Commodity Supplemental Food Program

To improve the health of low-income elderly persons at least 60 years of age by supplementing their diets with nutritious USDA Foods, distributed through public and non-profit private local agencies such as food banks and community action organizatio

CSFP is administered at the federal level by FNS, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Through CSFP, USDA distributes both food and administrative funds to participating state agencies and Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs), which work to provide CSFP food packages to eligible participants. CSFP food packages are supplemental and do not provide a complete diet. CSFP operates in parts of all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and by the following eight ITOs: Oglala Sioux in South Dakota, Red Lake in Minnesota, the Seminole Nation in Oklahoma, the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians in California, the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe in North Dakota, the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes in Oklahoma, the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.

Agreements are made between USDA and the State agency or an ITO recognized by the Department of the Interior or the appropriate area office of the Indian Health Service of the Department of Health and Human Services.

To be certified as eligible to receive USDA Foods through the program, individuals must be at least 60. States also establish income guidelines to determine program eligibility for all participants. CSFP income guidelines must be set at or below 130 percent of Federal poverty income guidelines. States may require that participants be at nutritional risk, as determined by a physician or local agency staff. States may also require that an individual reside within the service area of the local agency at the time of application for program benefits. However, States may not require the individual to reside within the area for any fixed period of time.

USDA Foods and administrative grants are made to State agencies and Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs) recognized by the Department of the Interior or the appropriate area office of the Indian Health Service of the Department of Health and Human Services. These agencies distribute USDA Foods and funds to participating local public or private nonprofit agencies. Federal funding for administrative costs may only be used in making USDA Foods and nutrition education available to eligible beneficiaries.

USDA Foods and administrative grants are made to State agencies and Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs) recognized by the Department of the Interior or the appropriate area office of the Indian Health Service of the Department of Health and Human Services. These agencies distribute USDA Foods and funds to participating local public or private nonprofit agencies. Federal funding for administrative costs may only be used in making USDA Foods and nutrition education available to eligible beneficiaries.

USDA Foods are made available on an ongoing basis. Administrative funds are provided to States annually, each fiscal year.

Participating states and ITO's do so via a federal state agreement.

Not Available.

USDA Foods and administrative funds are awarded by the Department to State agencies in accordance with the priorities and funding formulas set forth in program regulations and legislation. State agencies, in turn, distribute USDA Foods and administrative funds to the local level.

A determination will be made within 30 days of the submission of a completed plan.

Local agency appeals: The State agency provides a hearing appeal procedure for a local agency adversely affected by a State agency action, if the action would adversely affect participation. Individual participant appeals: The State agency provides a hearing appeal procedure for any individual who receives an adverse action which may include the denial or discontinuance of program benefits, disqualification from the program, or a claim to repay the value of USDA Foods received due to fraud.