Denver Human Services is alerting residents to significant changes to food and health benefits resulting from federal legislation passed in July 2025. The law, H.R. 1: “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” reshapes eligibility requirements for both the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid. Although Denver’s announcement applies to its own county operations, the changes themselves are statewide and will affect residents in every Colorado county.

Beginning November 1, 2025, most able-bodied adults without dependents, up to age 64, must work or volunteer at least 80 hours per month to maintain SNAP benefits. Parents whose youngest child is 14 or older may also be required to meet the same threshold. Some exceptions apply but were not detailed in the announcement. Garfield County Human Services Director Sharon Longhurst‑Pritt said, “For individuals applying for food assistance who are currently exempt from work requirements, some will be required to work but we don’t know the exact numbers yet.”

The federal law also introduces similar requirements for Medicaid—work, volunteering, or school participation for at least 80 hours per month. These Medicaid changes will roll out more slowly and are not expected to take effect until January 2027 at the earliest. The legislation also affects immigrants. Noncitizens without green cards will remain ineligible for SNAP, while some immigrants with humanitarian protections, including asylum seekers and refugees, will lose Medicaid eligibility beginning October 1, 2026. All noncitizen immigrants, regardless of status, will remain eligible for emergency Medicaid.

Across Colorado, counties administer SNAP and Medicaid locally, but the rules themselves are set at the state and federal levels, meaning all Colorado residents who receive these benefits are subject to the same new requirements. Every county is expected to implement the changes, and Coloradans should anticipate updated notices, requests for documentation, and new tracking of work or volunteer hours depending on their circumstances. Jefferson County staff noted, “Our current ABOD population or those folks that are subject to those work requirements is a little over 3,100 people. This would bring us to about 6,600 of our community members that will be subject to work requirements through HR1.”

Colorado Department of Human Services spokesperson John Rosa added, “We are committed to minimizing the impact on our residents while navigating these complex new federal requirements.”

Residents seeking updates or guidance can find information on SNAP from the Colorado Department of Human Services and on Medicaid from the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing.

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