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Here is how to apply for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), the USDA food box for adults age 60 and older. Applications go through your state agency or a local agency near you, not through this website, and no agency may ask you to pay for the food.

The general process follows federal rules, while details such as the income limit, the documents and the pickup days are set by your state and local agency. There are five steps.

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2026 income limits for 1 and 2 people

Each state chooses its own CSFP income limit, and federal rules cap it at 150% of the federal poverty guidelines. A state may set a lower limit, so ask your agency which one applies to you. These are the 2026 figures USDA sent to states in February 2026, covering the 48 contiguous states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico:

  • Household of 1: up to $1,995 a month ($23,940 a year) at 150%; $1,729 a month ($20,748 a year) at 130%.
  • Household of 2: up to $2,705 a month ($32,460 a year) at 150%; $2,345 a month ($28,132 a year) at 130%.
  • Each additional person: add $710 a month at 150%, or $616 a month at 130%.

Alaska and Hawaii have higher limits. At 150%, a household of 1 can have income of up to $2,494 a month in Alaska and $2,295 a month in Hawaii. USDA updates this table once a year, after the Department of Health and Human Services releases the new poverty guidelines.

What to have ready

The federal application asks for a few pieces of information. Each agency decides which papers it accepts, so it is best to call first and ask. In general, these items are useful to have on hand:

  • A form of ID for each person applying, along with your current address.
  • Proof of age showing that you are 60 or older.
  • Household income information, such as benefit letters or pay records.
  • Household size: the number of people who live in your household.
  • A SNAP or SSI approval letter, if you have one: the state may accept it as proof that your income falls within the limit.

A family member or caretaker can help you complete the application. At the end, you or your caretaker sign a statement confirming that the information is correct and that you will not receive CSFP at two sites at once.

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Where to apply

  • Your state CSFP agency: USDA maintains a contacts page where you can find the agency in your state. It can tell you whether CSFP is offered where you live.
  • Your state’s list of local agencies: every state must post online the name, address and phone number of each local CSFP agency, updated at least once a year.
  • Your local food bank: local CSFP agencies are public or nonprofit organizations, and some are food banks. Your food bank can tell you whether it distributes CSFP boxes.
  • 211 or the Eldercare Locator: dial 211 or call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 to be directed to food services for older adults near you.

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How to apply for CSFP in 5 steps

From the first call to your first box

1. Check age and income — you must be 60 or older, with household income within your state’s limit (table below).

2. Find the agency that serves you — your state CSFP agency is on the USDA contacts page, and each state must post a list of its local agencies online.

3. Call the local agency — ask where and when food is handed out and whether there is a waiting list.

4. Fill in the application — name, address and a form of ID, household income, household size and age. You sign a statement at the end.

5. Wait for the answer — within 10 days the agency tells you if you were approved, not approved or placed on a waiting list.

Based on 7 CFR Part 247. Local procedures vary by state.

After you are approved

The approval notice gives you the time and place of the food distribution and tells you how long your approval lasts. Depending on the state, that is between one and three years. A few things to keep in mind:

  • Pickup: the agency gives out one package each month or a two-month supply every other month, and it confirms the identity of the participant or the proxy who picks it up.
  • Help at home: states must explain how they serve participants who cannot leave home, and in some states the food can be delivered.
  • Changes: report any change in household income or size within 10 days after you learn about it.
  • Moving: if you move to another area served by CSFP before your approval ends, your approval stays valid, and if the new local agency has a waiting list, you are placed ahead of all other applicants on it.
  • Renewal: when your approval period ends, you go through recertification to keep receiving the food.

If there is a waiting list or you are not approved

When every place at a local agency is filled, it must keep a waiting list with your application date and contact you when a place opens up. Ask your agency whether a temporary opening is available while you wait. If you are not approved, the agency must explain why in writing, and you have the right to request a fair hearing to appeal the decision.

While you wait, other programs may be able to help. You can apply for SNAP through your state, food pantries that take part in The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) give out USDA Foods at no cost, and the Eldercare Locator can point you to meals for older adults in your area.

Watch out for scams. No one can charge you to apply for or receive CSFP food. Do not pay anyone who offers to sign you up or to move you up a waiting list, and do not share bank details to get the box.

This page is informational and is not affiliated with USDA, state agencies, food banks or the Eldercare Locator. Income limits, documents, distribution schedules and availability are set by the program and by each state and may change. Sources: USDA CSFP pages, CSFP Income Guidelines for 2026 and 7 CFR Part 247, checked in September 2026.