Skills2Compete CO testifies in support of older workers

Skills2Compete CO testifies in support of older workers

by Chaer Robert | May 4, 2026

Family Economic Security, federal action, Legislative Updates, Public Benefits, Research and Policy Analysis, Testimony, Work Requirments, Workers, Workforce

On Tuesday, April 28, 2026, Chaer Robert, Emeritus Advisor at CCLP, provided testimony on behalf of Skills2Compete Colorado on House Bill 26-1010, Older Adult Support & Representation in the Workforce. The bill would increase participation, representation, and support for older adults in the workforce, beginning at 55 years of age. Skills2Compete Colorado strongly supports HB26-1010.

Thank you Madam Chair and committee members,

My name is Chaer Robert. I am here representing Skills2Compete Colorado, a cross-sector, cross-level, policy coalition. We were established in 2012 to advocate for access to skills training for adult students, workers and job seekers. We are the state affiliate of the National Skills Coalition.

When reviewing policy proposals, our coalition always considers how people can access workforce development opportunities. We are particularly concerned about those with challenges to employment, including older workers.

Older workers might work because they enjoy their work or because they need the money. They might also face age discrimination. They might have experience but lack the digital fluency demanded of most of today's jobs.

Today, I want to highlight a new challenge for those between 55 and 65 years old- the new work requirements of 80 hours per month required by the federal bill HR 1[1], for those on SNAP or Medicaid. For SNAP, the age for exemption from work requirements has moved from 52 in 2023 to 65 now. Medicaid is adding work or community engagement requirements for those under 65 and goes into effect next January. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is also currently proposing a rule change which would allow public housing authorities and multifamily subsidized housing owners to add work requirements of up to 40 hours per week for those under 62 years of age.

An estimated 38,000 Colorado adults are at risk of losing food assistance[2], and 138,000 are at risk of losing Medicaid.[3] Most of them are already working or might qualify for an exemption due to disabilities or caregiving responsibilities,[4] but thousands of older Coloradans could lose SNAP or Medicaid if they cannot find work or an educational opportunity. Those 55 to 64 year olds make up 12 percent of Colorado's population overall. HR 1 did not include funding to help individuals connect with, and succeed, at work or education. The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing does not have employment or volunteer opportunities for those at risk. The Colorado Department of Human Services has the Employment First program, which recently started to work with SNAP recipients in the 55-65 age group. But that program is only offered by 27 of the 64 Colorado counties.

HB26-1010 provides an opportunity to examine how our workforce systems can meet the needs of older workers. It is our hope that what is learned can inform us all about what is needed for older Coloradans to receive and maintain needed skills and employment, and to retain food and medical assistance.

See also from the National Skills Coalition

• The Cost of Work Requirements: How reporting rules hurt workers, and how states can limit harm
• The Cost of Work Requirements Fact Sheets

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[1] HR 1 is a major federal reconciliation law that implements sweeping changes to Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and tax policy. https://shvs.org/h-r-1-resources-for-states/

[2] Joseph Llobrera et al., Senate Agriculture Committee's Revised Work Requirement Would Risk Taking Away Food Assistance From More Than 5 Million People: State Estimates (Center on Budget & Policy Priorities, June 2025) https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/senate-agriculture-committees-revised-work-requirement-would-risk-taking

[3] State coverage loss estimates are based on CBPP's modeling of Medicaid work requirement implementation, which projects enrollment and applies coverage loss rates observed in Arkansas' 2018-19 work requirement experience to other states under similar administrative conditions.

[4] Joseph Llobrera and Lauren Hall, SNAP Provides Critical Benefits to Workers and Their Families (Center on Budget & Policy Priorities, April 2025). https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/snap-provides-critical-benefits-to-workers-and-their-families#snap-provides-low-wage-workers-with-cbpp-anchor

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