Denver Human Services has announced updates to eligibility requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid. These changes follow the passage of the federal H.R. 1: ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ in July 2025. The new rules will affect many Denver residents who use these programs for food and healthcare.
Starting November 1, 2025, most able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) aged 64 and younger must work or volunteer at least 80 hours per month to keep SNAP benefits. Parents whose youngest child is 14 or older may also need to meet this requirement. Some exceptions will apply.
For Medicaid, similar work, volunteer, or education requirements will begin for the same groups. These changes will not start until January 2027 at the earliest. Noncitizen immigrants who are not Legal Permanent Residents will remain ineligible for SNAP. Some immigrants with humanitarian relief status will lose Medicaid eligibility starting October 1, 2026. Emergency Medicaid will still be available to all noncitizen immigrants…