Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP)
Free, unbiased Medicare counseling in Rhode Island. Trained counselors go through your costs and choices with you, and they don't sell plans.
Income and Social Security
Rhode Island SSI supplement
Rhode Island adds a State Supplemental Payment (SSP) to SSI.
The state Department of Human Services sends it as a separate payment: $39.92 a month for one person living in their own home in 2026, and $79.38 for a couple. People in a certified assisted living home may get up to $332 a month, paid with their SSI.
How to apply in Rhode Island
- Who runs it
- Rhode Island Department of Human Services1-855-697-4347
What you may get
| Monthly supplement, one person living on their own (January 2026) | $39.92 a month |
|---|---|
| Monthly supplement, couple living on their own (January 2026) | $79.38 a month |
| Monthly supplement, one person in a certified assisted living or residential care home (January 2026) | Up to $332 a month |
Source: Rhode Island Department of Human Services (via RI Secretary of State) (source 1)
How Rhode Island is different
Where Rhode Island's rules differ from the federal rules for State SSI supplements.
- Paid separately by the state (Rhode Island Department of Human Services) for people in their own home or someone else's; the assisted living supplement comes in the same check as your SSI
Source: Rhode Island Department of Human Services (via RI Secretary of State) (source 1)
Good to know
- People on SSI who live in someone else's household get $51.92 a month ($97.30 for a couple).
- If your income is too high for federal SSI but below the combined SSI and state amount, you may get the state payment alone.
- To get the assisted living amount, the state must screen you and certify that you live in a residential care or assisted living home.
Source: Rhode Island Department of Human Services (via RI Secretary of State) (source 1)
Free help
Free help with this in Rhode Island
Office of Healthy Aging (OHA)
Your local Area Agency on Aging can help with meals, rides, help at home, caregiver support and applying for benefits.
More help in Rhode Island
State SSI supplement in another state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
Sources
- Rhode Island Department of Human Services (via RI Secretary of State), 218-RICR-20-00-5: Supplemental Security Income and State Supplemental Payment Rules and Regulations (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Rhode Island Department of Human Services, Supplemental Security Income and State Supplemental Payment Rules and Regulations (218-RICR-20-00-5) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
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