RI Works (Cash Assistance)
Last updated August 2026
RI Works is Rhode Island's cash assistance and employment program for parents and families with little or no income who have children high school age or younger. It pairs a monthly cash payment with job readiness, training, and child care support. A kinship guardian, such as a grandparent raising a child, can apply too. Apply online through the HealthyRhode portal at healthyrhode.ri.gov or by phone through the DHS Call Center at 1-855-697-4347.
To qualify, a family must have a dependent child or a pregnant member, must meet the income limits, and most families must meet work rules. The cash amount depends on your income, household size, and housing. A family of two receives $701 a month, a family of three $865, and a family of four $990. Families in subsidized housing receive less.
The clock is the fact to plan around. Adults can receive cash assistance for up to 60 months in their lifetime before they reach the limit. Because those months do not come back, treat each one as it counts.
RI Works is built around work. A single parent must work or prepare for work an average of 20 or 30 hours a week, depending on the age of the youngest child. In a two-parent family, the parents must work a combined 35 hours a week, or 55 hours a week if the family uses a child care subsidy. A parent younger than 18 must live with a parent or guardian, or in an approved supervised setting, and must stay in secondary education.
The program lets you keep some savings and some earnings. A family may have up to $5,000 in resources, and the family home does not count. A household may keep one vehicle for each adult, up to two vehicles. When you start working, you keep the first $300 of earnings each month with no cut to your cash, and after that the benefit drops by $1 for every $2 you earn.
Stack the help that comes with it. Getting RI Works also opens the door to child care assistance, and you can apply for SNAP and Medicaid through the same HealthyRhode account. Cash is loaded onto an EBT card twice a month, and 2-1-1 can point you to local emergency funds between checks.
Phone 1-855-697-4347
Help available in English and Spanish.
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- Families with children high school age or younger, and kinship guardians raising a child, who meet the income rules
- Most adults take part in an employment plan, and federal and state time limits apply to how long you can receive cash
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
Apply online through HealthyRhode at healthyrhode.ri.gov or by phone at 1-855-697-4347.
- 2
Show that you have a dependent child or a pregnant member, and bring proof of income.
- 3
Meet with staff to build your work or education plan.
- 4
Keep the first $300 of monthly earnings in mind; after that, cash drops $1 for every $2 you earn.
- 5
Apply for SNAP, Medicaid, and child care assistance through the same account.
What to have ready
- ID and Social Security numbers for the family
- Proof of income and Rhode Island residency
- Proof that you have a dependent child, or proof of pregnancy. DHS confirms the full list.
What the application looks like
Common questions
How much does RI Works pay?
A family of two gets $701 a month, a family of three $865, and a family of four $990. Families in subsidized housing receive less, and the amount depends on your income and household size.
How long can I get it?
Adults can receive cash assistance for up to 60 months in a lifetime before reaching the limit.
Do I have to work?
Most families do. A single parent works or prepares for work 20 or 30 hours a week, depending on the child's age. Two-parent families work a combined 35 hours, or 55 hours if they use a child care subsidy.
How much can I own and still qualify?
Up to $5,000 in resources, with the family home excluded, plus one vehicle per adult up to two vehicles. When you work, you keep the first $300 of monthly earnings before the benefit is reduced.
Not sure this is the right program for your situation?
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