Helping You Navigate Your Benefits
The federal administration has passed legislation that will bring changes to benefit programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid, also known as Health First Colorado, that will impact Adams County residents. Adams County Human Services will provide regular updates to this webpage as new information is released to help you navigate your benefits. Human Services is committed to keeping Adams County residents and community informed of the changes and for impacted individuals to stay enrolled in their benefits that they are entitled to.
Information on this page is updated through to Dec. 31, 2025.
Federal Government Shutdown Updates
The federal government shutdown began on October 1, 2025. The U.S. Congress failed to pass appropriations legislation for the 2026 fiscal year, triggering a lapse in federal funding.
Changes to SNAP Benefits
Effective Nov. 1, 2025
Due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, November SNAP benefits, for both new and ongoing cases, will not be issued if the shutdown continues into November. Please continue to apply and submit renewal documents, as our team will continue to process cases and issue benefits as soon as the shutdown ends.
The County has no control over when benefits will be available; the availability of SNAP benefits depends completely on the federal government.
Additional Resources
There are additional resources you can utilize if you are impacted by the SNAP pause:
Adams County Resource Guide (English) | Guia de Recursos (Spanish)
Mile High United Way’s 211 Help Center
Adams County is monitoring the situation closely and staying in touch with state agencies to ensure we can provide the most up-to-date information and support for residents. We will continue to share any updates or changes about the federal government shutdown both on Adams County social media as well as on this webpage.
Navigator Newsletter
Sign Up for Human Services “Navigator” Newsletter to receive regular email updates about the federal benefits changes.
SNAP
SNAP provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford the nutritious food essential to health and well-being.
Eligibility Changes
Effective Oct. 1, 2025:
- Additional Eligibility Requirement: A new requirement has been added that most households will need to prepare to report utility expenses. These expenses are used to determine how much SNAP benefits you receive. This new requirement does not apply to households with an elderly individual (60+) or an individual with a disability. When applying or redetermining for SNAP, clients should prepare to report heating and cooling expenses.
Effective by Nov. 1, 2025:
- Eligibility Eliminated: Certain lawfully present non-citizen immigrants, including refugees, parolees, survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence, and Afghan evacuees will no longer be eligible to receive SNAP benefits.
Work Requirements
Effective Immediately:
- Work requirement exemptions eliminated: SNAP recipients who are veterans, who are experiencing homelessness, and adults 24 years of age or younger who aged out of foster care will no longer receive work requirement exemptions.
Effective Oct. 1, 2025:
- Work Rules Requirement: Individuals that are adults ages 55–64 without children or other dependents and are known in the SNAP program as Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) aged 55-64 will now be required to volunteer or work a certain number of hours to receive more than 3 months of SNAP benefits in 36 months.
If you have questions, please contact the Human Services Call Center at 720.253.2700
Medicaid
Medicaid provides health coverage to eligible low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults and people with disabilities.
Eligibility Changes
No changes currently announced, please continue to provide required documentation and information.
Work Requirements
No changes currently announced, please continue to provide required documentation and information.