ANSWERS

1. What is the CSFP?

The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) works to improve the health of low-income pregnant and breastfeeding women, other new mothers up to one year postpartum, infants, children up to age six, and elderly people at least 60 years of age by supplementing their diets with nutritious USDA foods. It provides food and administrative funds to States to supplement the diets of these groups.

The population served by CSFP is similar to that served by USDA's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), but CSFP also serves elderly people, and provides food rather than the food vouchers that WIC participants receive. Eligible people cannot participate in both programs at the same time.

CSFP food packages do not provide a complete diet, but rather are good sources of the nutrients typically lacking in the diets of the target population.

CSFP is administered at the Federal level by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The program is authorized under Section 4(a) of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973. Federal regulations covering CSFP can be found in 7 CFR, Parts 247 and 250.

An average of more than 518,000 people each month participated in the program in fiscal year
(FY) 2010, including more than 497,000 elderly people and more than 21,000 women, infants, and children.
 

2. How does the program operate?

USDA purchases food and makes it available to State agencies and Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs), along with funds for administrative costs. State agencies that administer CSFP are typically departments of health, social services, education, or agriculture. State agencies store the food and distribute it to public and non-profit private local agencies.

Local agencies determine the eligibility of applicants, distribute the foods, and provide nutrition education. Local agencies also provide referrals to other welfare, nutrition, and health care programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid; and Medicare.
 

3. How much does CSFP cost?

For FY 2011, Congress appropriated $176 million for CSFP, but rescinded $0.3 million.  This resulted in an actual funding level of $175.7 million through FY 2011 appropriations.  Annual appropriations may be supplemented by unspent funds carried over from the previous FY, if available.
 

4. What are the requirements to get food through CSFP?

Women, infants, children, and the elderly must reside in one of the States or on one of the Indian reservations that participate in CSFP.

States establish an income limit for the elderly that is at or below 130 percent of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines. States also establish income limits for women, infants, and children that are at or below 185 percent of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines, but not below 100 percent of these guidelines.

Women, infants and children who receive SNAP benefits, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or Medicaid are considered automatically eligible for CSFP.

Women, infants and children who participate in certain other public assistance programs may also be considered eligible for CSFP.

States may establish local residency requirements based on designated service areas (but may not require a minimum period of residency). States may also require that participants be at nutritional risk, as determined by a physician or by local agency staff.

5. Is this program available in every State?

No. CSFP is authorized to operate only in the following States:
 

For the address and telephone number of the State Distributing Agency that administers the program in any of the States listed above, click on the applicable State above.

6. What foods are provided to participants?

Food packages include a variety of foods, such as infant formula and cereal, nonfat dry and ultra high temperature fluid milk, juice, farina, oats, ready-to-eat cereal, rice, pasta, peanut butter, dry beans, canned meat or poultry or fish, and canned fruits and vegetables.

For a list of foods available for CSFP for FY 2011, visit the CSFP website at:
www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/foods/csfpfoods.pdf.
 

7. Who should I contact for more information about CSFP?

For more information about this program, we suggest that you contact your CSFP State Distributing Agency. A list of State Contacts may be found on the Food Distribution website at: www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/contacts/sdacontacts.htm.