Colorado SNAP benefits decreasing in March

SNAP benefits will decrease starting in March, and Clear Creek is ready to help

BY OLIVIA JEWELL LOVE OLOVE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Colorado’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program bene ts will reduce in the monthly amount starting in March 2023 due to congress ending temporary additional bene t amounts.

e emergency allotment for COVID-19 gave Colorado SNAP participants additional funding for food during the pandemic, but starting in March the funding will return to previous levels.

Sarah Cassano is the director of human services for Clear Creek County. She hopes the hundreds of families using SNAP in the county are prepared for the reduction.

“I’m really hoping that families are being given enough time and it won’t cause any families to go into crisis,” she said.

She also reminded SNAP users that they have the option to roll over unused funds each month.

“ ey don’t have to use the entire amount they are given each month, so it can roll over each month,” she said.

Unused SNAP bene ts can remain on EBT cards for up to nine months, according to the Colorado Department of Human Services.

Snap Tips From Clear Creek County

-Roll over EBT benefits to the next month, if you are able to. This may help cushion the impact of the reduction in benefits.

-Stock up on non-perishable items now, while households have the additional benefits.

-Stretch food ingredients and plan to use them in more than one meal. This helps to save money and reduce food waste.

-Consider freezing produce to make fruit and vegetables last longer.

-Look at unit prices to compare similar products at the grocery store.

-SNAP participants can call their local county human services o ce for questions about their benefits.

Loaves and Fishes is a food pantry in Clear Creek County where sta are preparing for an in ux of people needing help.

“We are making sure we are overstocking our shelves and we are prepared,” Loaves and Fishes Director Rachel Josselyn said.

e food bank usually serves about 80 people per week. Josselyn said the team is stocking up to serve 100 to 120 with the bene ts ending after February.

“You can get food no matter what your situation is,” she said.

Loaves and Fishes is also packing travel bags of food that will be available on the Roundabout buses in Clear Creek County. ese packs will have non-perishable food like bread, peanut butter and canned items. e organization wants to make food as accessible as possible to people who need it.

Loaves and Fishes is located in Idaho Springs, and so is the food pantry located inside the Health and Wellness center. e county hopes to nd options for food pantries in other parts of the county, possibly including Georgetown and Empire.

Loaves and Fishes, located at 545 Highway 103 in Idaho Springs, is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. ursday and Friday, and the food pantry in the Health and Wellness Center, located at 1969 Miner St. in Idaho Springs, is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more resources regarding SNAP bene ts, visit the CDHS website.