Free Government Surplus Food: TEFAP, CSFP, and FDPIR

Free government surplus food comes through three USDA programs: the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), which serves low-income households of any age; the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), which serves people 60 and older; and the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), which serves eligible tribal households. None of them charges you for the food. The USDA buys the commodities from American farmers and ships them to state agencies, which pass them to food banks, pantries, and reservation sites for distribution.¹

Which program fits you depends on your age, where you live, and your income. Start with the one that matches your situation.

TEFAP: The Main Program for Low-Income Households

TEFAP is the widest door. Food is distributed through local pantries, food banks, and soup kitchens, and the selection covers more than 130 products, including canned and frozen fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans, peanut butter, rice, pasta, cereal, flour, tortillas, milk, yogurt, and cheese. Fresh produce turns up regularly.²

Income Limits

States set their own TEFAP income limits, but federal rules require them to fall between 185% and 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.³ For a single person in 2026, that translates to gross annual income somewhere between roughly $29,500 and $47,900, depending on the state.⁴ Most states use a threshold near the top of that range, so TEFAP reaches further up the income ladder than people expect.

If you already receive SNAP, Medicaid, or another means-tested program, states can count that enrollment as proof of eligibility. Bring documentation and you may skip a separate income check.²

Congregate Meals Have No Income Test

TEFAP also funds meals served at shelters, community centers, and similar sites. If you eat a meal there, you do not have to prove your income. The site itself has already qualified by primarily serving a low-income population, so anyone who walks in can eat.¹

CSFP: Monthly Food Packages for Seniors 60 and Older

CSFP works differently. Instead of shopping a pantry, participants receive a pre-assembled monthly food package built around common nutritional gaps for older adults. Packages typically contain shelf-stable milk, canned meat or fish, cereal, cheese, canned fruits and vegetables, juice, and grains. The program is limited to people age 60 and older with low incomes.⁵

Federal rules cap CSFP eligibility at 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, and states can set the threshold lower, at 130%.⁶ Under the 2026 guidelines, a single senior qualifies with monthly income up to about $1,995 at the 150% ceiling, or about $1,729 in states using 130%. A two-person household hits the 150% limit at roughly $2,705 per month.⁴

CSFP runs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, but coverage inside a state isn’t universal. Some counties don’t have a participating site. If your local food bank doesn’t offer CSFP, call your state distributing agency to find the nearest one.⁷

FDPIR: For Households On or Near a Reservation

FDPIR provides USDA commodities to households on or near a federally recognized Indian reservation, and to eligible households in Oklahoma. For households living near, but not on, a reservation, at least one member must belong to a federally recognized tribe.⁸ The FY 2026 inventory lists more than 100 items, including fresh and frozen meats, canned and frozen produce, dried beans, rice, pasta, flour, oats, cheese, shelf-stable milk, olive oil, peanut butter, and eggs, and participants generally choose what they want each month.⁹

FDPIR uses net monthly income standards rather than a percentage of the poverty guidelines. For a single person in the contiguous 48 states, the 2026 limit is $1,514 per month; for a four-person household, $2,903. Alaska limits run higher to reflect the state’s cost of living.¹⁰

One rule catches people off guard: you cannot receive FDPIR and SNAP in the same month. If both programs operate where you live, you have to pick one for each month.⁸ The narrow exceptions cover SNAP disaster benefits and months in which a household is determined eligible for zero SNAP benefits.¹¹ Recertification is required at least every 12 months, or every 24 months for elderly and disabled households.

Finding a Distribution Site Near You

The fastest way in is to contact your state distributing agency, which coordinates every surplus food program in the state. Every state has one, and the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service website lists contacts for each.⁷ Regional food banks partnered with the federal government can also route you to the nearest pickup point.

Distribution doesn’t always happen at a fixed building. Mobile pantries and pop-up sites at churches, community centers, and parking lots serve people who live far from a permanent food bank. Schedules vary: some sites operate monthly, some biweekly, a few weekly. Call ahead or check the food bank’s website before you drive out.

What to Bring

Documentation rules differ by location, but most sites ask for some combination of the following:

Proof of identity, such as a driver’s license, state ID, passport, or birth certificate.
Proof of address, such as a recent utility bill, a lease, or mail showing you live in the service area.
Proof of income, such as recent pay stubs, a Social Security benefit letter, pension statements, or, for self-employed applicants, tax returns.
Household information, including the number of people at home and each adult’s income.

Many sites also have a short application covering employment and other benefits. If you’re on SNAP or Medicaid, bringing documentation of that enrollment can substitute for TEFAP income proof in many states.² For CSFP, you’ll also need to verify your age, since the program is limited to people 60 and older.¹²

What Distribution Day Looks Like

A staff member or volunteer will check you in and go through your paperwork. From there, the setup depends on the site. Some use pre-packed boxes with the same standardized selection for everyone, often loaded straight into your car. Others run client-choice, where you walk through and pick items your household will actually eat from what’s in stock. If you have dietary needs or restrictions, ask ahead which format your site uses.

Consistency matters. Many sites track attendance and give priority to regular participants when supplies are tight. Miss several distributions in a row and some locations will make you re-register.

Emergency Food After a Disaster

The USDA can also authorize emergency distributions of surplus food when a disaster disrupts normal food access, such as when commercial supply chains break down, SNAP is hard to use because stores are closed, and congregate feeding alone cannot meet demand.¹³

Disaster household distributions need approval from the USDA’s national office. Once activated, affected households can receive free food packages with minimal paperwork, generally a name, address, household size, and a signed statement that you need food assistance and are not receiving Disaster SNAP for the same period.¹³ You do not need to be enrolled in any regular program to receive disaster food assistance. If a disaster hits your area, your state distributing agency and local food banks are the first calls to make.

1
Food and Nutrition Service. Applicant/Recipient
2
Food and Nutrition Service. TEFAP Factsheet
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Food and Nutrition Service. TEFAP Income Guidelines
4
HHS ASPE. 2026 Poverty Guidelines
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Food and Nutrition Service. Final Rule: CSFP Implementation of the Agricultural Act of 2014
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eCFR. 7 CFR Part 247 – Commodity Supplemental Food Program
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Food and Nutrition Service. Commodity Supplemental Food Program – State/Local Agency
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Food and Nutrition Service. FDPIR Applicant/Recipient
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Food and Nutrition Service. FDPIR Foods Available List FY 26
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Food and Nutrition Service. FDPIR Net Monthly Income Standards – FY 2026
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Food and Nutrition Service. Module 1 Applicant Choice to Participate in FDPIR or SNAP
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Food and Nutrition Service. Commodity Supplemental Food Program
13
Food and Nutrition Service. USDA Foods Program Disaster Manual