TEFAP Rules for Food Pantries in California
In California, TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) is run by CA Dept of Social Services, CalFresh Community Partnerships Bureau. 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 California's own documents disagree, that is said plainly rather than smoothed over.
California's TEFAP agency and official documents
- CA Dept of Social Services, CalFresh Community Partnerships Bureau — the State agency's food distribution page, which covers TEFAP (checked 2026-10-10).
- www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/efap/forms-and-brochures (State or food bank document used for the rules below)
Who qualifies: the income limit
Household income at or below 235% of the federal poverty guidelines.
| Household size | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $37,506 | $3,126 |
| 2 | $50,854 | $4,238 |
| 3 | $64,202 | $5,350 |
| 4 | $77,550 | $6,463 |
| 5 | $90,898 | $7,575 |
| 6 | $104,246 | $8,687 |
| 7 | $117,594 | $9,800 |
| 8 | $130,942 | $10,912 |
| Each additional person | +$13,348 |
The eligibility declaration
Form: EFA-7 Certification of Eligibility (sign-in sheet, rev 1/25). How often: at every visit. Clients self-declare; proof of income is not required.
What to record at each visit
- printed name
- county and zip
- family size
- 1st time receiving USDA food this month Y/N
Client signature at every pickup: No. Electronic signatures: Not published by the State (or not found in its public documents).
Proxies
EFA-15 Alternate Pick Up. The proxy does not have to show ID.
What you must not collect
- ID cannot be required to receive TEFAP food.
How long to keep records
4 years — 3 years + current (CDSS); food banks 4 years.
Civil rights
Complaints: no local forwarding deadline is published — forward promptly. Anyone may complain, in writing or verbally, without giving a name. Training: annual (CDSS material only).
Posted or handed out:
- AD-475A
- Notice to the Public
- No Selling
- income guidelines next to EFA-7
- WNBR
Reporting
monthly to food bank, due by the 5th.
- duplicated and unduplicated households and persons per site
"New" household: first time receiving USDA food this month (EFA-7).
Storage temperatures
Not published by the State (or not found in its public documents).
Where the sources disagree
- State: signature optional; LA Regional Food Bank: all sign or are signed in.
Ask your food bank which one they monitor against.
Sources
- www.cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/TEFAP/FFY%202025%20CDSS%20TEFAP%20State%20Plan.pdf
- feedingamericaie.org/_files/ugd/8e94e4_2cf33d5b158240e3a998596fa3d14e68.pdf
TEFAP in nearby States
TEFAP in Oregon · TEFAP in Nevada · TEFAP in Arizona · all States