Welcome to Colorado’s Food Assistance Program

1. Welcome to Colorado’s Food Assistance Program October 8, 2010

2. Colorado’s Food Assistance Program • Nationally, the food assistance program is administered under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Services Program (FNS). • In Colorado the program is a state run, county administered program. The Program is Nationally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Colorado chose to continue utilizing the title of Food Assistance.

3. Program Administration • At the state level, the program is part of the State Department of Human Services. • The state monitors and provides support to county offices. • At the county level, the program is found in the Social or Human Services office. • The county offices determine eligibility.

4. Program Statistics Average 2% increase in recipients per month 4

5. Individuals applying for benefits: • Get an application – either in person, by mail, or through state website • Complete the application and return it to their local FA office in person, mail, drop-off or fax (the first page with name, address and signature can be turned in to secure the application date, and the rest of the application can be completed and submitted at the time of interview).

6. Applicants, continued • Get an appointment (you can request a telephone or face-to-face interview). • Gather documents and other necessary information. Go through the interview process. • Benefits are either approved or denied

7. Documents that may be needed to determine eligibility: • Proof of identity (i.e. Driver's license or birth certificate– A Photo ID is not required for Food Assistance); • Proof of Residency (bills, lease, letter, driver’s license, etc. unless client declares homeless) • Proof of household’s income (i.e. pay stubs, letter showing money received from social security, VA, child support, unemployment, gifts, etc); • Proof of resources (bank accounts, real estate, etc.) • Proof of Non-citizen status (LPR card, etc.) • Social Security number (a social security card is not required as long as the number is provided. Application for a SSN is acceptable).

8. Documents that may help increase your benefit amount: • Most recent mortgage statement or rental agreement (or letter from your landlord/ roommate, receipts); • Verification of day care obligation or payments for your child; • Medical bills or receipts for prescriptions that you are obligated to pay (if you are 60 or older, or disabled); • Court order or cancelled checks for child support payments. • Utilities (clients can declare the amount they are obligated to pay for water, gas/ propane, electric, trash, telephone, etc.)

9. How is the information used? • Most people have to meet gross and net income guidelines. • If there is a person 60 years or older or disabled in the household, only net has to be met. The Steps are: •  Determine household size..... •  Add gross monthly income... •  If gross monthly income is less than the limit for household size, determine net income (using allowable deductions).

10. Who Qualifies, Who Doesn’t Households that passed the income tests may be required to meet resource tests in order to be eligible for benefits. • Resources • Households may have up to $2,000 in countable resources (cash, bank account, CDs, stocks/bonds) • Households with someone aged 60 or older, or is disabled, may have resources up to $3,000 • Home and vehicle are not counted for these households • People receiving SSI, TANF, AND, or OAP don’t have their resources looked at.

11. Legal Immigrants may qualify for Food Assistance. • Most legal immigrants must wait 5 years before being eligible. • There is no wait for children under 18yrs, some elderly and disabled, or for some refugees and asylees. • Some non-citizens may be eligible if they have enough work quarters. • Legal immigrant or citizen children can still qualify even if their parents/guardians don’t. *Eligible household members can get benefits even if there are other members of the household that are not eligible.

12. Income Test Households without Elderly/Disabled members must have a gross income under 130% of the Federal Poverty level for their household size. 12

13. Amount of Benefits a Household May Be Eligible For: 13

14. Approved Food assistance recipients utilize their benefits to buy eligible food at authorized retail food stores through the use of an electronic benefit card (EBT card). Cases are approved for 3, 6 or 24 months depending on who is in the Food Assistance Household. Did I Qualify?

15. Denied A letter is sent telling the reason the applicants did not qualify for benefits. The county can be contacted if more explanation is needed/wanted. They are the best source of information for your case. Did I Qualify?, continued • A Fair Hearing can be requested if the client doesn’t agree with the benefit amount or denial.

16. Resources and Contacts State Website:http://www.cdhs.state.co.us/fap/ Federal Website: http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp PEAK(Program Eligibility and Application Kit): http://www.colorado.gov/benefits/ These websites provide information regarding the program, eligibility and contacts, and have downloadable materials such as applications. A pre-screening tool and a “Check my benefits” feature are also available. Food Assistance Customer Service (utilized mainly for out of state verifications and client’s issues regarding untimely processing of benefits). 1-800-536-5298 Quest Card Customer Service www.coloquestcard.com1-888-328-2656 or 1-800-659-2656 (TTY)

17. Contacts To request a Fair Hearing, clients may mail, fax or call in a request. Office Of Administrative Hearings 633 17th st. Ste. 1300 Denver 80202 303-866-2000 303-866-5909 fax To file a complaint of discrimination, write or call USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). 1-866-632-9992 toll free

18. Food Assistance Policy Staff Contact Information • Foodstamp.policy@state.co.us (Utilized by county staff and community partners for Food Assistance policy questions). • Audrey Garcia (State Policy) 303-866-4748 Audrey.Garcia@state.co.us • Connie Bley (State Policy) 303-866-4748 Connie.Bley@state.co.us • Mary Lu Lechuga (Adams County Director) 303-277-2329 MaryLu.Lechuga@dss.co.adams.co.us