Elevator repairs are underway in the Rio Grande County Courthouse from October 20 until approximately November 14, 2025. The elevator is temporarily out of service until further notice. If you plan to visit an office on the second or third floor and need the elevator, please call that office to make alternative arrangements.

 
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Food Assistance

SNAP

****November SNAP Benefits on Hold due to Federal Government Shutdown****

Rio Grande/Mineral County, CO – Because of the ongoing federal government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has not released the funds that states use to issue SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits. As a result, Colorado is unable to distribute SNAP benefits until federal funding is restored.  This is a federal decision, not a local one.

What this means: 

  • - If the federal shutdown continues, SNAP recipients will not receive benefits for November.
  • - If the shutdown ends before November 1, benefits may be delayed.
  • - Official notices will be mailed to SNAP recipients on October 22.
  • - Other assistance programs—Cash assistance, Medicaid, senior lunches, and Meals-on-Wheels—are not affected at this time.

What you can do now:

  • - If you are a current SNAP recipient and have rollover funds on your EBT card, we recommend using those funds.

How you can help:

  • - Contact your state and federal representatives to share your concerns about the impact of the shutdown.

The Rio Grande/Mineral County Department of Social Services is following the situation closely and working with local partners to have plans in place if the shutdown continues through October. We will release information as we receive it, but clients can also visit cdhs.colorado.gov/snap for updates.

If you have an immediate need for additional food resources, we encourage you to reach out to your local food banks or community agencies for assistance.

To see if you qualify for food assistance, a pre-screening tool is available online. This pre-screening tool is not an application for food assistance. Applications must be completed and returned to your local food assistance office. 

Individuals and/or families can get Food Assistance if they meet certain income requirements. Examples of income include but are not limited to money you get from employment, child support, unemployment or Social Security. 

Households with resources that do not exceed $100 and who have less than $150 in gross monthly income in the month of application my be able to get their application processed faster. 

You can apply for benefits online at Colorado PEAK. Applicants can also fill out the applications below and return it to your local county human services office. 

Please fill out as much of the application as you can. If you need help or don't understand a question, a staff member can help you complete your application. 

Documents can be submitted electronically to the following email- RioGrande_EDMS@state.co.us

Rio Grande County Clerk & Recorder 

Office Hours: Monday - Thursday - 7:00am to 5:00pm

Rio Grande County Administration

Office Hours: Monday – Friday - 8:00am to 4:00pm

Phone: 719-657-2744

 

Rio Grande County

Rio Grande County Government Technology Accessibility Statement: Rio Grande County government is committed to providing equitable access to our services to all Coloradans. Our ongoing digital accessibility efforts are in line with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) Level AA Criteria. Website content saved in "Archive" folders may not be digitally accessible.  If you require a digitally accessible document from one of these folders, please contact us via phone at 719-657-2744 or email rgcadministrator@riograndecounty.org. We welcome your requests and feedback about the accessibility of Rio Grande County Government's online services. Please let us know if you encounter any accessibility barriers. Rio Grande County Government is committed to responding as soon as possible to any outreach. 

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