As the federal government shutdown continues into its second month, certain programs have seen impacts such as delays or reductions. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is one such program that will reflect such impacts, leaving many citizens enrolled in other government programs to wonder if these changes will also affect their benefits as the shutdown drags on.
The Times spoke with Gunnison County Health and Human Services’ Public Information Officer Nicole Stone about what’s happening with the Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) as well as to get the latest on which programs are seeing changes due to the shutdown.
“As of now we are not aware of any impact to the LEAP program due to the federal government shutdown,” Stone said.
LEAP was established to help low-income families and individuals cover energy and heating costs during colder winter months by contributing financial assistance via a benefit paid directly to the qualified candidate’s energy provider. To qualify for this program, applicants must be a resident of Colorado, a U.S. citizen, pay for home heating costs and meet income limit requirements of making 60% or less of the median income for Colorado.
Stone explained that while both SNAP and LEAP are federally funded programs, the distribution of the funds differs.
“LEAP is something where funds are awarded in full at the beginning of the season, whereas SNAP is something that’s distributed monthly,” Stone said. “The Colorado LEAP program had received its funding [for the season] already, likely before the government shutdown happened. That’s why LEAP is not being affected right now even though both are federally funded.”
This funding is dispersed to qualified applicants’ energy companies in one to two lump sum payments. The LEAP application period runs from Nov.1 through April 30.
Shelley Banker, the director of the office of economic security for the Colorado Department of Human Services said that around 90,000 Coloradans typically receive LEAP benefits each year, averaging around $550 per person. As the weather gets colder, Colorado officials like Banker are still urging people who need assistance with their energy bills this winter to apply.
“The LEAP season just started on Nov. 1, 2025 so Saturday was the first day that applications were being accepted,” Stone said. “As long as [an application] is postmarked by April 30, 2026, applications will still be considered. As soon as [applications] get to the program center, that’s when the determination is made as to whether that person is going to receive funding or not, so the person doesn’t have to wait until [end of enrollment on] April 30 to get funding.”
As prices for food, rent and living expenses have continued to rise this year, it is projected that more Coloradans could be in need of assistance from the LEAP program and other government programs designed to help those living on limited incomes.
Stone explained to the Times that, aside from SNAP, so far none of the other government-funded assistance programs have been majorly affected.
“We know that Medicaid is not [currently] affected and that WIC (Women, Infants and Children) did secure funding for November,” Stone said.
The benefits associated with the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program are also not currently being affected in Gunnison county.
For more information about the current SNAP funding hold as well as up-to-date information regarding Medicaid, WIC, or TANF benefits, please visit gunnisoncounty.org
(Gia Wright can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or jwright@orourkemediagroup.com.)
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