TEFAP Rules for Food Pantries in Missouri

In Missouri, TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) is run by DSS Family Support Division, Food Distribution Programs. 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 Missouri's own documents disagree, that is said plainly rather than smoothed over.

Missouri's TEFAP agency and official documents

• DSS Family Support Division, Food Distribution Programs — the State agency's food distribution page, which covers TEFAP (checked 2026-10-10).
• Missouri DSS: TEFAP income eligibility guidelines (checked 2026-10-10)
• Missouri DSS: TEFAP policy and procedures manual (checked 2026-10-10)
• mydss.mo.gov/food-assistance/food-distribution/tefap/forms (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 (official table: FD-15A Part 1 (MO 886-1806, 2-2026), effective 1 Apr 2026). Households in these programs qualify without an income test:

• TANF
• SNAP
• LIHEAP
• MO HealthNet
• public/Section 8 housing
• SAB
• Blind Pension
• SSI
• WIC

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: FD-15A Part 1 (declaration) + Part 2 sign-in sheet (MO 886-4558). How often: at every visit. Clients self-declare; proof of income is not required.

What to record at each visit

• household_size
• name
• county_or_zip
• date
• Approved PA / Approved NPA / Denied

Client signature at every pickup: No. Electronic signatures: Not published by the State (or not found in its public documents).

Proxies

authorized representative may complete the form. The proxy does not have to show ID.

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 (SLAFB).

Posted or handed out:

• And Justice for All
• FD-155 Written Notice of Beneficiary Rights
• FD-19D distribution-rate chart

Reporting

monthly to food bank.

• households

Storage temperatures

Refrigerated at or below 40°F, frozen at or below 0°F, dry 50–70°F. Temperature log: logged (no frequency set).

Also

• Staff must not ask income of PA households; if ID asked of anyone it must be asked of everyone and lack of ID never disqualifies; first-time visitors served wherever they live; SLAFB: max 2 TEFAP pickups a month.

Where the sources disagree

• State manual is password-locked.

Ask your food bank which one they monitor against.

Sources

• dss.mo.gov/sites/mydss/files/media/pdf/2026/07/FD-15A-Part-1-English-2026.pdf
• dss.mo.gov/sites/mydss/files/media/pdf/2026/07/FD-15A-Part-2-English-2025.pdf
• dss.mo.gov/sites/mydss/files/media/pdf/2026/07/FD-6-Recipient-Agency-Agreement-Rev-3-2026.pdf

TEFAP in nearby States

TEFAP in Arkansas · TEFAP in Illinois · TEFAP in Iowa · TEFAP in Kansas · 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.