TEFAP Rules for Food Pantries in South Carolina
In South Carolina, TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) is run by SC Dept of Agriculture. 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 South Carolina's own documents disagree, that is said plainly rather than smoothed over.
South Carolina's TEFAP agency and official documents
- SC Dept of Agriculture — the State agency's own TEFAP page (checked 2026-10-10).
Who qualifies: the income limit
Household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines (official table: table effective 2/10/2026). Households in these programs qualify without an income test:
- TANF
- SNAP
- SSI
| Household size | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $31,920 | $2,660 |
| 2 | $43,280 | $3,607 |
| 3 | $54,640 | $4,553 |
| 4 | $66,000 | $5,500 |
| 5 | $77,360 | $6,447 |
| 6 | $88,720 | $7,393 |
| 7 | $100,080 | $8,340 |
| 8 | $111,440 | $9,287 |
| Each additional person | +$11,360 |
The eligibility declaration
Form: SCDA TEFAP Application (self-declaration). How often: at every visit. Clients self-declare; proof of income is not required.
What to record at each visit
- name
- household_size
- basis
- date
- signature (head of household; worker may write if refused; X with witness)
Client signature at every pickup: Yes. Electronic signatures: Not published by the State (or not found in its public documents). Required system: Link2Feed is mandatory for all pantries (State Operations Manual ch.4; ERA Agreement #19).
Proxies
household's written authorization attached to the application. 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 to clients file AD-3027 with USDA OASCR. Anyone may complain, in writing or verbally, without giving a name. Training: annual, signed log.
Posted or handed out:
- And Justice for All
- Interpretive Services
- income guidelines
- manual on site
- FD-138 at faith-based sites
Reporting
monthly to food bank (via Link2Feed).
- households
- meals served
Storage temperatures
Refrigerated 35–40°F, frozen -10–0°F, dry 50–70°F. Temperature log: at least twice a week (Lowcountry Food Bank).
Also
- ID not required but recommended; proof of income/residence cannot be required; losses reported in 3-10 business days.
Where the sources disagree
- Harvest Hope copy of the SCDA application still says 150%.
Ask your food bank which one they monitor against.
Sources
- agriculture.sc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/TEFAPManual2027.pdf
- lowcountryfoodbank.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2025-USDA-Training-Presentation.pdf
TEFAP in nearby States
TEFAP in Georgia · TEFAP in North Carolina · all States