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

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

TEFAP Rules for Food Pantries in Washington

Q: What is the TEFAP income limit in Washington?

400% of the federal poverty guidelines: $63,840 a year for a household of one and $132,000 for four (2026 guidelines). Washington's printed table is the official one. Re-checked 2026-10-10 in the WSDA TEFAP Manual, section 5: Washington uses 400% of the poverty guidelines, measured on net (after-tax) income. That is above the usual federal range of 185% to 300%, which 7 CFR 251.5(b)(2) allows only as a State alternative standard approved by FNS.

Q: How long must Washington pantries keep TEFAP records?

6 years (6 years from final payment of the Sub Agency Agreement (TEFAP Manual 4.4) - stricter than federal 3).

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

Washington's TEFAP agency and official documents

WSDA Food Assistance — the State agency's own TEFAP page (checked 2026-10-10).
agr.wa.gov/services/food-access/hunger-relief-agency-hub/tefap/tefap-manual (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 400% of the federal poverty guidelines (official table: WSDA AGR8-2603-006 (AGR-2342 R/4/26)). Households in these programs qualify without an income test:

Re-checked 2026-10-10 in the WSDA TEFAP Manual, section 5: Washington uses 400% of the poverty guidelines, measured on net (after-tax) income. That is above the usual federal range of 185% to 300%, which 7 CFR 251.5(b)(2) allows only as a State alternative standard approved by FNS.

NSLP free/reduced (backpack programs only)

Household size	Per year	Per month
1	$63,840	$5,320
2	$86,560	$7,213
3	$109,280	$9,107
4	$132,000	$11,000
5	$154,720	$12,893
6	$177,440	$14,787
7	$200,160	$16,680
8	$222,880	$18,573
Each additional person	+$22,720

Computed as 400% 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: AGR-2271 (each visit) or AGR-2342 (annual, up to 12 months, every visit still logged). How often: at every visit, or a yearly form with every visit still logged. Clients self-declare; proof of income is not required.

What to record at each visit

name
household_size

Client signature at every pickup: No. Electronic signatures: Yes. Electronic intake: Lead Agency and WSDA Food Assistance must approve every intake system (TEFAP Manual 5.7).

Proxies

AGR-2345 (signed by client, proxy and site staff). When: disability, health, transportation or work hours. 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

6 years — 6 years from final payment of the Sub Agency Agreement (TEFAP Manual 4.4) - stricter than federal 3.

Civil rights

Complaints: forward within 5 days to WSDA Food Assistance (with AD-3027 if available). Anyone may complain, in writing or verbally, without giving a name. Training: annual (AGR-2198/2199).

Posted or handed out:

AD-475-A And Justice for All
AGR-10017 Beneficiary Rights
current income guidelines

Reporting

monthly to Lead Agency on AGR-2272E.

households served
clients served (all visits)
TEFAP inventory beginning/received/distributed/damaged/ending

Age bands: 0–2 / 3–18 / 19–54 / 55+.

"New" household: first visit to any WA pantry in the calendar year (self-declared, EFAP).

Storage temperatures

Refrigerated 33–40°F, frozen at or below 0°F, dry 50–70°F. Temperature log: daily (Lead Agencies 'shall'; WSDA 'cannot require' of pantries).

Also

How often households must be able to come: monthly
Clients are never required to give an address, SSN or ID.
Food bank rules: Food Lifeline: ages 0-2/3-17/18-55/55+, unduplicated over July-June fiscal year, YAR yearly; receipts 3 years; WA Food Worker Card holder on site; pest check every 15 days (recommended).

Where the sources disagree

Two WSDA income tables were live in 2026 (AGR6-2509-031 vs AGR-2342 R/4/26).

Ask your food bank which one they monitor against.

Sources

TEFAP in nearby States

TEFAP in Idaho · TEFAP in Oregon · 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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