Helping Households in Need

Colorado operates as a state supervised, county administered human services system. Programs and services are mandated by state and federal statutes and guided by state and federal regulations.

Factors that determine eligibility can vary depending on program. Applicants will need to provide documentation during the application process including documents verifying age, Colorado residency, income, SSN, resources, expenses, disability (if applicable), and application for SSI (if applicable).

Colorado PEAK

Assistance programs coordinate with Colorado PEAK for the application process and management; an office visit is usually not needed. Acquire an account on Colorado PEAK to maximize the online services available. Colorado PEAK is operated at the state level. The PEAK Technical Support Call Center number is 1-800-250-7741, open 7:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Monday-Friday (closed on state holidays).

The free MyCoBenefits app is available through the Apple and Android app stores. PEAKHealth is a free app for current Medicaid and CHP+ members who have a Colorado.gov/PEAK account.

Did you know that if you receive cash assistance benefits, you can have that cash directly deposited into your bank account? The direct deposit enrollment form is available online.

PEAK Virtual Assistance

The PEAK Chatbot is an automated customer service help desk available 24/7 for any PEAK user. To access the Chatbot, on the PEAK homepage, click “Chat Now” near the top of the page.

With the Chatbot, users can:

  • View Case ID, current month’s program status, PEAK application status, and State/Member ID
  • Get help with logging in and password resets
  • Get help viewing and printing a medical card
  • View instructions on how to make a payment
  • Get help cancelling benefits
  • Create a help desk ticket
  • Chat with a live agent Mon.–Fri., 8:30 AM–4:30 PM

PEAK Chatbot es un servicio automatizado de asistencia al cliente para todo usuario de PEAK, disponible 24 horas al día, los siete días de la semana en la página de inicio de PEAK.

Don’t risk a gap in your health coverage!

  • Get ready to renew now!
  • Make sure we can reach you! Update your contact information and sign up for notifications in the Health First Colorado app and in your PEAK account.
  • Respond by the date in your letter – you’ll get this in the mail and by email.
  • Don’t forget to sign your renewal packet.
  • Turn in documentation in the way that works for you: Health First Colorado app, mail, online at www.co.gov/PEAK.

For more information visit https://healthfirstcolorado.com/renewals/ or read the informational flyer in English or Spanish.

Assistance is available by phone

  • Colorado SNAP Call Center – Toll-free: 1-800-816-4451 (English only); Clients can call into the automated system to gather information about their benefits, get their case status, and receive general SNAP updates.
  • General Information Customer Service Line: (719) 636-0000
  • Health First Colorado/Medicaid Customer Service Line: (719) 444-8200
  • Fraud Hotline:

Applications for assistance may be submitted online through the Colorado PEAK website, submitted in-person at the DHS lobby or other DHS sites, or mailed to El Paso County Department of Human Services, P.O. Box 2692, Colorado Springs, CO 80901.

Programs

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps low-income households purchase food. Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards are used to receive the monthly benefit and can be used similar to debit cards at authorized retail food stores.

Applicants are encouraged to create an account at Colorado PEAK to maximize the services available online. To see if you qualify, complete this pre-screening tool on the Colorado PEAK website (Note: This tool is not an application for SNAP). For more detailed information on the eligibility, application, documentation for the SNAP visit https://cdhs.colorado.gov/snap.

Double Up Food Bucks Colorado

When customers spend their SNAP benefits on their EBT card at participating farmers markets or select retailers, those food benefits will be matched dollar for dollar to be put toward Colorado-grown, fresh fruits and vegetables, up to $20 per visit. For locations where Double Up Food Bucks is available, visit the website at https://doubleupcolorado.org/.

If you do not qualify for SNAP, there are other resources including:

Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado is not distributing to individuals but is distributing food and food boxes to partner agencies. Click on FIND FOOD on the Care and Share website to find a pantry near you. Please call to confirm before visiting a site.

Colorado Works is Colorado’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), a federal program to provide financial assistance to low-income families. Child Only TANF is designed to provide assistance to a caregiver for a relative child. If you are a grandparent/relative caregiver you may qualify to receive financial assistance.

There are specific eligibility criteria. Colorado Works also has a 60-month lifetime limit.

The application process can be started online at Colorado PEAK. Cases may also be managed online and through the app. More information is posted to the state Colorado Works website.

To access services and learn more about how we can help please call our general information line at (719) 636-0000.

Additional resources:

Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) for low-income families includes eligible adults and children ages 0 through 18. Health First Colorado provides medical benefits including inpatient and outpatient hospital, physician services, well child checks, immunizations, vision care including prescription glasses, prescription drugs, dental and mental health care. For adults over age 21, dental and vision benefits may be limited. Adults may incur a co-pay for services. Children must be residing in the home more than 50 percent of the time. Additional factors for eligibility include citizenship, legal residence, and household income. The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing website summarizes all offered programs and services, including what is covered and what is not covered under the program.

Extensive information about Health First Colorado, including a tool to find doctors and other providers, is online at https://www.healthfirstcolorado.com/. The application process is online at Colorado PEAK.

For specific information related to El Paso County ongoing medical assistance cases, please call: (719) 444-8200.

Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) is public low-cost health insurance for certain children and pregnant women. It is for people who earn too much to qualify for Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program), but not enough to pay for private health insurance.

CCCAP is designed to provide child care subsidies to eligible low-income families for child care when in an eligible activity. Assistance in finding quality child care is also available by calling 877-338-2273 or visiting the Colorado Shines website. If you have an active TANF case, please speak directly with your TANF technician about CCCAP. If you have any questions or would like more information about the program in El Paso County, please call (719) 636-0000. The state also has a website about CCCAP: https://cdec.colorado.gov/colorado-child-care-assistance-program-for-families.

Income Guidelines

(Effective October 01, 2022, thru September 30, 2023)

Number of Persons in FamilyMaximum Gross Monthly Income
2$3,286.67
3$4.143.33
4$5,000.00
5$5,856.67
6$6,713.33
7$7,570.00
8$8,426.67
9$9,283.33

Example to Calculate Income
Weekly Gross X 4.33 = Total Monthly Gross
NOTE: Household income includes all income earned and unearned gross income.

Eligible Activities

  • Employment
  • High school or GED for teen parents
  • Max 24 month lifetime limit of post-secondary education training for a first Bachelor’s Degree or less
  • Max 12 month lifetime limit for job skills training, Adult GED or high school diploma, English as a second language, adult basic education, or other basic skills training
  • Job Search (up to 13 weeks)

NOTE: In a two-adult household, both adult caretakers must be in an eligible activity.

Applications may be completed online and submitted via the Colorado PEAK website, or mailed to: El Paso County Department of Human Services, P.O. Box 2692, Colorado Springs, CO 80901. Applications and documents may be submitted at the El Paso County Department of Human Services, 1675 W. Garden of the Gods, 3rd Floor, during business hours.

CCCAP Promotional Materials:

CCCAP Application Materials:

The Burial Assistance Program provides payments to providers for burial and cremation services of low-income Coloradans. Burial benefits are used to cover reasonable and necessary costs for burial services.

There are eligibility requirements. A person must have been receiving public assistance and/or medical assistance at the time of death.

Program applications can be picked up from the main DHS lobby on the first floor of the Citizens Service Center at 1675 W. Garden of the Gods Road, Colorado Springs. CO 80907. Funeral homes can also submit paperwork for the program to DHS.

For more information, visit the state website and click on Burial Assistance Program, or call the El Paso County DHS General Information Customer Service Line at (719) 636-0000.

Non-Emergent Medical Transportation (NEMT) is a Health First Colorado benefit for members who don’t have transportation to medical appointments. More information about NEMT including a list of local providers is on the Health First Colorado website.

Transportation providers interested in this service can find more information on the state page: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/hcpf/non-emergent-medical-transportation.

Learn more about LEAP and how to apply for assistance online at https://cdhs.colorado.gov/leap.

Adult Financial, Adult Medical and Long Term Care Programs

The Aid to the Needy Disabled-State Only (AND-SO) program provides a cash assistance benefit to low-income Colorado residents who have a disability that precludes them from working. The Aid to the Needy Disabled-Colorado Supplement (AND-CS) program provides a supplemental payment for clients up to age 59, who are receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) due to a disability or blindness, and are not receiving the full SSI benefit. Aid to Blind (AB) falls under the AND program.

Additional information including eligibility is online at the state Adult Financial Programs website.

Applications for assistance may be submitted online through the Colorado PEAK website, submitted in-person at the DHS lobby or other DHS sites, or mailed to El Paso County Department of Human Services, P.O. Box 2692, Colorado Springs, CO 80901. The El Paso County general information Customer Service Line at (719) 636-0000 (business hours only) is an additional resource.

The Old Age Pension (OAP) program provides cash assistance for low-income adults age 60 or older. Additional information including eligibility is online at the state Adult Financial Programs website.

Applications for assistance may be submitted online through the Colorado PEAK website, submitted in-person at the DHS lobby or other DHS sites, or mailed to El Paso County Department of Human Services, P.O. Box 2692, Colorado Springs, CO 80901. The El Paso County general information Customer Service Line at (719) 636-0000 (business hours only) is an additional resource.

The Old Age Pension (OAP) Health and Medical Care Program provides limited medical care for those receiving Old Age Pension, if they do not qualify for Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program).

The Home Care Allowance (HCA) program provides cash assistance to individuals 5 years of age and older with a disability to pay a home care provider. Additional information including eligibility is online at the state Adult Financial Programs website. A Single Entry Point (SEP) agency will determine the functional capacity and need.

Applications for assistance may be submitted online through the Colorado PEAK website, submitted in-person at the DHS lobby or other DHS sites, or mailed to El Paso County Department of Human Services, P.O. Box 2692, Colorado Springs, CO 80901. The El Paso County general information Customer Service Line at (719) 636-0000 (business hours only) is an additional resource.

The Long Term Care program is available to individuals who are Health First Colorado eligible and at risk of placement in a skilled nursing facility, alternative care facility, hospital stays of thirty days or more; or intermediate care facility for individuals with developmental disabilities:

  • Home Community Based Services (HCBS), Assisted Living ( ACF), Nursing Home (NF), 30-day institutionalized Med
  • Must meet citizenship, income, resource, disability, and level of care criteria
  • When all criteria are met Health First Colorado benefits are approved/ provider payments can be made
  • Income trust cannot be used for 30 day med stays in hospital
  • Married couples who are separated are still considered married for LTC eligibility
  • Level of care is determined by a case management agency
  • May need to complete additional Medicaid Disability Application; process can take up to 90 days
  • For nursing home cases all gross income except PNA of $84.41 or $79 or $91.35 depending on the source of income or if receives VA goes toward cost of care
  • Medicare premium may be paid by the State
  • A community spouse may be eligible for additional income from Health First Colorado spouse

Home Community Based Services (HCBS)

The Home Community Based Services (HCBS) is a Long Term Care program providing services that allow individuals to remain in the community for as long as possible. HCBS provides additional benefits to specific populations including:

  • Children’s HCBS Waiver
  • HCBS-Children with Autism Waiver
  • Children’s Extensive Support
  • HCBS – Persons with Brain Injury
  • HCBS – Colorado Mental Health Services
  • HCBS – Persons who are Elderly, Blind and Disabled
  • Supportive Living Services
  • Waiver for Persons Developmentally Disabled
  • Children’s Life Behavior and Illness

The Health First Colorado Buy-In Program for Working Adults with Disabilities lets adults with a disability who qualify to “buy-into” Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program). Information including eligibility guidelines are on the state Health First Colorado Buy-In Program For Working Adults With Disabilities website.

The Health First Colorado Buy-In Program for Children with Disabilities lets families of children with a disability who qualify to ‘buy-into’ Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) for that child. Information including eligibility guidelines are on the state Health First Colorado Buy-In Program For Children With Disabilities website.

Applications for assistance may be submitted online through the Colorado PEAK website, submitted in-person at the DHS lobby or other DHS sites, or mailed to El Paso County Department of Human Services, P.O. Box 2692, Colorado Springs, CO 80901. The El Paso County Health First Colorado/Medicaid Customer Service Line is (719) 444-8200.

Medicare Savings Programs (MSP) help people with limited income and resources pay for some or all of their Medicare premiums and may also pay their Medicare deductibles and co-insurance. There are four Medicare Savings Programs, each with different income limits. For more details on each type and eligibility guidelines, visit the state Medicare Savings Program (MSP) website.

Applications for assistance may be submitted online through the Colorado PEAK website, submitted in-person at the DHS lobby or other DHS sites, or mailed to El Paso County Department of Human Services, P.O. Box 2692, Colorado Springs, CO 80901. For specific information related to El Paso County ongoing medical assistance cases, please call: (719) 444-8200.

Right to File for Food Assistance

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

EPC Nondiscrimination Notice – HCPF

Nondiscrimination Statement – SNAP

Notice of Reasonable Accommodation

Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) Nondiscrimination Notice

El Paso County Department of Human Services Comprehensive Civil Rights Plan (The plan is posted in the DHS lobby. If you are unable to read the document online and need a verbal explanation, call Quality and Development Services Director/DHS Civil Rights Officer Asya Rozental at 719-444-5531.)

If you have additional customer concerns, visit the Quality Assurance page.