Colorado Works (TANF Cash Assistance)
Last updated August 2026
Colorado Works is Colorado's TANF program: a monthly cash payment plus schooling, training, jobs, and goal-setting support for families with children. Apply on the Colorado PEAK website, on the MyCOBenefits mobile app, or with a paper application, and your county human or social services office can help.
It is built for families. You can apply if you have children in the home, are pregnant, or are caring for a child under 18. The program lists a household income screening threshold of less than $75,000 a year as one way to be eligible to apply, so do not rule yourself out on income alone; apply and let the county run the full determination.
The cash arrives simply. Assistance is delivered through the EBT program, either on an EBT card or by direct deposit into your bank account. As with all TANF programs, federal rules set a 60-month lifetime limit on cash assistance for adults, so treat the check as a bridge.
The program is county-run, which shapes how it feels. Counties implement the financial assistance, and the state's role is to make sure they have what they need to run it accurately and on time. In practice you work with a case manager on a Colorado Works Journey, building your own plan and setting your own goals.
One feature quietly puts more money in your pocket. Since 2017, Colorado passes through 100 percent of the child support collected from families on Colorado Works, and it was the first state to adopt a full pass-through. That support reaches your family instead of being kept by the state.
Colorado Works cash is modest, so stack the rest. The same PEAK application reaches SNAP and Health First Colorado, both on friendlier income rules, and 2-1-1 tracks local emergency funds. For local help, contact your county human services department.
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- Families with a dependent child under 18, or a pregnant applicant, who are Colorado residents and meet strict county income and resource limits
- Most adults take part in employment and training activities, and federal and state time limits cap how long an adult can receive cash
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
Apply on Colorado PEAK, the MyCOBenefits app, or by paper; your county office can help.
- 2
Provide proof of income, your children's information, and household details.
- 3
Work with your case manager on your Colorado Works Journey plan.
- 4
Apply for SNAP and Health First Colorado at the same time.
What to have ready
- ID and Social Security numbers for the adults applying
- Proof of income for the household
- Proof that a child lives with you, or of pregnancy. Your county confirms the full list.
What the application looks like
Common questions
Who can get Colorado Works?
Families with children in the home, pregnant people, and those caring for a child under 18. The page lists an income screening threshold under $75,000 a year as one way to be eligible to apply.
How is the cash paid?
Through the EBT program, on an EBT card or by direct deposit into your bank account.
Do I get the child support collected for my kids?
Yes. Since 2017 Colorado passes through 100 percent of child support collected from families on Colorado Works, the first state to do so.
How do I apply?
On the Colorado PEAK website, the MyCOBenefits app, or by paper application. Your county human or social services office can help.
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