Guide Test

Low- and modest-income adults, over age 18, living without children may qualify for the following programs:

All Adults – Adults with Permanent Disabilities – Adults with Temporary Disabilities – Adults 65 and Older – Pregnant Women

Programs Available For All Adults

Name	Description
Income Support: Employed
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)	Provides a tax credit and/or refund to workers between the ages of 25 and 64 who earn low to moderate wages.
Income Support: Formerly Employed
Unemployment Insurance	Provides eligible individuals with up to 60% of his or her weekly wage for a specified period of time.
Income Support: Employed/Temporarily Unable to Work
Temporary Caregiver Insurance Program (TCI)	Provides up to 4 weeks of benefits for people who need to be out of work to care for a seriously ill family member or to bond with a newborn child, adopted child or foster-care child.
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.
Paid Sick Leave	Rhode Island's many full and part-time workers can start to accrue time off under the Healthy and Safe Families and Workplaces Act. Workers earn 1 hour of time for every 35 hours they work.
Income Support: Other Income Assistance
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.
Food Assistance
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)	Provides a monthly benefit for the purchase of food using an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Card.
Other Food Assistance	Food pantries and meal sites offer free food to individuals in need.
Health Care
Medicaid - Adults under 65	Health coverage for adults ages 19-64 who meet income guidelines.
Medicaid – Adults 65 and older and people with disabilities	Health coverage for adults ages 65 and older & people with disabilities who meet income guidelines.
HealthSource RI	Private health coverage options with available subsidies and tax credits.to help with cost.
Medical Assistance for Women Diagnosed with Breast or Cervical Cancer	Provides comprehensive medical coverage through the Medical Assistance Program to women under age 65 who need treatment for breast or cervical cancer or precancerous condition.
Free Clinics	The Rhode Island Free Clinic and the Clinica Esperanza-Hope Clinic provide free primary care services for uninsured adults.
Community Health Centers	Ten community health centers provide primary health care at 29 clinics to uninsured individuals on a sliding-scale basis.
Community Mental Health Centers	Seven community mental health organizations provide mental health and substance abuse treatment to uninsured individuals at clinic around the state at free or low cost.
Hospital Free Care	Each hospital in Rhode Island has a "charity care program" that may cover all or part of the bill for a patient who is unable to pay.
Dental Care	Seven community health centers provide dental care at 11 clinics to uninsured individuals on a sliding- scale basis.
Other Health Resources	Uninsured Rhode Islanders can purchase private insurance (AccessBlue) or access independent doctors through a membership network (HealthAccessRI).
Pharmaceutical Assistance	Discount prescription drug card provides savings on FDA approved prescriptions at pharmacies across the country.
Housing
Property Tax Relief	The Property Tax Relief Circuit Breaker Program provides a state tax credit to homeowners and renters earning less than $30,000.
Emergency Shelter	Provides information on assistance for homeless individuals and victims of domestic violence.
Hardest Hit Fund RI	The Hardest Hit Fund RI program, funded by the U.S. Treasury and administered by Rhode Island Housing, helps eligible Rhode Island prevent foreclosures of their homes.
Utilities
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)	Provides help with energy needs including heating and cooling assistance, energy crisis intervention, low-cost residential weatherization and other energy-related home repair.
Telephone Assistance	Cox Communications and Verizon provide a discount on monthly local telephone bills and help reduce the cost of initiating telephone service.

Additional Programs

In addition to the above, if you fall into the following category(ies) you may be eligible for additional assistance.

Adults with Permanent Disabilities

Name	Description
Income Assistance
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)	Provides cash assistance to persons unable to work due to serious physical and/or mental impairment(s) that have lasted or will last for at least one year or result in death, and that prevents any substantial gainful employment. Individuals who have worked and paid into the Social Security System may be eligible for SSI as a supplement to their Social Security Disability benefit.
General Public Assistance (GPA) Bridge	Individuals who have applied for SSI benefits and who are receiving Medical Assistance are entitled to receive $200/month in "Bridge" payments until a decision on eligibility for SSI is made.
Health Care
Medical Assistance (Medicaid)	Provides comprehensive medical coverage through the Medical Assistance Program for adults who have a severe physical and/or mental impairment(s) that has lasted or will last longer than one year or will result in death and prevents any substantial gainful employment.
Emergency Medical Assistance	Provides payment for hospital in-patient and emergency room services for adults who would be eligible for Medicaid do not meet the citizenship/immigrant criteria.
Medicare Premium Assistance	Pays for some of the cost of Medicare premiums through the Medical Assistance Program for low-income adults with disabilities who have income/resources in excess of the Medicaid standards.
RIPAE Prescription Assistance	Provides people age 55 – 64 who are receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits with subsidies to purchase certain medications.
Housing
Rental Assistance	Public Housing and Section 8 vouchers may be available to individuals with disabilities.

Adults with Temporary Disabilities

Name	Description
Income Assistance
General Public Assistance (GPA) Hardship	Provides a time-limited cash payment for adults based on having a disability that will last longer than 30 days and who are unable to work.

Adults 65 and Older

Name	Description
Income Assistance
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)	Provides cash assistance to seniors who have not worked and paid into the Social Security System or as a supplement to Social Security Retirement Benefits for adults who have limited benefits.
Health Care
Medical Assistance (Medicaid)	Provides comprehensive medical coverage through the Medical Assistance Program for seniors.
RIPAE Pharmaceutical Assistance	Provides people age 65 and older with subsidies to purchase certain medications.
Emergency Medical Assistance	Provides payment for hospital in-patient and emergency room services for seniors who would be eligible for RHP/CCC but do not meet the citizenship/immigrant criteria.
Medicare Premium Payment Program	Program pays for some of the costs of Medicare for seniors & people with disabilities who are not otherwise eligible for Medical Assistance.
Housing
Rental Assistance	Public Housing and Section 8 vouchers may be available to seniors.

Pregnant Women

Name	Description
Income Assistance
Rhode Island Works	Provides cash assistance beginning in the 6th month of pregnancy.
Food Assistance
Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)	Provides vouchers to purchase nutritionally appropriate foods and nutrition education.
Health Care
RIte Care/RIte Share	Provides comprehensive medical coverage through the Medical Assistance Program from the start of pregnancy.

For a summary of the above programs, view our Guide to Assistance Programs for Rhode Island Adults.