TEFAP Rules for Food Pantries in Arizona

In Arizona, TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) is run by AZ Dept of Economic Security, Hunger Relief Program. This page sets out what a food pantry or other distribution site has to do: who qualifies, what each household declares, what you record at each visit, how long you keep it, how complaints are handled and what you report. Where Arizona's own documents disagree, that is said plainly rather than smoothed over.

Arizona's TEFAP agency and official documents

• AZ Dept of Economic Security, Hunger Relief Program — the State agency's own TEFAP page (checked 2026-10-10).
• DES: how to get TEFAP food (HRP-1023A) (checked 2026-10-10)
• azfoodbanks.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Hunger_Relief_Program_Policies_Procedures_Linda_Hamman_Gloria_Garcia-Hernandez_DES.pdf (State or food bank document used for the rules below)

Your food bank's agreement and current forms are the final word on the figures and forms to use.

Who qualifies: the income limit

Household income at or below 185% of the federal poverty guidelines. Households in these programs qualify without an income test:

• SNAP

Computed as 185% of the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines. Your State's printed table is the official one and may round differently or take effect on a different date.

The eligibility declaration

Form: Household Distribution Site Sign-In Sheet (HRP-1013A). How often: at every visit. Clients self-declare; proof of income is not required.

What to record at each visit

• printed name
• address or client ID
• date of birth
• household_size
• boxes
• initials

Client signature at every pickup: Yes. Electronic signatures: Not published by the State (or not found in its public documents).

Proxies

proxy letter valid 6 months, kept on file. The proxy must show ID.

How long to keep records

Not published by the State (or not found in its public documents). The federal minimum is 3 years from the end of the federal fiscal year (7 CFR 251.10(a)(5)).

Civil rights

Complaints: no local forwarding deadline is published — forward promptly. Anyone may complain, in writing or verbally, without giving a name. Training: Not published by the State (or not found in its public documents).

Reporting

Not published by the State (or not found in its public documents).

Storage temperatures

Not published by the State (or not found in its public documents).

Also

• How often households must be able to come: at least monthly

Where the sources disagree

• DES site blocked automated fetches; sources are 2015-2020 and may be superseded - confirm with the food bank.

Ask your food bank which one they monitor against.

Sources

• huachucacityaz.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/TEFAP-Signature-Log_Rev-042020.pdf

TEFAP in nearby States

TEFAP in California · TEFAP in Nevada · TEFAP in New Mexico · TEFAP in Utah · all States

This page describes published State and food bank documents and is not legal advice. Your State agency and your food bank agreement are the final word. See also the federal TEFAP record rule and the free TEFAP readiness checklist.