C.R.S. Section 26-2-706.6
Payments and services under Colorado works

  • rules

(1)

Subject to the provisions of federal law, rules promulgated by the state board pursuant to this section, and available appropriations, the payment types and services specified in this section are available to participants in the Colorado works program.

(2)

Ongoing assistance payment.
An assistance unit that applies and is eligible for ongoing assistance shall, unless voluntarily and knowingly refused, receive cash assistance, which is a recurrent cash payment. In addition to a cash payment, an eligible assistance unit may also receive cash assistance in the form of a cash-equivalent payment, voucher, or other form of cash benefit that is designed to meet the basic ongoing needs of the persons in the assistance unit. Basic ongoing needs shall consist of food, clothing, shelter, utilities, household goods, personal care items, and general incidental expenses. In addition to cash assistance, persons in an assistance unit that is eligible for ongoing assistance may receive supportive services as described in this section.

(3)

Short-term assistance payment.
A participant may choose to receive a short-term assistance payment, formerly referred to as a diversion payment, which is a nonrecurrent, needs-based, cash or cash-equivalent payment designed to meet the short-term needs of the participant. A short-term assistance payment is designed to address a specific crisis situation or episode of need and is not designed to meet the basic ongoing needs of the participant. A short-term assistance payment may not extend beyond four months. In addition to a short-term assistance payment, a participant who is eligible for short-term assistance may receive supportive services as described in subsection (4) of this section. Short-term assistance payments include the following types:

(a)

A standard short-term assistance payment, formerly referred to as a state diversion payment, is a nonrecurrent, needs-based, cash or cash-equivalent payment made to a participant who is eligible for short-term assistance.

(b)

An expanded short-term assistance payment, formerly referred to as a county diversion payment, is a nonrecurrent, needs-based, cash or cash-equivalent payment made to a participant who is eligible for assistance pursuant to the maximum eligibility criteria for nonrecurrent, short-term benefits established in the state plan pursuant to section 26-2-712 (1), in the county-defined expanded eligibility based on federal poverty and other standardized guidelines, and in county policies.

(4)

Supportive services.

(a)

An eligible participant may receive supportive services, including but not limited to:

(I)

Work subsidies such as payments to employers or third parties to help cover the costs of employee wages, benefits, supervision, and training;

(II)

Supportive services such as child care and transportation provided to families who are employed;

(III)

Refundable earned income tax credits;

(IV)

Contributions to, and distributions from, individual development accounts;

(V)

Services such as counseling, case management, peer support, child care information and referral, transitional services, job retention, job advancement, and other employment-related services that do not provide basic income support; and

(VI)

Transportation benefits provided under a job access or reverse commute project to an individual who is not otherwise receiving assistance.

(b)

A county may provide supportive services directly to an eligible participant or through a contract or memorandum of understanding between the county department and another agency, including but not limited to another county department or a community provider.

(c)

The state board shall promulgate rules pursuant to which a county shall provide referrals for available supportive services to persons who apply for assistance and to participants who are homeless or in need of mental health services or substance abuse counseling or services. The rules shall not obligate the county to pay for any supportive services to which a person who applies for ongoing assistance or short-term assistance or a participant is referred.

(5)

Individual development accounts.
A county department may make available opportunities for participants to have individual development accounts for home purchase, business capitalization, or higher education in accordance with federal law.

(6)

Child care assistance.
Subject to available appropriations and pursuant to rules promulgated by the executive director of the department of early childhood, a county may provide child care assistance to a participant pursuant to the provisions of part 1 of article 4 of title 26.5 and rules promulgated by the executive director of the department of early childhood for implementation of said part 1.

(7)

Substance abuse control program.
A county may elect to implement a Colorado works controlled substance abuse control program. Under such a program, if the use of a controlled substance prevents the participant from successfully participating in his or her work activity, the county department may require the participant to participate in a controlled substance abuse control program based in whole or in part upon a representation by the participant that he or she is using controlled substances or upon a finding by the county department pursuant to an assessment by a certified substance use disorder treatment provider that the participant is or is likely to be using controlled substances. If a county chooses to require the participant to participate in a controlled substance abuse control program, the county department shall:

(a)

Require the participant to be assessed by a certified substance use disorder treatment provider and to follow a rehabilitation plan as a condition of continued receipt of assistance under the works program. The rehabilitation plan must be based upon the assessment and developed by a certified substance use disorder treatment provider, and may include, but need not be limited to, participation in a substance use disorder treatment program. This subsection (7)(a) does not create an entitlement to rehabilitation services or to payment for rehabilitation services.

(b)

If required by the rehabilitation plan, conduct random testing of the participant to determine whether he or she is remaining free of controlled substances; and

(c)

Impose on the participant any applicable adverse action for nonparticipation in a work activity if the participant fails to follow the rehabilitation plan, which nonparticipation may be evidenced by having a positive result on a random test or refusing to participate in a random test pursuant to this subsection (7). A county may not take adverse action against a participant for failing to meet the requirements of the rehabilitation plan if the services required under the plan are not available, if transportation or child care is not available, or if the costs of the services are prohibitive.

(8)

Job skills education voucher.
A county department may provide a voucher created pursuant to the provisions of section 26-2-712 (11) to a participant for use at one of the community or technical colleges administered pursuant to the provisions of article 60 of title 23, C.R.S., for the purpose of securing short-term educational and academic skills training and job placement services.

(9)

Repealed.

Source: Section 26-2-706.6 — Payments and services under Colorado works - rules, https://leg.­colorado.­gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-26.­pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).

26‑2‑101
Short title 26‑2‑102
Legislative declaration 26‑2‑102.5
Foster care - Title IV-E of the social security act - Title IV-E administrative costs cash fund - rules 26‑2‑103
Definitions 26‑2‑104
Public assistance programs - electronic benefits transfer service - joint reports with department of revenue - signs - rules 26‑2‑105
Federal requirements 26‑2‑106
Applications for public assistance 26‑2‑107
Verification - record 26‑2‑108
Granting of assistance payments and social services - rules 26‑2‑109
Right to own certain property 26‑2‑110
Repayment not required 26‑2‑111
Eligibility for public assistance - rules - repeal 26‑2‑111.5
Access to supplemental security income program benefits for old age pension applicants and recipients 26‑2‑111.6
Old age pension work incentive program 26‑2‑111.8
Eligibility of noncitizens for public assistance 26‑2‑112
Old age pensions for inmates of public institutions 26‑2‑113
Funds for old age pensions 26‑2‑114
Amount of assistance payments - old age pension 26‑2‑115
State old age pension fund - priority 26‑2‑116
Old age pension stabilization fund 26‑2‑119
Amount of assistance payments - aid to the needy disabled - rules 26‑2‑119.7
Federal disability benefits - application assistance - fund - rules - report - legislative declaration 26‑2‑120
Amount of assistance payments - aid to the blind 26‑2‑121
Expenses of treatment to prevent blindness or restore eyesight 26‑2‑122
Public assistance in the form of social services 26‑2‑122.3
Home care allowance - repeal 26‑2‑122.5
Acceptance of available money to finance the low-income energy assistance program 26‑2‑123
Removal to another county 26‑2‑124
Reconsideration and changes 26‑2‑125
Colorado works cases - vendor payments 26‑2‑127
Appeals 26‑2‑128
Recovery from recipient - estate 26‑2‑129
Funeral - final disposition expenses - death reimbursement - definitions - rules 26‑2‑131
Public assistance not assignable 26‑2‑132
Limitation 26‑2‑133
State income tax refund offset - rules 26‑2‑134
Checks, drafts, or orders for payment of moneys for public assistance - identification of bearer 26‑2‑135
Medically correctable program - fund established - rules 26‑2‑137
Noncitizens programs 26‑2‑138
Refugee services program - state plan - rules - definitions - repeal 26‑2‑139
Food pantry assistance grant program - created - timeline and criteria - grants - definitions - repeal 26‑2‑140
Colorado diaper distribution program - diapering essentials - report - rules - definitions 26‑2‑141
High-quality work management system - implementation - funding - repeal 26‑2‑142
Colorado teen parent driver’s license program - report - rules - definitions - appropriation 26‑2‑143
Colorado commodity supplemental food grant program - creation - appropriation - rules - definitions 26‑2‑144
Food bank assistance grant program - creation - rules - definition 26‑2‑201
Short title 26‑2‑202
Legislative declaration 26‑2‑203
Definitions 26‑2‑204
Mandatory minimum state supplementation of SSI benefits 26‑2‑205
Optional state supplementation 26‑2‑206
Interim assistance 26‑2‑207
Administration 26‑2‑208
Federal requirements 26‑2‑209
Limitations 26‑2‑210
State supplemental security income stabilization fund - creation 26‑2‑301
Food stamps - administration 26‑2‑301.5
Performance standards - incentives - sanctions 26‑2‑302
Federal requirements 26‑2‑304
Appeals - recoveries - rules 26‑2‑305
Fraudulent acts - penalties 26‑2‑305.5
Categorical eligibility - repeal 26‑2‑306
Trafficking in food stamps 26‑2‑307
Fuel assistance payments - eligibility for federal standard utility allowance - supplemental utility assistance fund established - definitions - repeal 26‑2‑308
Colorado employment first - supplemental nutrition assistance program - federal match - legislative declaration - definition - repeal 26‑2‑701
Short title 26‑2‑702
Legislative intent 26‑2‑703
Definitions 26‑2‑704
No individual entitlement 26‑2‑705
Works program - purposes 26‑2‑706
Target populations 26‑2‑706.5
Restrictions on length of participation - rules 26‑2‑706.6
Payments and services under Colorado works - rules 26‑2‑707.5
Community resources investment assistance 26‑2‑707.7
Information concerning immunization of children 26‑2‑708
Assistance - assessment - individual responsibility contract - waivers for domestic violence - rules 26‑2‑709
Benefits - cash assistance - programs - rules - repeal 26‑2‑709.5
Exit interviews and follow-up interviews of participants - reporting 26‑2‑710
Administrative review 26‑2‑711
Works program - sanctions against participants - rules 26‑2‑712
State department duties - authority 26‑2‑713
State maintenance of effort 26‑2‑714
County block grants formula - use of money - rules 26‑2‑714.5
Adjusted work participation rate - notification - county authorization - career and technical education 26‑2‑715
Performance contracts 26‑2‑716
County duties - appropriations - penalties - hardship extensions - domestic violence extensions - incentives - rules 26‑2‑717
Reporting requirements 26‑2‑718
Regionalization 26‑2‑719
Private contracting 26‑2‑720.5
County block grant support fund - created 26‑2‑721
Colorado long-term works reserve - creation - use 26‑2‑721.3
Colorado works program maintenance fund - creation - use - report 26‑2‑725
Outreach and engagement plan - family voice participation 26‑2‑1001
Short title 26‑2‑1002
Legislative declaration 26‑2‑1003
Definitions 26‑2‑1004
Individual development account program - rules 26‑2‑1005
Eligibility for participation in the individual development account program 26‑2‑1101
Legislative declaration 26‑2‑1102
Definitions 26‑2‑1103
Transitional jobs program 26‑2‑1104
Repeal
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Current through Fall 2024

§ 26-2-706.6’s source at colorado​.gov