Quick answer
Start with one application on Colorado PEAK or the MyCOBenefits app, which covers food assistance, Colorado Works cash for families, and Health First Colorado. For heat, apply to LEAP, which opened for the season on November 1, 2026 (1-866-HEAT-HELP). Renters facing eviction can enter the CERA random selection for up to $15,000. Adults 60 and older with very low income may qualify for the Old Age Pension, with a grant standard of $1,032 a month in 2026. For anything else, dial 2-1-1. Applying for these programs is free.
Key facts
- Families: Colorado Works (TANF) is open to families with children or a pregnant member, with family income under $75,000 a year at application, and offers monthly cash plus job help.
- Older adults: Old Age Pension grant standard $1,032 a month from January 1, 2026; resource limit $2,000 single, $3,000 married.
- Disability: AND-CS tops up SSI to $994 a month; AND-SO pays up to $248 while an SSI claim is pending.
- Rent: CERA pays up to $15,000 for renters at or below 60% of area median income, chosen at random.
- Counties decide: your county human services office processes most applications.
Table of contents
- Why there is no single Colorado hardship program
- Matching your emergency to a program
- One application through Colorado PEAK
- Colorado Works cash help for families
- Cash programs for older adults and people with disabilities
- Heating bills and the LEAP season
- Rent help when eviction is close
- County offices and 2-1-1 Colorado
- Papers to have ready
- A first-week plan
- Related guides
- Frequently asked questions
Why there is no single Colorado hardship program
Colorado runs its safety net through the Colorado Department of Human Services, but 64 county human services departments handle most of the day-to-day work: taking applications, checking documents, and issuing benefits. Housing help sits in a different agency, the Department of Local Affairs, and medical bill relief sits in a third. That is why searching for one "Colorado hardship program" leads to a maze.
The good news is that a few doors open most of the others. A single online application covers food, family cash, and health coverage. A single phone number, 2-1-1, reaches local charities and county emergency funds. If you understand those two doors and the handful of programs behind them, you can usually find help within days rather than weeks.
One caution: no state program charges a fee to apply, and none will ask you to pay or verify your identity through a text message. Websites that sell "Colorado hardship applications" are not official.
Matching your emergency to a program
| Your situation | Program to try first | Who runs it |
|---|---|---|
| Children at home and little or no income | Colorado Works (TANF) | County human services |
| Age 60 or older with very low income | Old Age Pension | County human services |
| Disabled, waiting on SSI | Aid to the Needy Disabled, State Only (AND-SO) | County human services |
| Running out of food | SNAP (food assistance) and food banks | County; 2-1-1 for pantries |
| Heating bill or broken furnace | LEAP | CDHS through counties |
| Behind on rent with an eviction notice | CERA | Division of Housing |
| Large hospital bill | Colorado Hospital Discounted Care | Your hospital, under state rules |
| Funeral costs for someone on public assistance | State burial assistance | County human services |
If debt is the main problem rather than day-to-day bills, our Colorado debt relief programs guide covers counseling, garnishment limits, and medical bill protections.
One application through Colorado PEAK
Colorado PEAK is the state's online portal for public benefits. One account lets you apply for food assistance, Colorado Works, and Health First Colorado (the state's Medicaid program), report changes, and upload documents. The MyCOBenefits mobile app does the same on a phone, which is handy for snapping pictures of pay stubs. If you cannot apply online, your county human services office accepts paper applications and can help you fill them out.
Not sure what you qualify for? MyFriendBen, a free Colorado screening tool, asks a few anonymous questions and lists programs and tax credits that may fit your household. It does not submit applications, but it helps you avoid missing something.
For food help, SNAP for a single person can be as much as $306 a month from October 2026; you can estimate your own amount with our SNAP calculator before you apply.
Colorado Works cash help for families
Colorado Works is the state's version of the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. According to CDHS, it is open to families with children in the home, people who are pregnant or caring for a child under 18, and certain relatives raising children. Applicants must live in Colorado, meet citizenship or eligible immigration rules, and have family income under $75,000 a year to apply; the actual cash amount depends on income and family size and is decided by the county.
Beyond the monthly payment, a Colorado Works case manager helps you set goals around school, training, or a job, and can connect you to child care and transportation help. Benefits arrive on a Colorado EBT card or by direct deposit. Counties also offer short-term diversion help for some families who need a one-time boost to stay working rather than ongoing cash; ask your county whether it is available.
State lawmakers voted in 2026 (SB26-181) to suspend the yearly cost-of-living increase for Colorado Works basic cash assistance for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 state fiscal years, so payment levels may stay flat for now. Ask your county caseworker for current amounts.
Cash programs for older adults and people with disabilities
Colorado runs several small state-funded cash programs that many people have never heard of. CDHS lists them on its adult financial programs page. Counties take the applications.
| Program | Who it serves | Grant standard |
|---|---|---|
| Old Age Pension (OAP) | Colorado residents 60 and older with low income and resources | $1,032 a month (from January 1, 2026) |
| Aid to the Needy Disabled, Colorado Supplement (AND-CS) | People up to age 59 getting less than the full SSI benefit for disability or blindness | $994 a month (from January 1, 2026) |
| Aid to the Needy Disabled, State Only (AND-SO) | Ages 18 to 59 with a disability that prevents work, while an SSI claim is pending | $248 a month |
| Home Care Allowance | Age 5 and older with a disability, to pay a home care provider | $977 payment floor (from January 1, 2026) |
| Burial assistance | People receiving Colorado Works, Medicaid, or adult financial programs at death | Total funeral cost may not exceed $2,500 |
The grant standard is a ceiling, not a flat check. Wages, Social Security, SSI, and veterans' payments reduce what you receive. For OAP and AND-SO, countable resources such as bank accounts, a second property, or stocks are limited to $2,000 for a single person and $3,000 for a married person. AND-SO payments made during months later covered by SSI are paid back to the state from your first SSI check, through an agreement with Social Security.
Heating bills and the LEAP season
Colorado's Low-income Energy Assistance Program, LEAP, helps with winter heating costs. The 2026-27 season began taking applications on November 1, 2026, for households with income up to 60% of the state median income. Apply online, through your county, or by calling 1-866-HEAT-HELP (1-866-432-8435). LEAP generally pays the benefit straight to your utility or fuel vendor, and it may also help repair or replace an unsafe heating system for eligible homeowners.
Winter is the season to apply even if you are not yet behind, because the program runs for a limited period each year and processing takes time. Utilities and local energy programs have their own discounts too, so ask your gas and electric company about income-qualified rates while your LEAP application is pending.
Rent help when eviction is close
Colorado still funds a statewide rent program, Colorado Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA), run by the Division of Housing in the Department of Local Affairs. It can pay up to $15,000 per household to a landlord for renters at or below 60% of area median income who have an eviction-related document and a recent hardship, such as lost income, a health crisis, or fleeing abuse. Because money is limited, households are picked by random selection. The monthly online window for November opens on November 4, 2026, and households with a court summons or later eviction paper can also try the daily phone selection through the CARE Center at (303) 838-1200.
The rules on documents, the 24-month limit, and the two selection paths are detailed in our Colorado rent relief program guide. If you own your home and are behind on the mortgage, the state mortgage fund has closed, so see our Colorado mortgage assistance guide for what still works.
County offices and 2-1-1 Colorado
Your county human services department is the place to ask about emergency help that is not on any state website. Many counties run their own small funds for rent, utilities, car repairs needed for work, or one-time needs, and they change from year to year. Call or visit and ask, "Do you have any emergency assistance for my situation, and who else should I call?"
2-1-1 Colorado is a free, confidential referral line. Dial 2-1-1, text, or search online to find food pantries, shelters, rent and utility funds from charities, transportation, and help with legal or medical problems near you. It is especially useful in rural counties, where help may come from a church, a community action agency, or a single local nonprofit.
Other doors worth knowing
- Hospital bills: households at or below 250% of the poverty line can ask the hospital to screen them for Colorado Hospital Discounted Care.
- Seniors and people with disabilities: the Colorado property tax, rent, and heat (PTC) rebate pays up to $1,178 a year to eligible low-income applicants; see the Department of Revenue's PTC rebate page.
- Legal problems: Colorado Legal Services helps eligible low-income residents with eviction, benefits denials, and debt cases.
Papers to have ready
Each program sets its own list, but these Colorado programs most often ask for photo ID, proof that you live in Colorado (a lease or utility bill), Social Security numbers for people applying, and proof of income for the last 30 days. CERA also needs your lease and the eviction-related document. LEAP asks for a recent heating bill or the name of your fuel supplier. The older adult programs ask for statements showing bank balances and other resources. For a general checklist, see our guide to gathering required documents.
A first-week plan
- Day 1: Create a PEAK account or download MyCOBenefits and apply for food assistance, Colorado Works if you have children, and Health First Colorado if you lack coverage.
- Day 1 or 2: If it is heating season, apply to LEAP. Call your utility and ask about a payment arrangement while you wait.
- Day 2: If you have an eviction notice, check the CERA dates and enter the next selection. Call 2-1-1 for local rent funds as a backup.
- Day 3: If you are 60 or older or have a disability, ask your county about OAP, AND-CS, or AND-SO.
- Days 4 to 7: Answer every county call and upload missing documents quickly. Missing paperwork is the most common reason applications stall.
Related guides
- Colorado rent relief program
- Colorado mortgage assistance
- Colorado utility relief programs
- Colorado debt relief programs
Frequently asked questions
Is there an official Colorado hardship program?
Not under that name. Colorado hardship help comes through separate programs: Colorado Works, food assistance, LEAP, CERA, and adult cash programs, plus county emergency funds. PEAK and 2-1-1 Colorado are the easiest starting points.
Who can get Colorado Works?
Families with children in the home, people who are pregnant, and caregivers of children under 18 who live in Colorado and meet citizenship or immigration rules. CDHS lists family income under $75,000 a year as a condition to apply. Apply on PEAK, the MyCOBenefits app, or at your county.
How much is the Colorado Old Age Pension in 2026?
The grant standard is $1,032 a month from January 1, 2026, for residents 60 and older. Other income, such as Social Security, lowers the payment, and resources are limited to $2,000 for a single person.
When can I apply for LEAP in Colorado?
The 2026-27 season opened on November 1, 2026. Households up to 60% of state median income can apply online, through their county, or by calling 1-866-432-8435.
Does Colorado still help renters with back rent?
Yes. CERA pays up to $15,000 for eligible renters facing eviction, chosen by random selection through monthly online windows or a daily phone selection at (303) 838-1200.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on November 3, 2026. If a source and this page ever disagree, follow the source.
This guide is general information, not an application. Program amounts, windows, and county rules change; confirm with CDHS, the Division of Housing, or your county human services office before you rely on a figure. National Relief Program is an independent website and is not affiliated with any government agency.
Before you apply: program rules, amounts, and deadlines change. Always confirm details with the official agency or program administrator. Applying for government benefits is free.
National Relief Program is an independent guide, not a government agency. Spotted an error? Email support@nationalreliefprogram.org.
