About 5% of SNAP recipients get their full benefits in Colorado
Marina Garcia
EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) – Some Coloradans woke up Saturday morning to a full deposit of their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, but quickly realized they were one of the “lucky ones,” as many of their friends received nothing, as uncertainty over the program grows amid the continuing government shutdown.
The main reason for confusion is a new ruling from the Supreme Court, which allows the Trump administration to pause SNAP benefits to states, overruling an earlier, lower court order to fund it.
Only about 32,000 recipients of the program received full benefits, leaving 568,000 Coloradans without payments after the Trump Administration asked for a temporary pause.
“I know we were told to expect some kind of partial and then to be told nothing…it really kind of is gashing all your hope,” says Amber Liles, SNAP recipient.
We spoke to a mother with six mouths to feed, and she tells us she was surprised to have received the deposit on her EBT card.
“Yesterday was the day I was supposed to get it. I woke up, it wasn’t there…and then this morning, something told me to look again, and I had my full amount,” says Cayla Asuega.
Cayla, among many others we spoke to, says they quickly went to the store to buy necessities out of fear that the funds may be withdrawn.
According to Governor Polis, the state still hasn’t received guidance about what to do next.
We will continue following this developing situation.