Disability Benefits and Help in Colorado

SSDI and SSI in Colorado

Social Security disability works the same in every state: SSA takes your application, and a state agency makes the medical decision. In Colorado, that agency is the Disability Determination Services (Colorado Department of Human Services). In 2026, SSI pays up to $994 a month for an individual before any state supplement, and work above $1,690 a month generally rules out disability benefits.

Start with how to apply, SSDI vs SSI and the eligibility screener. To visit an office, find Social Security offices in Colorado on socialsecurityofficesnearme.com, the office finder from the same publisher.

Does Colorado Add to SSI?

The Aid to the Needy Disabled-Colorado Supplement (AND-CS) program provides a supplemental payment for clients aged 0 to 59 who are receiving SSI due to a disability or blindness and are not receiving the full SSI benefit. The state runs it through Colorado Department of Human Services (applications through county human services offices), separately from SSA.

Source: state program page. See how SSI works and the SSI calculator.

Paid Medical Leave in Colorado

Colorado has no temporary disability insurance, but Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) pays up to $1,448 a week for your own serious health condition, up to 12 weeks. 2024 (the FAQ says benefit payments became available in 2024). Up to 12 weeks in an application year, or 16 weeks for a pregnancy or childbirth complication; the FAQ says there is no waiting period before FAMLI leave is effective. Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) details

Compare every state program in state disability insurance.

Medicaid for People With Disabilities in Colorado

Colorado's Medicaid program is run by the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (Health First Colorado). The state has a 1634 agreement with SSA, so SSA makes the Medicaid decision for SSI recipients: when SSA approves your SSI, Medicaid generally follows. (SSA)

Working with a disability: Health First Colorado Buy-In Program for Working Adults with Disabilities lets people with disabilities who work keep Medicaid coverage.

Home and Community Services in Colorado

• Elderly, Blind, and Disabled Waiver (EBD): People ages 65 and older who have a functional impairment or are blind, or people ages 18-64 who are physically disabled or have a diagnosis of HIV or AIDS, and require long-term supports and services to remain in a community setting
• Developmental Disabilities Waiver (DD): Persons with developmental disabilities needing 24-hour, seven-days-a-week supervision through residential and day habilitation
• Supported Living Services Waiver (SLS): Adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities who remain in their homes and communities
• Brain Injury Waiver (BI): People with a brain injury
• Community Mental Health Supports Waiver (CMHS): People with a mental illness who require long-term supports and services
• Children's Extensive Support Waiver (CES): Children who meet the ICF/IID level of care

More on Medicaid for people with disabilities and getting paid as a family caregiver.

Vocational Rehabilitation in Colorado

Colorado's vocational rehabilitation agency helps people with disabilities prepare for, find and keep jobs:

• Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

How it works: vocational rehabilitation.

Disability Rights Help in Colorado

Disability Justice (Colorado's Protection and Advocacy system; formerly Disability Law Colorado, whose old domain disabilitylawco.org now redirects here) is Colorado's protection and advocacy agency for people with disabilities.

Know your rights: the ADA, accommodations at work, IEPs and 504 plans.

ABLE Accounts in Colorado

Colorado ABLE: Sponsored by the State of Colorado and administered by CollegeInvest (Colorado Department of Revenue tax guidance links to www.ColoradoABLE.org). The older domain coable.org is no longer the ABLE plan site. In 2026 you can contribute up to $20,000 a year, and the disability must have started before age 46.

Details: ABLE accounts.

Disability Parking Placards in Colorado

Apply through the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles, through county motor vehicle offices or myDMV using DR 2219 Persons with Disabilities Parking Privileges Application. Three-year placards for permanent impairments; temporary placards for short-term disabilities

How placards work everywhere: disability parking placards.

Colorado Disability Help: Common Questions