Colorado Disability Help — State Benefits, Programs and Assistance.
Colorado runs a wider set of disability-specific programs than most people realize. The state funds its own cash assistance, home care payments, employment services, and a network of local centers that provide free support to residents with any type of disability. This page focuses on what Colorado itself offers for residents with disabilities — not a guide to every resource in the state, but a practical breakdown of the main programs and where to start.
Many Coloradans with disabilities also qualify for food assistance, energy help, and health coverage through the state or local nonprofits — those programs are covered on the Colorado public assistance page and the Colorado financial assistance page by county, and are worth checking alongside the disability-specific options here.
State Cash Assistance
The Aid to the Needy Disabled program — AND — provides monthly cash payments to low-income Colorado residents between 18 and 59 who have a disability that prevents them from working. It is designed as a bridge while a person waits for a federal SSI decision, which can take many months. Payments are modest and are reduced by other income the person receives. Applications go through your county Department of Human Services at https://cdhs.colorado.gov/cp-offices-and-divisions
The Home Care Allowance gives cash directly to people with disabilities to pay someone to help them stay at home — things like help with bathing, dressing, preparing meals, and shopping. It is open to Coloradans age five and older with a qualifying disability, not just seniors. The person receiving the allowance chooses their own home care provider, and in some cases that can be a family member. These also go through the Colorado Department of Human Services.
For people with disabilities who live in a care facility, the Personal Needs Allowance provides a small monthly payment specifically for hygiene and personal care items the facility does not supply.
A State Tax Credit for Residents with Disabilities
Colorado offers a refundable state income tax credit for residents who receive full disability benefits and fall below the income thresholds for single and joint filers. Refundable means that if the credit exceeds what you owe, you get the difference back as cash. It is claimed through a standard Colorado state income tax return. Details and current income thresholds are at https://tax.colorado.gov/dac
Health Coverage and Home-Based Care
Health First Colorado is the state's Medicaid program and covers medical care for residents with disabilities who meet income limits. Beyond standard coverage, Health First Colorado includes programs that pay for services delivered at home or in the community — an alternative to nursing home placement.
Colorado restructured how many of these home-based services work, and a program called Community First Choice provides personal care, homemaker services, personal emergency response systems, and home-delivered meals to anyone on Health First Colorado who qualifies. The Elderly, Blind and Disabled Waiver runs alongside it and covers additional services such as adult day care, home modifications, non-medical transportation, and respite care for people at risk of nursing home placement.
For people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, a separate Home and Community-Based Services waiver — the HCBS-DD — provides residential and day habilitation, round-the-clock oversight as needed, employment support, and assistive technology. This program has a waiting list. Contact Health First Colorado through your county or at https://hcpf.colorado.gov/.
Employment and Vocational Rehabilitation
The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation — DVR — helps Coloradans whose disabilities create barriers to finding or keeping work. DVR counselors work with individuals one-on-one and can help with job coaching, training, assistive technology, and transportation. Support continues after placement — both the person and their employer can get ongoing guidance. DVR also has specialized tracks for people who are blind, visually impaired, or deaf-blind, and runs a youth transition program for students moving from school into the workforce.
DVR has offices across the state. The main number is 303-318-8571 and office locations are listed at https://dvr.colorado.gov/, where services can also be requested online.
Independent Living Centers
Colorado funds nine Centers for Independent Living — community-based nonprofits that provide free services to anyone with any disability. These are not treatment programs. They help people live more independently on their own terms. Every center offers information and referrals, peer counseling from others who also live with disabilities, advocacy, independent living skills training, and help transitioning out of nursing facilities or institutions. Additional services vary by location. Find the nearest center at dvr.colorado.gov.
Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind Services
The Colorado Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind operates as a dedicated state agency. For deafblind residents specifically, it funds Support Service Providers — trained professionals who assist with daily tasks like reading mail, banking, and navigating public spaces, and who help bridge communication between deafblind individuals and the people around them. The commission also oversees Orientation and Mobility training. Information is at https://sensecolorado.org/
The Colorado Disability Opportunity Office
If you need free, in-person help applying for disability benefits, the Colorado Disability Opportunity Office — CDOO — can connect you with local organizations that walk people through the application process at no cost. Whether you are applying for federal disability benefits or trying to enroll in Health First Colorado, getting help from someone who knows the paperwork can make a real difference in whether an application succeeds. Start at https://cdoo.colorado.gov/ to find assistance near you.
Savings Accounts for Disability-Related Costs
Colorado participates in the federal ABLE program, which lets people with qualifying disabilities open tax-advantaged savings accounts for disability-related costs — housing, transportation, medical care, assistive technology, and more. Funds in an ABLE account generally do not count against asset limits for federal benefit programs. Details are at https://www.ablenrc.org
A Note on Federal Disability Benefits: The programs above are separate from federal Social Security disability benefits. SSI — Supplemental Security Income — provides monthly payments to people with disabilities who have limited income and resources. SSDI — Social Security Disability Insurance — is based on prior work history and payroll taxes paid. Many Coloradans receive both state and federal benefits at the same time, and some of the state programs listed here, like AND, are specifically designed to provide help while a federal application is being processed. Information on SSI and SSDI is available at https://www.ssa.gov/ or by calling 1-800-772-1213.
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