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If you are 60 or older and live on a limited income, a USDA program called CSFP may offer a monthly box of food at no cost. Places are limited, so see the 5 steps to apply.

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Independent guide, not USDA. Below: what comes in the box and who can get it. The 2026 income limit for 1 or 2 people and the 5 steps to apply are on the next page.

What CSFP is

The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) is a federal food program for older adults. USDA purchases the food and sends it, along with funding, to state agencies and to certain Indian Tribal Organizations. These pass it along to public and nonprofit local agencies, such as food banks and community groups, which determine who is eligible and distribute the boxes.

The box is meant to supplement what you already eat, not to stand in for your regular groceries. USDA describes the package as supplemental: it does not supply a complete diet, but it concentrates on foods that low-income older adults often go without.

What comes in the box

The food consists of USDA Foods, mostly shelf-stable, and the exact selection varies from month to month and from one local agency to the next. USDA says a CSFP food package may include:

  • Dairy: milk and cheese.
  • Grains: ready-to-eat cereal, oats, farina, rice and pasta.
  • Protein: peanut butter, dry beans, and canned meat, poultry or fish.
  • Fruit and vegetables: canned fruits and vegetables, along with fruit juice.

Local agencies follow the monthly amounts USDA sets for each food group. Federal rules permit either one package each month or a two-month supply every other month, so check with your local agency about how it distributes the food.

Who can get it

  • Age: you must be at least 60 years old.
  • Income: each state sets its own household income limit. Under federal rules, that limit may be as high as 150% of the federal poverty guidelines, and a state may choose a lower one.
  • Where you live: CSFP operates in parts of all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and through seven tribal organizations, but not in every area of every state. A state may require you to live in the area served by its local agency.

Places are limited. Each year USDA assigns every state a set number of places, known as caseload. When all the places at a local agency are taken, the agency must keep a waiting list showing the date you applied and reach out to you when a place opens up. It must also let you know, within 10 days of your application, whether you were approved, not approved or put on the waiting list.

The dollar limits that apply in 2026 for a household of 1 or 2 people, along with how to learn which limit your state uses, appear on the next page, together with the documents to bring and where to look for the agency that serves your address.

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The 60+ food box in 5 points

What to know about CSFP before you apply

1. For adults 60 and older — age is the first requirement of the program.

2. Income limit set by your state — up to 150% of the federal poverty guidelines.

3. A box of shelf-stable food — milk, cheese, cereal, rice, pasta, beans and canned foods.

4. No payment allowed — agencies may not ask you to pay for the food.

5. Limited places — when a local agency is full, it keeps a waiting list.

Based on USDA rules for CSFP (7 CFR Part 247). Details vary by state.

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Can you get CSFP and SNAP at the same time?

Yes. USDA names SNAP among the programs CSFP participants may also be eligible for, and local agencies are required to give applicants information about SNAP. Being certified for SNAP or for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can even make applying easier: federal rules allow a state to accept it as proof that your income falls within the CSFP limit.

The food you get through CSFP also may not be counted as income or as a resource for any other public assistance program. The one thing you may not do is receive CSFP from two distribution sites at once.

Common questions

Do I have to pay anything?
No. Federal rules state that state and local agencies may not require or request any payment, material or service in return for the food.

Can someone pick up the box for me?
You or your caretaker can name a proxy, such as a family member, to collect the food, and the agency verifies the identity of the participant or proxy at pickup. In some states the food can be delivered to people who cannot leave home; ask your local agency.

Do I have to reapply?
Periodically, yes. Depending on your state, approval lasts from one to three years, after which you go through recertification.

Is this website part of USDA?
No. This is an independent information page. Applications are handled only by your state agency and its local partners.

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This page is informational and is not affiliated with USDA, state agencies or food banks. Eligibility, income limits, foods and distribution schedules are set by the program and by each state and may change. Sources: USDA CSFP pages and 7 CFR Part 247, checked in September 2026.