What is the TEFAP income limit in Virginia?

250% of the federal poverty guidelines: $39,900 a year for a household of one and $82,500 for four (2026 guidelines). Virginia's printed table is the official one.

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

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

TEFAP rules by State / Virginia

TEFAP Rules for Food Pantries in Virginia

Q: How long must Virginia pantries keep TEFAP records?

4 years (current year + 3 previous).

Rules verified 2026-10-07 from VDACS Food Distribution Program 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 Virginia, TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) is run by VDACS Food Distribution Program. 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 Virginia's own documents disagree, that is said plainly rather than smoothed over.

Virginia's TEFAP agency and official documents

VDACS Food Distribution Program — the State agency's food distribution page, which covers TEFAP (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 250% of the federal poverty guidelines (official table: TEFAP Income Guidelines 2025 (BRAFB)). Households in these programs qualify without an income test:

SNAP
TANF
SSI
Medicaid
free/reduced lunch

Household size	Per year	Per month
1	$39,900	$3,325
2	$54,100	$4,508
3	$68,300	$5,692
4	$82,500	$6,875
5	$96,700	$8,058
6	$110,900	$9,242
7	$125,100	$10,425
8	$139,300	$11,608
Each additional person	+$14,200

Computed as 250% 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 of Income (SDI). How often: every 3 years change check monthly. Clients self-declare; proof of income is not required.

What to record at each visit

daily list of households served, or date + initial the SDI each month served

Client signature at every pickup: No. Electronic signatures: Not published by the State (or not found in its public documents). Electronic intake: electronic-only records need a VDACS-approved record-keeping plan and two backups.

Proxies

pre-authorized alternate or one-time proxy note (kept); POA may certify. 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 — current year + 3 previous.

Civil rights

Complaints: no local forwarding deadline is published — forward promptly to VDACS Food Distribution Program Administrator or USDA. Anyone may complain, in writing or verbally, without giving a name. Training: at start and annually.

Posted or handed out:

poster with complaint forms

Reporting

monthly to food bank.

inventory
households (once per month however many visits)

Storage temperatures

Refrigerated 32–40°F, frozen at or below 0°F, dry 50–70°F. Temperature log: at least 3 times a week (digital monitors must alert).

Also

Most often a household may receive TEFAP: once a week

Sources

TEFAP in nearby States

TEFAP in Kentucky · TEFAP in Maryland · TEFAP in North Carolina · TEFAP in West Virginia · 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.

Keep these records without the paperwork — free for 30 days. PantryPOS records each TEFAP visit (who picked up, household size, eligibility basis, signature where your State wants one), keeps every eligibility declaration, reconciles TEFAP stock by lot, logs civil-rights complaints and training, and shows your State's rules on screen. Every feature, no card — $39/month per site after the trial.

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