Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

There are several ways to apply. After you have applied, we will contact you for a required interview.

Electronic:

• Apply online at Colorado PEAK

By phone:

• Contact the Hunger Free Colorado hotline at 855-855-4626

Paper:

• Print, complete and sign a paper application and;
  • Mail it to our office at 4400 Castleton Court, Castle Rock, CO 80109
  • Drop it off at our office Monday-Friday between 8:00am and 5:00pm or anytime using the secure drop box in front of our office
  • Fax it to 877-285-8988
  • Email it to [email protected]

Accessing SNAP benefits

SNAP benefits are issued on an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, previously known as the Colorado Quest Card. It looks like a bank card and can be used at any authorized store that has the EBT or Quest Card logo.

Once approved, benefits are deposited into the EBT account on the same day each month, even if it falls on a weekend or holiday. A personal identification number (PIN) is required to access benefits on the EBT account. The PIN is set by the cardholder and is what keeps the benefits safe. The EBT card does not have an expiration date.

• If you have not had an EBT card before, you can pick one up at our office, located at 4400 Castleton Court, Castle Rock, CO or one can be mailed to you. EBT card issuance office hours are 8:00 am until 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.
• Replacement cards or PIN changes can be requested by calling 1-888-328-2656.
• If your EBT card is lost, stolen, or damaged, call EBT Customer Service at 1-888-328-2656 (1-800-659-2656— TTY) to report it and order a new card. This is an automated number that will request your 16-digit card number; if you do not have the card number, hold on the line for additional options. Save the EBT Customer Service number to your phone contacts, as it can be useful in the future if you need to order a replacement card or check your balance.

To check your balance, you can call EBT Customer Service at 1-888-328-2656 (1-800-659-2656 TTY) or you can visit FIS ebtEdge to create an account.

Protecting your EBT Benefits

Are you traveling out of state with a Colorado EBT card? To ensure that Colorado EBT cardholders do not lose benefits due to card cloning, Colorado may block transactions in cities/states where fraud has taken place. Please visit Colorado EBT for more information about which cities/states are being blocked. If the city/state you are traveling to is blocked, please call 1-800-536-5298 before you leave. The Colorado EBT program can help unblock your card for use.

How can you protect yourself?

• The most important way is to change your PIN often, as skimming devices can easily identify card and PIN information.
• Avoid using high-risk PINS that may be easily identified such as 1234, 1111, etc., or a number sequence known to others, such as year of birth. Do not share your PIN with anyone. Scammers pose as other people and ask for PINs, threatening a stop in benefits. We will never ask for your PIN.

Did you know

You can now “freeze” your EBT card status to stop new purchases or PIN changes simply by logging into the ebtEDGE mobile app from your smartphone, or by logging into the Cardholder Portal.  A “Protect My Account” feature for EBT cardholders has also been implemented.  This will allow you to set up restrictions to protect your EBT benefits such as blocking out-of-state and/or internet transactions.

If you are concerned or believe your card may be at-risk, change your PIN immediately.  If you still have concerns, please call 1-888-328-2656 or visit your local county office to report your card stolen.

More information is available within the EBT Education Handout.

EBT Fraud Alert:
Your EBT card and benefits could be at risk. EBT cards are being skimmed and cloned, and
anyone can access your benefits if they have your card number and PIN information. Here’s
what you need to know:
❖Visit the EBT website for more information about EBT fraud and how to protect your benefits.
❖To ensure that Colorado EBT cardholders do not lose benefits due to card cloning, Colorado may block transactions in cities/states where fraud has taken place (visit the website for the current list). If the city/state you are traveling to is blocked, please call 1-800-536-5298 before you leave. The Colorado EBT program can help unblock your card for use.
❖The PIN is what safely protects the benefits on your EBT card.

How to Avoid EBT Fraud:
❖Change your PIN often. Skimming devices can easily steal your PIN.
❖Never write your PIN on the card or store it with your card.
❖Cover the keypad while entering your PIN.
❖DO NOT use your EBT card at an ATM or EBT machine that looks like it has been damaged
or tampered with, it may be stealing your EBT card information and PIN.
❖Be careful who you share your card and PIN with. You are responsible for all transactions.
❖Scammers pose as other people and ask for PINs. They may threaten to stop your benefits.
❖DO NOT trust texts, emails or phone calls that ask for your EBT card number, PIN, Social
Security Number, or Date of Birth.
❖The State, County, and Federal government will NEVER ask for your PIN.
❖Freeze your EBT card in between uses to stop new purchases and PIN changes on the ebtEDGE mobile app or the Cardholder Portal.
❖If you think your card may be at-risk, change your PIN and replace your card.

To Change Your EBT PIN:
❖Call the EBT Customer Service number (1-888-328-2656) or visit ebtEDGE and click on Cardholder Login. Save this phone number to your phone, so you can cancel or replace your card if it is lost, stolen, or damaged.

Tips for Choosing a Strong EBT PIN:
❖ Pick a unique PIN to minimize your fraud risk.
❖ Pick a number that is easy to remember but hard for someone else to guess.
❖ Avoid easily guessed numbers such as 1234, 1111, etc., or a number sequence known to others, such as year of birth.

If you Experience Fraud on Your EBT Card:
❖Contact your local county office or the EBT Customer Service number to report fraud and replace your card.
❖File an incident report with local law enforcement in the city where the transaction(s) occurred and consider contacting the credit bureaus to protect your credit.

The SNAP program requires that eligibility be reviewed periodically. You will be mailed a packet to complete or you will be notified by PEAK that it is time for you to complete your redetermination through their site.

You must complete, sign, and return the redetermination to our office by the date listed on the paperwork. The redetermination can be completed in PEAK and verification can be uploaded into PEAK also.

You can return the redetermination by one of the following methods:

• Mail it to our office at 4400 Castleton Court, Castle Rock, CO 80109
• Drop it off at our office Monday-Friday between 8:00am and 5:00pm or anytime using the secure drop box in front of our office
• Fax it to 877-285-8988
• Email it to [email protected]

An interview may be required to be completed at redetermination. Verification of current income, employment termination, or other items may be required.

You will be mailed a notice or notified to check your PEAK account for the status of the redetermination once it has been completed.

Changes

There are several ways to report changes.

Electronically:

• Online at Colorado PEAK using Report My Changes

By phone:

• Contact our office at 303-688-4825

By mail or in office:

• • Mail verification of change to our office at 4400 Castleton Court, Castle Rock, CO 80109
  • Drop verification of change off at our office Monday-Friday between 8:00am and 5:00pm or anytime using the secure drop box in front of our office
  • Fax to 877-285-8988, be sure front and back of pages are faxed
  • Email to [email protected]

Questions

If you have questions about your case, you can:

• Utilize the PEAK Chatbot
• Call our office at 303-688-4825, Monday-Friday between 8:00am and 5:00pm

Click the link more information about the Colorado SNAP program.