The delivery of November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for the majority of Coloradans has been halted, once again, following an emergency order issued by the U.S. Supreme Court late Friday (please note that we waited until Sunday early morning to post this article thinking that there may be a change).

The high court’s intervention came just hours after the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) began processing payments in compliance with a lower federal court ruling. This temporary stay, granted following an appeal by the Trump administration, injects massive uncertainty into the food security of over 560,000 enrolled Coloradans and leaves state officials waiting for new federal guidance.

The Wholly Uncertain Week

The month began with SNAP benefits completely suspended nationwide due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. This was followed by a federal district court order on Thursday that compelled the administration to fully fund the program for November using available contingency funds.

In response, CDHS announced Friday that it would immediately process full November payments for its more than 600,000 participants.

• Partial Issuance: In the brief window between the federal court’s order and the Supreme Court’s emergency action, the state successfully issued full benefits to approximately 32,000 Colorado SNAP recipients. These benefits are currently expected to remain on recipients’ EBT cards.
• The New Hold: Late Friday, a Supreme Court Justice granted the administration’s request for an administrative stay, effectively pausing the requirement to distribute full SNAP benefits until a lower appeals court can review the case. Payments for the remaining, unissued 560,000-plus Coloradans are now blocked.

Governor Jared Polis issued a statement urging the administration to drop its appeal, calling the situation an unnecessary delay of food assistance for families, children, and seniors.

Seeking Assistance

With the bulk of the state’s food assistance now tied up in federal litigation, community resources have become a vital stopgap. The Colorado legislature recently approved $10 million in state funds to support local food banks and pantries facing unprecedented demand.

Recipients who did not receive their full payment should:

• Check their Colorado PEAK account for the most current information regarding their EBT balance and payment status.
• Utilize existing funds on their EBT card, as these are not affected by the Supreme Court’s order.

Contact food resources by dialing 2-1-1 or visiting http://www.feedingcolorado.org to locate local food pantries and assistance programs.

The Supreme Court’s stay is temporary. State officials are evaluating their next steps and will provide updates as soon as the federal legal landscape clarifies.