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Colorado State Plan Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Effective July 1, 2018

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Judicial review of the final agency decision in the appropriate State district court, after exhausting the administrative appeals rights, may be granted. If the appellant is receiving financial assistance, medical assistance, social services, or basic cash assistance under the Colorado Works Program at any time a conference or hearing is requested, all benefits will continue, pending the outcome of the State level fair hearing and final agency decision, if the request for local conference and or State level fair hearing is made prior to the effective date of the proposed action being appealed or the 10 day period for appealing a county dispute resolution decision to the State department. Continued benefits will be authorized unless the recipient states in writing that the continued benefits are being waived.

A Colorado Works participant receiving basic cash assistance will have benefits continued if an appeal is filed timely and in accordance with the rules and regulations established by CDHS. If a recipient requests a local dispute resolution conference or State level fair hearing within the noticing period, financial assistance under the Colorado Works program will continue during the dispute resolution process or State level appeal period until the final agency decision is entered or the recipient voluntarily abandons the appeal or discontinues benefits.

Any county employee complaints are heard by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.

Fraud. Colorado reviews information from our benefit payment system, interfaces with other systems, and fraud investigations to limit the amount of fraud and abuse in the program. Questionable cases will be reviewed through a county investigation to certify the accuracy of the information, and determine if the applicant and/or participant committed an Intentional Program Violation (IPV) or fraud. IPV’s are processed by the county and are resolved by obtaining a "Waiver of Intentional Program Violation" through an administrative disqualification hearing or through referral for civil or criminal action in a State or federal court. An IPV is committed when an individual makes a false or misleading statement or fails to disclose any action intending to mislead or conceal any eligibility factor on any application or other written communication. Fraud is subject to criminal action and must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

Colorado continues to review and implement standards and procedures to enforce program regulations and combat program fraud and abuse. All counties are required to create and comply with their county fraud prevention policy, which includes standards and procedures concerning nepotism, conflicts of interest among individuals responsible for the administration and supervision of the State program, kickbacks, and the use of political patronage.

Fiscal

The Colorado General Assembly annually appropriates TANF funds for State administration, evaluation, computer system maintenance, funding for specific program needs, with the largest portion going towards a county block grant. The total block grant includes local and federal funds for counties to operate the Colorado Works program. The county block grant is then allocated to individual counties through the statutorily authorized Works Allocation Committee