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H 7690Benefit Programs

Human Services - The Rhode Island Works Program

Increases the amount of collected child support money given directly to families receiving state financial assistance.

Held for study
Population
Affected
8
Email Legislator
Introduced Feb 11, 2026Committee House Finance

Plain-English Summary

This legislation increases the amount of child support money that is directly passed on to families receiving state cash assistance through the Rhode Island Works Program. Currently, the state keeps most collected child support to reimburse itself for welfare costs, passing through only the first $50. Under this bill, the "pass-through" amount increases to $100 per month for a family with one child, and $200 per month for a family with more than one child. This ensures families keep a larger portion of the support payments made by non-custodial parents.

For younger readers

Sometimes, when parents don't live together, one parent pays money to help take care of the children. This is called child support. Right now, if a family gets help money from the government, the government keeps almost all the child support to pay itself back, only giving the family $50 extra. This new rule says the government must give the family more of that money—up to $100 if there is one child, or $200 if there are brothers or sisters. This helps families keep more money for things they need.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Low-income familiesSingle parentsNon-custodial parentsChildren on RI WorksDepartment of Human Services
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost
Amount unknown
Estimated revenue
None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Directly puts more cash into the hands of low-income families and children, helping to combat poverty and food insecurity among the state's most vulnerable populations.
  • Strengthens the social safety net by prioritizing the immediate well-being of children over the state's desire to reimburse itself for welfare expenditures.
  • Encourages non-custodial parents to make regular payments, knowing that a larger portion of their contribution will actually benefit their children rather than being absorbed by the government.
  • Does not completely end the practice of the state seizing child support payments from poor families, as the government still retains amounts over the new $100/$200 limits.
  • The benefit is contingent on the non-custodial parent's ability to pay, meaning children of incarcerated or unemployed parents will not see any benefit from this change.
  • The implementation date is not until July 2026, delaying necessary relief for struggling families for several years while inflation may erode the value of the increase.
For Conservatives
  • Incentivizes personal responsibility by ensuring that non-custodial parents see their payments directly helping their children, potentially strengthening family bonds.
  • Reduces the family's total reliance on taxpayer-funded grants by replacing state money with private money provided by the non-custodial parent.
  • Ensures that private funds are used for their intended purpose—raising children—rather than being absorbed into the general government bureaucracy.
  • Decreases the amount of money the state recoups from welfare expenditures, effectively increasing the net cost of the Rhode Island Works program to the taxpayer.
  • Could be viewed as an expansion of welfare benefits without adding corresponding work requirements or stricter oversight on how the funds are utilized.
  • Adds administrative complexity to the Department of Human Services, potentially requiring more government resources to manage the tiered payment structures.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 7 additions · 4 deletions

SECTION 1. Section 40-5.2-35 of the General Laws in Chapter 40-5.2 entitled "The Rhode Island Works Program" is hereby amended to read as follows: 40-5.2-35. Child support pass-through. For any month in which a noncustodial parent makes a child support payment in the month when due and the support is collected by the department of human services, for a child or children receiving cash assistance pursuant to this chapter, the first fifty dollars ($50.00) one hundred dollars ($100) for one child or the first two hundred dollars ($200) for more than one child of the child support payment, or the actual amount of the child support payment if the payment is less than fifty dollars ($50.00) one hundred dollars ($100) for one child or two hundred dollars ($200) for more than one child, shall be paid to the family in which the child resides. If more than one noncustodial parent makes a child support payment to children living in the same family, there shall only be one payment of fifty dollars ($50.00) one hundred dollars ($100) for one child or two hundred dollars ($200) for more than one child paid to the family from the child support collected. This payment is known as the “pass through” payment and shall be sent to the family within two (2) business days of the determination that the amount is due and owing and no later than within two (2) business days of the end of the month in which the support was collected.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.