Assistance Programs

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.

• Pikes Peak, Upper Arkansas and Pueblo Region Colorado Works (English)
• Colorado Works At-a-Glance (English)
• Colorado Works detailed booklet (English)
• Colorado Works detailed booklet (Spanish)

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

Additional resources:

• Partners in Housing
• Pikes Peak Workforce Center
• TESSA
• Child Support Services

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 Family	Maximum 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 Family Assistance English Flyer
• CCCAP Family Assistance Spanish Flyer
• CCCAP Provider Assistance English Flyer
• CCCAP Provider Assistance Spanish Flyer

CCCAP Application Materials:

• CCCAP Business Processes
• CCCAP Rules and Regulations
• CCCAP Application Package
• CCCAP Redetermination Form (RRR)
• CCCAP Application Package (Spanish)
• CCCAP Redetermination Form (RRR) (Spanish)
• Child Care for School-Age Children Process & Procedure

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.

The Colorado Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) is a federally funded program that helps eligible Colorado families, seniors and individuals pay a portion of their winter home heating costs. The program is only available November through April and in most cases, the energy assistance benefit is paid directly to the household energy supplier.

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

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.