A step by step guide for applying for food stamps through Colorado.gov/PEAK
Information to gather before starting the application:
- Full names, DOBs, and SSNs for the people applying for benefits.
- If someone is working, paycheck stubs for that person’s job(s). PEAK will ask how much each person makes at their job, how often they are paid, and how many hours they work.
- Benefit check stubs or award letters for types of income, such as Social Security, Supplemental Security income (SSI), of Child Support. They will ask when these types of benefits started, how much is received, and how often it is received.
- If someone is self-employed, last year’s tax return for their self-employment (if they held taxes for the business)
- How much you pay each month for housing (ex: rent, lot rent, mortgage, property taxes, or homeowner’s insurance).
- How much you pay for utilities (examples: electricity, gas, phone, water, and trash removal).
- How much you pay for someone’s care (example: day care for children) and who provides the care.
- If you’re over the age of 60, gather the amount of out-of-pocket medical expense you pay. Keep in mind that if you don’t have a way to get the information, the county office will be able to help you get that information.
Visit https://colorado.gov/PEAK and select “Apply for benefits” to begin.
- You will have the option to “Create PEAK Account” or “Apply as a guest”
- We recommend creating an account so you can save your application and return to it later.
- When you create an account, you will need to enter an email address or mobile number, select “Next,”
- Then create a password according to their guidelines, click “Sign up” at the bottom of the screen.
- You will be asked to verify your email address or phone number by sending a code and inputting the code on the website.
- On the screen that says “Finish your profile,” Input your personal information, select “Next”.
- A screen will pop up that says “You’re all set” confirming your # and email. Click “Finish” at the bottom of the screen to complete registration.
- Select “Apply for benefits”
- A screen will pop up notifying you that their website is under construction. Select “Continue”
- The following page will appear indicating options for support that will be available throughout the application process. Scroll down and select “Next” in the lower right corner.
- Select the second option, “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and then select “Next”.
- Click the drop down box stating “<click here to choose>” and select the location where you are applying from.
- If someone is helping you fill out the application, check the box in the section entitled “Helping You Apply” below the “Application Location” section, then Click Next.
- Input your name, DOB, preferred spoken and written languages, address, and mailing address, then select “Next” in the lower right corner.
- On the “Keep Working or Submit Your Application Now” page, users are prompted to indicate if they would like to complete their application now, or submit an unfinished application and complete later with an application worker.
- Application review timelines are also outlined in this section.
- For Food assistance, benefits (if approved) begin on the date the application was submitted.
- For Cash assistance (TANF) your application will be reviewed 45
days from the received date.
- Select between “Complete my application now” and “Submit my unfinished application now and complete it later with an application worker” then click “Next” in the lower right corner.
- If an unfinished application is submitted, the details required to make an eligibility
determination will be captured during an interview with a worker.
- If an unfinished application is submitted, the details required to make an eligibility
- Faster food assistance is available for those who meet the criteria listed (processed within seven business days) and five questions will be used to determine eligibility.
- These are the additional questions that will be asked to determine if you are eligible
for faster food assistance. Enter the applicable amounts for income, liquid assets,
and housing expenses, then select “Next”
- If you are eligible for faster food assistance, a blue alert message will display at the
top of the next page.
- When Food Assistance is included in an application, an unfinished application may be submitted from any page by clicking on the Submit button.
- It is important that a phone number is provided where a message can be left and
responded to. - You may sign up for email or text message notifications that will alert you when new
correspondence is available in your PEAK account.
- Confirm your basic information. Edit if needed, then select “Save,” “Save and Exit,” or “Next” in the lower right corner.
- Complete the people in the household Page Including complete and accurate information for all household members, including those who are not applying. Provide legal first and last names.
Colorado residency is an eligibility requirement.
- Migrant workers have differing eligibility requirements.
- An exemption to the requirement to purchase health insurance captures additional details if answered Yes.
- Tax filer information is necessary to determine eligibility for Medical Assistance programs.
- Details about who should be added can be accessed via the “Who you should add” hyperlink
- “Citizenship” information is prompted for each person, beginning with a statement that questions do not need to be answered for those not requesting benefits.
- Social security numbers are required in order to be eligible for the program; they are NOT needed for members of the household not applying.
- “More Information About..” is prompted for members of the household whose personal information closely matches someone known in the state electronic system.
- A person identified as already in the benefit system will receive a message that redirects to use the Manage My Account – Report My Changes path to request adding a program to their existing case.
- Pregnancy information is captured, if applicable.
- Pregnant household members may be exempt from work activity requirements for
Food Assistance.
- Pregnant household members may be exempt from work activity requirements for
- Complete information about how the people in your home are related. This information is used to construct the household size, which is used for eligibility purposes.
- Age notations differentiate those with the same name (i.e Natalie Sr. and Natalie
Jr.) - Food assistance considers who buys and eats food together.
- Additional details about pregnancy, if indicated, are captured.
- Age notations differentiate those with the same name (i.e Natalie Sr. and Natalie
- Information about relationships between all household members are collected.
- Complete information about Household Tax. The “Household Tax Information” should align with the information provided on the previous “People In the Household” page.
- A summary of family members and the ability to add additional ones is available.
- “Other Addresses” is for household members living at an address other than the home address.
- It may prompt questions to be asked during a Food Assistance interview to verify living arrangements.
- Allows the household member to receive Medical Assistance benefit letters at the Other Addresses.
- “Legal Information” is requested because it may affect eligibility, and/or additional verification of information may be required. Individuals who are currently incarcerated are not eligible for medical assistance.
- Scroll down and you will have the option to select “Back”, “Save”, “Save & Exit” Or “Next” in the lower right corner.
- Information is gathered to determine food and medical assistance eligibility.
- Those who are blind, disabled, or elderly are required to recertify (confirm or update) their household information every 24 months.
- For most households, recertification is required every six months.
- Medical/nursing facility living arrangements can impact program qualification (or benefit).
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- The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program is a supplemental nutrition program for pregnant women or those with children under the age of five.
- Those eligible for medical assistance are “categorically eligible” for WIC and no additional info is needed.
- These questions capture details about the household for use by the Healthy Communities Program. These questions are informational only and have no bearing on program eligibility.
- A summary of all the information you have provided about your household members will appear.
- Review, add, edit, or delete information from the “Household Members Summary” page to ensure accuracy.
- Eventually, at the bottom of the page, you will have the option to click “Back” or “Save” or “Save & Exit” or “Next”
- Liquid Asset information is part of financial eligibility for Food Assistance Programs. When yes is selected to having any liquid assets such as cash or bank accounts, etc., the household member holding the account needs to be selected from a drop-down menu and then click “Add...”
Other liquid assets include:
- Additional detail for the liquid asset is prompted.
- A “Return to Liquid Asset” button displays in the instance the page was accessed by mistake.
- The last four digits of the account number are required to complete this page.
- Users are able to indicate if other members of the household or someone outside of the home are also owners of this resource.
- For anyone in the household who is currently or was recently receiving income from a job, self-employment, or receiving goods in exchange for work, select “Yes” for the applicable income type.
- Then select from back, save, save & exit, or next
- Select the household member with income from the drop-down menu, and select “Add” Then additional details are prompted.
- When “Yes” is selected in response to other questions, detailed information is requested about employment.
- This is an example of the information requested for Job Income detail. A “Return to Job Income” button displays in case the page was clicked by mistake.
- Details about the employer, including name and address are collected.
- Information about pay frequency and most recent paycheck are collected.
- If there are no additional jobs to add for the household member, select “Next” in the lower right corner.
- A summary will display of the “Job Income” information that was provided, which can be reviewed and edited if needed.
- Continue selecting names from the “Name” drop down list until all income information has been added.
- As part of determining income eligibility, the application gathers information about grants, scholarships or work study used for living expense and money made by providing a room and/or meals.
- Note: Child Support Alimony and Kinship Care Income is captured
under the Payments for Family option.
- The “Past Income and Expenses/Deductions” page captures income from a past job, self-employment or other sources during the calendar year that have not been previously captured on the application.
- Selection of a household member will prompt the opportunity to add past income and/or expenses/deductions.
- An example of income that would be added here is income or expense from employment that ended more than 60 days in the past.
- The “Household Annual Income and Expenses/Deductions” page displays each of the income records that have been entered on the application.
- The amounts displayed include the reported amount (monthly), the annual amount (monthly multiplied by 12) and Actual Annual Amounts for the Current and Future year.
- The Actual Annual Amount fields can be edited to reflect the amount of income
anticipated to be earned for the applicable year.
- For example, if a job is new, or only anticipated to last for a few months, the Actual Annual Amount should be adjusted to reflect what will be earned in total that year for that record.
- The Reasons for Income Differences page allows users to proactively report a reason their income has changed. When a household member is selected, detailed information is gathered about their change in income.
- Housing Bills collects information about housing and/or utility expenses, housing assistance, utility assistance, and temporary shelter expenses. This is used to assess income deductions for eligibility purposes.
- When “Yes” is selected in response to other questions, detailed information is gathered. Housing and/or Utility Bills can be included by selecting the blue “Add” buttons.
- An example of a “Housing Bill Payment"
- A “Return to Housing Bills” button displays in case the page was clicked by mistake.
- Types of Housing Bills include: insurance premiums, HOA fee, mandatory fees, mortgage interest, mortgage, rent, meals, etc.
- This is an example of a Utility Bill Payment. Again, a blue “Return to Housing Bills”
button appears in case the page was accessed by mistake.
- Types of Utility Bills include: Butane, Cooling/Heating, other Cooling, Coal, Electric (other than cooling and heating), Firewood, Natural Gas, garbage/trash, Heating Oil, Other heating, Phone, Propane, Sewer, Septic tank, Utility Costs, Utility Installation Fee, Water
- A summary will display of the Housing and Utility Bill information that was provided, which can be reviewed and edited if needed.
- Again, you will have the options to select “Back” “Save” “Save & Exit” or “Next”
- “Other Bills” such as Child or Adult Care or Medical Costs may be considered as part of assessing financial eligibility. Standard Medical Expense deductions are available for the elderly or disabled.
- “School Enrollment or Training Program” information is captured, as someone who is in school full-time who plans to graduate by the age of 20 can be eligible for food assistance.
- The Additional Information page captures information about health coverage enrollment, Supplemental Security Income, and Uninsured Household Members.
- Other health insurance coverage may impact Medical Assistance program eligibility.
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is included when determining program qualification.
- If all household members are receiving SSI, the household may be considered “categorically eligible” for Food Assistance.
- School Enrollment summary allows for reviewing, editing or deleting.
- Household members over 18 may be added as Secondary Account Holders, and create their own PEAK account. Secondary Account Holders will then have access to the households case information, as well as the ability to report changes.
- The “Signing Your Application” page begins with an option to register to vote. A scroll bar to the right needs to be used to review the “What I Should Know” rights and responsibilities.
- It is important that the client carefully reviews this section including Rights & Responsibilities and requirements to report changes.
- An interview with a worker is required to complete the Food Assistance application. Checking the box and typing name as signature attests to information provided and that Rights and Responsibilities has been read.
- A “Thank You!” page will display with an application tracking number which serves as a receipt. Blue hyperlinks provide additional information such as application processing timelines and printing options.
- You will need to complete an interview with a county employee to determine eligibility. They will contact you to arrange it either in person or over the phone.
What to expect after submitting your application:
- In most cases, the county human services office has 30 days to determine your
eligibility. - If you have less than $100 in cash and less than $150 in monthly earnings, or if
your housing expenses exceed your monthly income or if you are a migrant or
seasonal farm worker, you may be eligible for expedited SNAP benefits within 7
days.
If you applied for SNAP, you may need an interview over the phone. If you prefer, you can request an interview in person. If an interview is needed, the county human services office may:
- If you included a phone number on your application, a worker may attempt to call you at the phone number you provided when your application is received.
- If the worker cannot reach you when attempting to call, you will receive a notice of the date and time of a scheduled interview.
- Follow the instructions on the interview notice for how to:
- Attend your interview at the scheduled date and time
- Reschedule your interview if the scheduled date and time is not convenient for you
in the following ways:
- Upload them to your PEAK account on colorado.gov/PEAK
- Upload them to your MyCOBenefits application on your mobile device
- Provide them to your county human services office location
- Mail them to the mailing address on your county’s letterhead or website
benefits.