Colorado Requests Full November SNAP Food Assistance Funding for 600,000 Residents
Colorado submitted a request November 7 to restore full SNAP food assistance payments for November, ending a week of uncertainty for more than 600,000 Coloradans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to purchase food.
The Colorado Department of Human Services will work with its payment vendor to load November benefits onto Electronic Benefit Transfer cards following a U.S. District Court order directing the Food and Nutrition Service to make full SNAP funding available, Governor Jared Polis announced. Recipients should begin seeing payments as early as November 8, with all participants expected to receive full payments over the following days.
"We are moving fast to make sure Coloradans aren't going hungry," Polis said. "My administration and Colorado Department of Human Services will continue working to ensure SNAP food assistance is distributed as soon as possible so every household can stay healthy and nourished."
The restoration comes after the U.S. Department of Agriculture instructed states October 10 to suspend November SNAP benefits due to the federal government shutdown that began October 1. The suspension left approximately 34,000 Larimer County residents and roughly 20,000 to 25,000 Weld County residents without access to monthly food assistance funds typically distributed at the start of each month.
Food Banks Mobilized as Demand Doubled
The benefit suspension created immediate pressure on Northern Colorado's emergency food network. Weld Food Bank served more than 100 vehicles November 3, nearly double typical Monday morning demand, as two-thirds of households reported being affected by the freeze.
Larimer County food banks received approximately $650,000 in emergency state funding as part of a $10 million statewide allocation approved October 30. Food Bank for Larimer County estimated the funding could be leveraged to purchase approximately $1.8 million worth of food through bulk purchasing, though the amount represented less than 10 percent of the $6.5 million in monthly SNAP benefits typically distributed to county residents.
Multiple Fort Collins restaurants and businesses organized volunteer-driven relief efforts to provide free food during the suspension, including Philippe French Bistro's free meal program and Friendly Nick's Butcher's $75,000 meat distribution effort.
Children, Elderly Among Most Affected
The suspension affected Colorado's most vulnerable populations. More than 16,000 children in Larimer County were among the 34,000 county residents impacted, along with 3,253 older adults over age 64 and 4,879 adults with disabilities, according to Larimer County Human Services data.
Colorado typically distributes over $120 million monthly in federal nutrition assistance statewide. SNAP households in Northern Colorado receive average monthly benefits ranging from $790 to $994, depending on household size. Maximum benefits for a family of four totaled $994 as of October 2025, according to state data.
First-Time National Suspension Creates Confusion
The November suspension marked the first time in SNAP program history that the federal government failed to pay out regular benefits nationwide. Previous government shutdowns in 2013 and 2019 involved payment delays or advance distributions but never a complete suspension of monthly benefits.
The week brought conflicting updates from the federal government that created widespread confusion. Two federal judges ruled October 31 that the benefit suspension could be unlawful and ordered Food and Nutrition Service to provide a restoration plan by November 3. The administration initially announced only partial payments would be issued before reversing course following the court order.
CDHS Executive Director Michelle Barnes called the availability of full funds "a relief to the thousands of Coloradans who have been waiting for their November food assistance payments."
"SNAP is an essential program to ensure every individual has access to healthy food, and no family or child should have to go hungry because of a government shutdown," Barnes said.
Recipients Urged to Protect Benefits from Fraud
The state reminded SNAP recipients to protect themselves from potential fraud as payments resume. CDHS recommended recipients freeze their EBT cards when not in use through the ebtEDGE mobile app or cardholder portal, change personal identification numbers frequently, avoid simple PINs, and report suspicious activity immediately.
Colorado has seen increasing numbers of EBT card skimming and phishing cases statewide in recent years. The ebtEDGE app allows recipients to monitor balances in real time, receive transaction alerts, and instantly freeze or deactivate cards if theft is suspected.
Recipients who experience stolen benefits should immediately file a claim through EBT Customer Service at 1-888-328-2656 and their county office. Colorado aims to investigate and restore benefits within 10 to 15 business days for confirmed card skimming cases when proper documentation is provided, according to the state Department of Human Services.
Food Assistance Resources Still Available
State officials encouraged residents in need of food resources to contact Colorado 211 at 2-1-1 or visit 211colorado.org, or reach Feeding Colorado at feedingcolorado.org/find-food. Local county human services offices also maintain information about community food assistance programs.
The state urged Coloradans able to support neighbors to donate to local food banks and community organizations through feedingcolorado.org/donate. Officials noted cash donations provide greater purchasing power than canned food donations, allowing food banks to buy substantially more food and create greater community impact.
CDHS indicated the situation remains evolving, and new court opinions or guidance from the federal government could still impact benefit access for November. The department will issue additional information as available to ensure Coloradans remain informed about any impacts to their food assistance.