rhode Island Works program requires the applicants to provide certain personal information and copies of documents to prove their eligibility. The copies of the following documents must be presented along with the application form at the time of submission
- Employment and work status/history
- Social Security Number (SSN)
- Copy of Driving license
- Documents providing your residential status
To apply for the Rhode Island Works program visit the Department of Human Services Local Office website. You will find the online application form on the portal which also includes details of the documents required. To learn more about the Rhode Island Works program go to the Rhode Island TCA Information Page.
For Further Information
For further information you can visit RI Works Eligibility page. The website provides detailed information related to the program including the eligibility criteria, application process and any other help that might be required.
You can visit the nearby local county if you want to apply in person for the Rhode Island Works benefits. You will be provided with an application which you can fill out and submit through an agent working in the office. It is important to note that before going to your local county office you should have copies of all the required documents to make sure your application is complete.
You can use the Local Office Locator to find an office nearby you or call at 1-855-MY-RIDHS (1-855-697-4347) or TTY 1-800-745-5555. Visit Benefits by State for more insights.
