Colorado Works / TANF program

The Colorado Works Program (sometimes referred to as TANF or Temporary Aid to Needy Families) provides temporary assistance and intensive support to help eligible families secure employment and attain self-sufficiency.

Eligibility requirements - In general, services are available to:

• Women who are pregnant, and
• Families that have one or more children in the home who has been deprived of parental support or care because of the absence, disability, unemployment or death of either parent.

Requesting assistance - To request assistance a family must:

• Complete an application form at the Garfield County Department of Human Services
• Applicants must provide the County with:
  
• proof of income and resources
• age
• social security number
• residence costs
• shelter costs
• work or school status
• and other information for all household members
• Cooperation with child support enforcement activities is required.
  

Receiving Benefits - Qualifying families receive payments to help with necessary expenses:

• Payments are issued in the form of an EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) card
• The amount of the monthly assistance payment depends on a number of factors, including:
  
  • the number of people who are eligible, and
  • the income of family members
    
• Recipients of Colorado Works assistance are required to participate in work activities.
  
  • The Garfield County Department of Human Services will provide employment and training services to recipients of Colorado Works assistance.

Other Programs and Services - there are other programs and services for which Colorado Works eligible families may qualify:

• In many cases, eligible Colorado Works families qualify for food assistance to help meet their food needs.
  
• In many cases, each member of the family receiving Colorado Works assistance will also qualify for Medicaid medical assistance to help pay medical expenses.
  
• If needed, the child support enforcement unit will provide all necessary child support services to eligible parents, including establishing paternity, establishing and enforcing a support obligation and collecting support payments.