Colorado Old Age Pension: Eligibility, Benefits, and How to Apply

The Colorado Old Age Pension pays up to $1,032 per month to state residents aged 60 and older whose income and savings fall below set limits.¹ It is a supplement, not a flat check: the state subtracts your other monthly income from $1,032 and sends you the difference. You apply through your county Department of Human Services or online through Colorado PEAK, and qualifying recipients who cannot get Medicaid may also receive limited medical coverage through a companion program.

Who Qualifies

Three requirements decide eligibility under C.R.S. § 26-2-111: you must be at least 60 years old, live in Colorado, and be a U.S. citizen or a qualified alien with lawful immigration status.² There is no waiting period for residency; you only need to show that Colorado is your home now.

“Qualified alien” is the federal category used in the statute. It includes lawful permanent residents, refugees, people granted asylum, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and certain trafficking survivors, among others. Meeting the immigration test does not override the income and resource tests, which apply to everyone.

Income and Resource Limits

Your countable resources cannot exceed $2,000 if you are single or $3,000 if you are married. The pension uses the same resource rules as federal Supplemental Security Income, so an asset excluded by SSI is also excluded here.³ Resources means things you own that can be turned into cash, like bank accounts, stocks, or a second property.

Several assets do not count:

The home you live in and the land it sits on.
One vehicle used for transportation, regardless of value.
Household goods, furniture, and personal items.
Burial plots set aside for you or immediate family.

For income, your total monthly income from all sources must come in below the state’s standard of need, $1,032 as of January 2026.¹ Social Security, SSI, veterans’ benefits, wages, and private pensions all count.⁴ If your combined income is already over $1,032, you will not qualify.

How Much You’ll Receive

The state takes $1,032 and subtracts your countable monthly income. The remainder is your pension. Someone receiving $650 in Social Security would get roughly $382. Someone with no other income would receive the full $1,032.¹

Because the formula is a simple subtraction, every dollar of other income reduces your pension by a dollar. A Social Security cost-of-living increase can shrink your OAP payment or disqualify you entirely. Report any income change to your county office so your grant is recalculated correctly; waiting creates overpayments you will have to repay.

How to Apply

Use the state’s Application for Public Assistance, which covers the Old Age Pension along with other benefit programs.⁵ The form asks for household income, monthly expenses like rent and utilities, and the fair market value of your assets. Blank fields and rough estimates slow the case down or get it denied.

Documents to Gather First

Proof of age and identity: birth certificate, passport, or state ID.
Social Security number.
Proof of Colorado residency: utility bills, a lease, or similar documents showing a Colorado address.
Income documentation: Social Security award letters, pension and veterans’ benefit statements, and recent pay stubs if you work.
Financial records: bank statements for every checking and savings account, plus paperwork on life insurance policies, investments, and any property other than your home.

Where to Submit

Colorado PEAK is the online portal for filing and tracking the application and uploading supporting documents.⁶ You can also mail, fax, or hand-deliver the application to your county Department of Human Services.⁵ Dropping it off in person gives you immediate confirmation that the file is complete.

What Happens Next

A county case technician reviews your file and usually schedules an interview by phone or in person. They verify your documents, ask follow-up questions about income, and request anything missing. Expect a written decision within 45 days of submitting a complete application.

Medical Coverage Through OAP

Some pension recipients earn or own just enough to be shut out of Medicaid (Health First Colorado) but nowhere near enough for private insurance. For them, the OAP Health and Medical Care Program, run by the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, covers the gap.⁷ It generally covers doctor visits and certain prescription drugs but may not include long-term care or dental services. You apply through the same county office; there is no separate form.

If you are 65 or older and eligible for Medicare, ask your caseworker whether your OAP medical coverage counts as “creditable” prescription drug coverage. If it does, it protects you from the Medicare Part D late enrollment penalty. If it does not, and you go 63 or more consecutive days without creditable coverage after becoming Medicare-eligible, you can face a permanent premium surcharge of 1% for every month you delayed.⁸

If You Already Receive SSI

SSI generally drops by about $1 for every $1 of non-work income you receive, but official state supplements for food and shelter do not reduce it.⁹ How the Social Security Administration classifies your OAP payment decides whether it offsets SSI dollar-for-dollar. Report the pension to Social Security as soon as it starts; unreported income becomes an overpayment that you will be billed for later.

If You’re Denied

You can challenge a denial, reduction, or termination. Colorado law guarantees applicants and recipients a fair hearing before the state department, with the right to present evidence and examine the records the county used.¹⁰ The state can also review a county decision on its own if it believes the decision was wrong or unreasonably delayed.

Read your denial notice carefully. It will state the specific reason and the deadline to request a hearing; miss the deadline and you lose the appeal. Common reasons for denial include an asset that was counted when the applicant assumed it was excluded, missing documentation, and income just above the standard of need. Many of these problems are fixable with better evidence. Legal aid organizations across Colorado help low-income residents prepare for hearings at no cost.

Estate Recovery to Know About

Federal law requires state Medicaid programs to recover certain costs from the estates of deceased recipients who were 55 or older, including nursing facility and home-based care costs. If you receive Medicaid-covered services alongside your pension, your estate can face a recovery claim after your death. Recovery is barred if you leave a surviving spouse, a child under 21, or a child of any age who is blind or disabled.¹¹ Colorado also has to offer a hardship waiver process. If this applies to your situation, raise it with your caseworker or a legal aid attorney while you still have time to plan.

1
Colorado Department of Human Services. Adult Financial Reference Guide
2
Justia. Colorado Code 26-2-111 – Eligibility for Public Assistance – Rules
3
Social Security Administration. SSI Spotlight on Resources
4
Colorado Department of Human Services. Adult Financial Programs
5
State of Colorado Departments of Health Care Policy and Financing and Human Services. Application for Public Assistance
6
Colorado PEAK. Log In or Apply for Benefits
7
Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. Old Age Pension Health and Medical Care Program (OAP)
8
Medicare.gov. Creditable Prescription Drug Coverage
9
Social Security Administration. How Much You Could Get From SSI
10
Colorado General Assembly. Colorado Revised Statutes 2024 – Title 26 – Human Services Code
11
Medicaid.gov. Estate Recovery