10 Colo. Code Regs. § 2506-1-4.130

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 22, November 25, 2024
Section 10 CCR 2506-1-4.130 - USING SNAP BENEFITS

SNAP benefits received by an eligible household may be used at any time by the household or other persons whom the household selects to purchase eligible food for the household. SNAP benefits are issued through an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) system in which benefit allotments are stored on an electronic benefit transfer card and used to purchase authorized items at a point-of-sale (POS) terminal. EBT cards shall be presented only to retailers authorized by USDA/FNS to accept food benefit payment for food purchases.

SNAP benefits must be used to pay for food currently purchased and cannot be used to pay for foods previously or subsequently secured or to pay back bills owed the grocer. The only exceptions are that SNAP benefits may be used to pay for food items such as milk or bakery goods that are delivered to the home on a regular basis, or for advance payment to a non-profit cooperative food venture when food purchased is to be delivered later.

A. Expungement
1. Upon approval of benefits, SNAP recipients are provided information in writing that any SNAP benefits issued to the EBT card that are unused after nine (9) months (274 days) will be expunged and removed from the account.
2. Upon approval of benefits, SNAP recipients are provided information in writing that if the EBT account goes inactive (no food purchases or returns) after nine (9) months (274 days), the inactive SNAP benefits will be considered expunged and removed from the account.
4.130.1WHERE HOUSEHOLDS CAN USE SNAP BENEFITS
A. Specified persons may use their SNAP benefits to purchase meals from the following:
1. A meal delivery service approved by the USDA, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS);
2. A communal dining facility for persons aged sixty (60) years and older and/or SSI households;
3. An authorized drug or alcoholic treatment and rehabilitation center;
4. An authorized public or private, nonprofit group living arrangement facility; and
5. A shelter for battered women and children.
B. Households containing persons experiencing homelessness shall be permitted to use their benefits to purchase prepared meals from an authorized public or private nonprofit provider for persons experiencing homelessness. A meal provider for persons experiencing homelessness means a public or private non-profit establishment, including, but not limited to, soup kitchens and temporary shelters which feed persons experiencing homelessness. To be considered a meal provider to persons experiencing homelessness, the meal provider must be approved as such by the USDA, FNS.

Households containing persons experiencing homelessness may also purchase meals from restaurants if the restaurant offers discounts to or serves food to households containing persons experiencing homelessness at concessional (reduced) prices, and the restaurant is authorized by the USDA, FNS as a retailer.

4.130.2ELIGIBLE FOODS

Households can only purchase eligible foods with SNAP benefits. Eligible foods include:

A. Any food or food product intended for human consumption, except for alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and hot food, including hot food products prepared by the retailer and sold at above room temperature for immediate consumption.
B. Seeds and plants to grow foods for personal consumption by eligible household members.

10 CCR 2506-1-4.130

37 CR 15, August 10, 2014, effective 9/1/2014
37 CR 21, November 10,2014, effective 12/1/2014
38 CR 23, December 10, 2015, effective 1/1/2016
39 CR 01, January 10, 2016, effective 2/1/2016
39 CR 05, March 10, 2016, effective 4/1/2016
39 CR 07, April 10, 2016, effective 5/1/2016
39 CR 15, August 10, 2016, effective 9/1/2016
39 CR 17, September 10, 2016, effective 10/1/2016
39 CR 19, October 10, 2016, effective 11/1/2016
39 CR 23, December 10, 2016, effective 1/1/2017
40 CR 11, June 10, 2017, effective 7/1/2017
40 CR 17, September 10, 2017, effective 10/1/2017
41 CR 15, August 10, 2018, effective 9/1/2018
40 CR 23, December 10, 2017, effective 12/30/2018
42 CR 01, January 10, 2019, effective 2/1/2019
42 CR 03, February 10, 2019, effective 3/15/2019
42 CR 17, September 10, 2019, effective 10/1/2019
42 CR 18, October 10, 2019, effective 10/1/2019
42 CR 23, December 10, 2019, effective 12/30/2019
43 CR 01, January 10, 2020, effective 1/30/2020
43 CR 05, March 10, 2020, effective 2/7/2020
43 CR 07, April 10, 2020, effective 4/30/2020
43 CR 21, November 10, 2020, effective 11/30/2020
44 CR 21, November 10, 2021, effective 11/30/2021
45 CR 05, March 10, 2022, effective 3/30/2022
45 CR 19, October 10, 2022, effective 10/1/2022
45 CR 19, October 10, 2022, effective 11/1/2022
45 CR 21, November 10, 2022, effective 11/30/2022