Last week, Jefferson County faced significant disruptions in its technology system, which resulted in a severe drop in the processing of applications for food assistance and other aid. Approximately one-third fewer applications were processed than usual, causing delays for around 200 individuals seeking necessary support.
The issues in Jefferson County reflect a larger problem affecting Colorado’s 11 largest counties. About 850 families miss out on assistance every 30 minutes when the Colorado Benefits Management System (CBMS) is malfunctioning. During the 73 hours of system failures recorded from April to December, it is estimated that 124,000 families were affected, according to Colorado Counties Inc.
These delays have left some families without food assistance for extended periods, with Jefferson County recently reporting the lowest percentage of new Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applications processed on time in Colorado—only 46% within the legally mandated timeframe.
Currently, Colorado is under a federal corrective action plan due to its food assistance processing times being among the lowest in the nation. Households should receive assistance within 30 days of applying and within seven days for expedited applications. Colorado ranks just above a handful of states and territories, with sustainability concerns looming as the state grapples with increases in applications since the pandemic and a shortage of staff.
The long-standing issues with the CBMS, which has been in operation since 2004, have left state officials and employees frustrated. Although the system underwent patches and temporary fixes over the years, legislative discussions have prompted calls for a comprehensive overhaul. The state has allocated more than $102 million for the system this year, which comprises numerous vendors and websites, all managing crucial information for over a million Coloradans.
Despite some improvements, Colorado is still not sufficiently meeting the necessary benchmarks for processing applications, which reduces the likelihood of ending the corrective measures imposed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Recruitment and retention challenges among staff have compounded the issue. Some counties like San Juan and Costilla are struggling significantly, with Costilla County’s eligibility supervisor highlighting a rise in welfare requests due to local demographic changes.
To address the backlog, counties such as Jefferson are requiring employees to work overtime. As of now, Jefferson County has managed to process about 84% of new applications on time, although it remains at the bottom for renewals.
In an effort to stabilize staffing and improve processing times, Adams County recently implemented significant pay raises for eligibility specialists and introduced mental health support. El Paso County has also seen improvements through streamlined processes.
It is clear that while progress has been made in some areas, the challenges within the state’s food assistance program highlight the necessity for ongoing improvements to ensure that all residents have access to vital resources.