SNAP work rules put Trinidad State College in the spotlight

Adults in Las Animas County who fall under SNAP’s able-bodied adult rules now face a simple but high-stakes test: keep up 20 hours a week, or 80 hours a month, of qualifying work activity, or risk losing benefits after three months in a 36-month period. For people in Trinidad, Walsenburg and the smaller communities around them, the practical question is not abstract policy, but where to go right now to document hours and stay eligible.

Colorado’s Department of Human Services says the rule applies to ABAWDs, and that benefits beyond three months in a three-year period are available only to people who meet the work requirement or qualify for an exemption. The state lists several exemptions, including enrollment at least half-time in school, college or a training program, some people receiving disability benefits, people in substance-use treatment and some workers already putting in at least 30 hours a week. Depending on a person’s case, approved education, job training or volunteer service may also count toward the requirement.

That is where Trinidad State College moves to the center of the story. The college offers adult education, GED preparation and vocational programs at its Trinidad and Walsenburg campuses, giving local residents a nearby way to build qualifying hours while also working toward a credential. Trinidad State says its Adult Basic Education program is designed to help students move from GED completion into degree or certificate programs, while its workforce solutions program connects with the Southern Colorado business community to support upskilling. Its career services are aimed at helping students build job skills, and the college says GED preparation is offered through Adult Education Services, where students review test material and take practice GED tests.

The broader policy change is coming from Washington. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it is issuing guidance tied to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025, which changes SNAP work requirements and ABAWD exception and waiver criteria. USDA also says SNAP Employment and Training programs are meant to help participants gain skills, training and work experience, and that states can partner with colleges and other workforce providers. Colorado’s Employment First program already serves as the state’s SNAP Employment and Training system, offering job-seeking skills training, work experience, monthly job-search support and related education and training activities.

For Las Animas County, the stakes are sharpened by local labor conditions. Bureau of Labor Statistics data track the county’s unemployment rate month by month and currently run through February 2026, a reminder that even modest work-rule changes can land hard in a place where jobs are limited and distances are long. Trinidad State College, founded in 1925, is the oldest public two-year college in Colorado, which makes it one of the most important local bridges between food assistance compliance and longer-term economic stability.