TEFAP Rules for Food Pantries in Ohio

In Ohio, TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) is run by Ohio Dept of Job & Family Services (ODJFS), Office of Family Assistance. 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 Ohio's own documents disagree, that is said plainly rather than smoothed over.

Ohio's TEFAP agency and official documents

• Ohio Dept of Job & Family Services (ODJFS), Office of Family Assistance — USDA's contact listing for the State agency (checked 2026-10-10). No TEFAP program page was found on the ODJFS website; its food assistance resources page links only to USDA.

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 200% of the federal poverty guidelines (official table: JFS 04221 (Rev. 7/2026); 230% in a declared emergency).

Computed as 200% 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: JFS 04221 Eligibility to Take Food Home (or ODJFS-approved electronic equivalent). How often: 12 months with attestation each visit. Clients self-declare; proof of income is not required.

What to record at each visit

• name
• state
• county
• zip
• household_size_by_age
• signature
• date
• full_or_partial_service

Client signature at every pickup: Yes. Electronic signatures: Yes. Electronic intake: ODJFS approval via the regional food bank (PantryTrak, Virtual Case Manager, VESTA already approved).

Proxies

written designation (proxy name, site, authorization, duration). The proxy must show ID.

What you must not collect

• ID cannot be required to receive TEFAP food.

How long to keep records

5 years — 5 years from close of FFY.

Civil rights

Complaints: no local forwarding deadline is published — forward promptly to not stated (investigate promptly, log). Anyone may complain, in writing or verbally, without giving a name. Training: annual (regional agents train pantries, sign-in sheets).

Posted or handed out:

• AD-475-A
• JFS 01409 Written Notice of Beneficiary Rights

Reporting

monthly to regional food bank, due by the 15th on JFS 01429 Local Agency Monthly Statistical Report.

• households
• seniors 60+
• adults 18-59
• children 0-17
• split by households with/without minor children

Age bands: 0–17 / 18–59 / 60+.

Storage temperatures

Refrigerated 32–36°F, frozen at or below 0°F, dry 50–85°F. Temperature log: every other day incl. dry storage; after power loss; Fri late + Mon early if closed weekends.

Also

• How often households must be able to come: monthly
• No referrals/appointments/fees/membership may be required; walk-ins served; address and phone optional and only after eligibility.

Sources

• secondharvestfoodbank.treepl.co/PDF-new/TEFAP%20Procedural%20Manual%202026.pdf
• www.odjfs.state.oh.us/forms/num/JFS01429/pdf/

TEFAP in nearby States

TEFAP in Indiana · TEFAP in Kentucky · TEFAP in Michigan · TEFAP in Pennsylvania · 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.