Meeting Basic Needs in the COVID-Changing World

About this event During the pandemic, the federal government funded new programs and expanded benefits of existing programs to help people as they lost jobs, income, and healthcare coverage. But on September 6, millions across the U.S. and thousands in the Ocean State will lose their Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) which offered Americans a boost of $300 a week to …

COVID-19 Webinars

We have videos below with important COVID-19 information to help Rhode Islanders. While some of the information is out of date, the majority of the content is still relevant. WEBINAR – April 29, 2020 – The Economic Progress Institute, the Immigrant Coalition of Rhode Island, and The Latino Policy Institute hosted a webinar with local experts to learn about resources …

Paid Sick Leave

Rhode Island’s many full and part-time workers can accrue time off under the Healthy and Safe Families and Workplaces Act. Workers earn 1 hour of time for every 35 hours they work. The maximum amount of time that can be accrued is 40 hours. Workers can take time off when they are sick or to take care of a family …

Capital Good Fund Loans

Capital Good Fund loans are short term loan options that serve as an alternative to payday loans, pawn shops, buy-here-pay-here auto dealers, and other high-interest loan products. There are various loans to fit clients’ different needs (Emergency Loans, Weatherization Loans, Car Loans, Immigration Loans, Other Personal Loans). Loan amounts vary depending on the type of loan (see list of loans …

SNAP

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, provides a monthly benefit for the purchase of food items through an Electronic Benefits Transfer card (EBT). The card is used at participating supermarkets and convenience stores. The EBT card can also be used to buy food on-line at Amazon, Walmart and Aldi’s. For more information, see the DHS Online Shopping Guide with …

Temporary Caregiver Insurance Program (TCI)

The Temporary Caregiver Insurance program (TCI) provides up to 6 weeks of benefits for people who need to be out of work to care for a seriously ill family member (child, spouse, domestic partner, parent, parent-in-law or grandparent) or to bond with a newborn child, adopted child or foster-care child. Who Qualifies? To be eligible for TCI benefits, you must …

Temporary Disability Insurance Program (TDI)

The Temporary Disability Insurance Program (TDI) provides up to thirty weeks of benefits for people who cannot work due to illness or injury that occurred outside of the workplace. If you are injured on the job, you may be eligible for worker’s compensation. TDI is funded through employee contributions to the TDI Fund. Who Qualifies? To be eligible for TDI …

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Provides cash assistance to persons age 65 and older and adults and children with serious physical or mental impairment(s). Maximum monthly payments in 2023 are $953.92 for an individual and $1,450.38 for a couple (if both spouses are eligible). SSI benefits are for individuals who have not worked and paid into the Social Security System or as a supplement to …