Colorado’s food assistance system is facing significant challenges, as evidenced by a recent malfunction that delayed help for approximately 200 individuals in Jefferson County alone. During this incident, only about two-thirds of applications for aid were processed, highlighting the broader implications of the ongoing issues with the Colorado Benefits Management System (CBMS). This situation is not isolated to Jefferson County; it affects the state’s 11 largest counties, which collectively miss out on assisting around 850 families for every 30 minutes the system is down. In total, between April and December, the system failures resulted in 124,000 families being unable to receive timely assistance.
Jefferson County has seen a surge in applications for food aid, requiring workers to clock in overtime to manage the increasing workload. In fact, last month, the county processed only 46% of new applications for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) within the federally mandated timeframe. Colorado is currently under a federal corrective action plan due to its food assistance processing times, which rank among the worst in the country. Households should ideally receive aid within 30 days of application, but the state has managed to only achieve 88% processing of new applications recently.
Across Colorado, delays mean some families may not receive assistance for food for a month or longer. The state’s ongoing struggles include an uptick in applicants since the pandemic began, compounded by insufficient staffing to meet demands. The CBMS, operational since 2004 and involving numerous vendors, continues to experience glitches. The state is currently spending over $102 million on support for the faltering system.
Despite some improvements, such as a slight increase to an 88% average for timely processing statewide, the situation varies significantly between counties. San Juan County recorded a compliance rate of 0% for its single food assistance application last July, while Costilla County is facing similar technology issues and staffing shortages.
In response to these challenges, some counties have implemented pay increases and other strategies to stabilize staffing levels. Adams County, for example, has raised salaries significantly and is seeing improved processing times. However, the disparities across the counties illustrate the difficulties in administering a county-run, state-supervised food assistance program.
Officials emphasize the importance of providing consistent access to nutritional assistance and are actively seeking solutions to optimize the management of benefits while dealing with the ongoing limitations of the CBMS.