What is the TEFAP income limit in Michigan?

300% of the federal poverty guidelines: $47,880 a year for a household of one and $99,000 for four (2026 guidelines). Michigan's printed table is the official one.

Do clients sign for TEFAP food at every pickup in Michigan?

No - the State does not require a client signature at every pickup.

TEFAP rules by State / Michigan

TEFAP Rules for Food Pantries in Michigan

Rules verified 2026-10-07 from Michigan Dept of Education and food bank publications (sources below) · agency links checked 2026-10-10 · income table recalculated automatically from the 2026 federal poverty guidelines · sources re-checked weekly

In Michigan, TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) is run by Michigan Dept of Education. 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 Michigan's own documents disagree, that is said plainly rather than smoothed over.

Michigan's TEFAP agency and official documents

Michigan Dept of Education — the State agency's own TEFAP page (checked 2026-10-10).
MDE: where to get TEFAP in your county (checked 2026-10-10)

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 300% of the federal poverty guidelines (official table: Feeding West Michigan table (1 May 2026)). Households in these programs qualify without an income test:

self-declared need
WIC
CSFP
FDPIR
SNAP
SSI
free/reduced school meals

Household size	Per year	Per month
1	$47,880	$3,990
2	$64,920	$5,410
3	$81,960	$6,830
4	$99,000	$8,250
5	$116,040	$9,670
6	$133,080	$11,090
7	$150,120	$12,510
8	$167,160	$13,930
Each additional person	+$17,040

Computed as 300% 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: self-declaration. How often: at every visit. Clients self-declare; proof of income is not required.

What to record at each visit

name of member receiving
state
household_size
basis

Client signature at every pickup: No. Electronic signatures: Yes.

Proxies

written note, designated proxy, or advance contact. 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

3 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, documented.

Posted or handed out:

AD-475C
Beneficiary Rights

Reporting

monthly to food bank.

persons served

Storage temperatures

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

Sources

www.michigan.gov/mde/-/media/Project/Websites/mde/ohns/Food-Distribution/Household-Food-Distribution/TEFAP/TEFAP-State-Plan-FY2025-125.pdf

TEFAP in nearby States

TEFAP in Indiana · TEFAP in Ohio · TEFAP in Wisconsin · 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.

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