Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program
| Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP): Formerly known as the Food Stamp Program assists low-income households with monthly food benefits. This program is a supplement to the household's nutritional needs for the month. Eligibility is based upon the household's income, resources, household size, and shelter costs. Benefits are given to eligible households through the Colorado Quest Card. Certain food assistance recipients will be referred to the Employment First Program for assistance in employment and training needs. Got more information or to apply online click here: Information and Benefit Calculator. |
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Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) Enrollment: SNAP enrollment is continuing and benefits will be available on a regular schedule, including application submissions, submitting paperwork, reporting changes, and interviews. However, some county offices have closed and enrollment may be done online or by phone only. Please visit the PEAK website for a faster process to apply for or inquire on benefits such as medical, food, cash, and early childhood assistance programs. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) approves the State agency’s request to adjust the certification provisions of section 3(f) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (the Act) and SNAP regulations at 7 CFR 273.10(f)(5). The State agency may extend certification periods for households scheduled to expire in March, April and May 2020, for 6 months until September, October and November 2020. This adjustment includes households with earned income that by regulation cannot normally be certified for more than a six month period. Households certified for 24 months (households in which all members are older adults or persons with disabilities) need to complete a Periodic Report form at 12 months in order to continue receiving benefits, regardless of if their circumstances have changed. During the COVID-19 outbreak, CDHS will use auto processing to waive these PRs to ensure clients continue receiving benefits and to reduce county processing burden. |
| Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides federal grants to states for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk. |
| SNAP Work Requirement Rule: The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released a final rule that would limit eligibility for SNAP work requirement waivers based on the economic conditions of places across the United States. A nationwide preliminary injunction halting this rule was ordered on March 13, 2020 by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia; as of April 1 USDA had not appealed. SNAP work requirements have been suspended during the COVID-19 health emergency. Those work requirements will return when the Secretary for Health and Human Services declares the health emergency over, even if the economic emergency remains. |
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Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): Provides financial and employment support to low-income families. Assistance and services provided may include childcare, cash payments, transportation, counseling, and other services. |
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Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): WIC’s goal is to help keep pregnant and breastfeeding women and children younger than age five healthy. They offer free healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and referrals to care beyond WIC. Your family may be eligible for all the great benefits WIC provides. Visit this link to apply. |
Grocery Support
| Colorado WIC Clinics: Colorado WIC is open and serving clients, though many clinics are providing services remotely. Contact your local clinic to ask about options. |
| Arvada WIC Clinic: 5150 Allison St., Arvada, 303.271.5780 |
| Aurora East WIC Clinic: 15400 E. 14th Pl., Suite 344, Aurora, 303.363.3076 |
| Aurora South WIC Clinic: 15192 E. Hampden Ave., Aurora, 303.873.4400 |
| Aurora West WIC Clinic: 9000 E. Colfax Ave., Suite 105, Aurora, 303.361.6010 |
| Brighton WIC Clinic: 30 S. 20th Ave., Suite F/G, Brighton, 303.659.2335 |
| Commerce City WIC Clinic: 4201 E. 72nd Ave., Suite D, Commerce City, 303.439.5990 |
| Commerce City WIC Clinic - Salud: 6255 Quebec Pkwy., Commerce City, 303.227.6436 |
| Westminster WIC Clinic: 1401 W. 122nd Ave., Suite 200, Westminster , 303.255.6254 |
Policy & Legislative Updates
| Supplemental Food Assistance Online Ordering Policy Update: The U.S. Department of Agriculture on 5/6/2020 approved a request from Colorado and a dozen other states to allow online purchases using federal food assistance. There are approximately 415,000 SNAP recipients in Colorado whose benefits total $640 million annually. The greenlight from the USDA allows the state to work with previously-authorized retailers to implement its own pilot. Find additional info from FNS. Recently, states have begun to expedite planning to allow online purchasing. States that are currently approved to move forward are Colorado, District of Columbia, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, Texas, West Virginia and Vermont. These states expect to implement online purchasing in May/June 2020. |
| Who stands to lose if the final SNAP work requirement rule takes effect? The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released a final rule that would limit eligibility for SNAP work requirement waivers based on the economic conditions of places across the United States. A nationwide preliminary injunction halting this rule was ordered on March 13, 2020 by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia; as of April 1 USDA had not appealed. SNAP work requirements have been suspended during the COVID-19 health emergency. Those work requirements will return when the Secretary for Health and Human Services declares the health emergency over, even if the economic emergency remains. |
