SNAP in Rhode Island
Getting the full amount in Rhode Island
Deductions for medical costs, housing, utilities, and dependent care that raise your monthly benefit.
The rules in Rhode Island
Open any question. Each answer shows the rule, what to do, and the source it was read from.
Do my medical bills and prescriptions count?
$35 per month
Unreimbursed medical costs over $35 a month for a member who is 60 or older or has a disability lower your countable income and can raise your benefit.
Counts: Medicare and other health insurance premiums, copays, prescriptions, dental, eyeglasses, hearing aids, medical transportation, and some in-home care. Keep receipts and pharmacy printouts.
- Gather receipts for medical costs and report them. Costs over $35 a month count.
Source: 7 CFR 273.9(d)(3) (eCFR (Office of the Federal Register)) · Checked November 9, 2026
Is there a limit on how much of my rent and utilities count?
Yes
The excess shelter deduction is capped for most households, but not when a member is 60 or older or has a disability.
- Report your full rent or mortgage and utility costs. For your household the shelter deduction has no cap.
Source: 7 CFR 273.9(d)(6)(ii) (eCFR (Office of the Federal Register)) · Checked November 9, 2026
What is the shelter deduction cap this year?
$769 per month
For households without a member who is 60+ or disabled, the excess shelter deduction stops at $769 a month from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
Source: FY2027 COLA memo, shelter cap (USDA Food and Nutrition Service) · Checked November 9, 2026
Official Rhode Island links for this topic
- Rhode Island SNAP office (USDA directory) or call 1-800-221-5689
Every rule on this page was read against its primary source, most recently on November 9, 2026. SNAP Resource Center is not a government website. The Rhode Island SNAP office makes every decision about your case.