What is the TEFAP income limit in Wisconsin?

200% of the federal poverty guidelines: $31,920 a year for a household of one and $66,000 for four (2026 guidelines). Wisconsin's printed table is the official one.

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

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

TEFAP rules by State / Wisconsin

TEFAP Rules for Food Pantries in Wisconsin

Q: How long must Wisconsin pantries keep TEFAP records?

4 years (3 years beyond the current year).

Rules verified 2026-10-07 from WI Dept of Health Services, Division of Public Health 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 Wisconsin, TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) is run by WI Dept of Health Services, Division of Public Health. 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 Wisconsin's own documents disagree, that is said plainly rather than smoothed over.

Wisconsin's TEFAP agency and official documents

WI Dept of Health Services, Division of Public Health — the State agency's own TEFAP page (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 200% of the federal poverty guidelines (official table: F-40059 (09/2025)).

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

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: F-40059 TEFAP Eligibility Application. How often: once a year, from 1 October. Clients self-declare; proof of income is not required.

What to record at each visit

date of every distribution
number served

Client signature at every pickup: No. Electronic signatures: Yes. Electronic intake: electronic systems must show the self-attestation paragraph at intake and document annual renewal; extra data needs prior approval. Required system: Salesforce entry of monthly counts (by regional agency or site).

Proxies

named on F-40059, written note or site proxy form (proxy option is mandatory). The proxy does not have to show ID.

What you must not collect

ID cannot be required to receive TEFAP food.
Birth dates may not be collected.

How long to keep records

4 years — 3 years beyond the current year.

Civil rights

Complaints: forward immediately to regional agency immediately. Anyone may complain, in writing or verbally, without giving a name. Training: at start and annually (DHS materials).

Posted or handed out:

poster
exterior site sign
F-40059 in triggered languages

Reporting

monthly to regional agency (Salesforce).

households
individuals

Storage temperatures

Refrigerated 35–41°F, frozen at or below 0°F, dry 50–70°F. Temperature log: every distribution day, before distribution.

Also

How often households must be able to come: at least 1 day a month for 2+ hours, walk-in
Birth dates and SSNs cannot be requested; must serve TEFAP to anyone who asks; losses on F-40062 within 15 days.

Where the sources disagree

Manual period ended 30 Sep 2025; form is current.

Ask your food bank which one they monitor against.

Sources

TEFAP in nearby States

TEFAP in Illinois · TEFAP in Iowa · TEFAP in Michigan · TEFAP in Minnesota · 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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