Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)

1. How it Works

CSFP gives healthy food to low-income seniors. People in the program get a monthly package of fruit, vegetables, meat or fish, pasta or rice, and cereal. CSFP gives advice on cooking and nutrition. CSFP can also connect you to health care and social services.

Requires proof of identity, address, and income
You can get CSFP even if you are receiving SNAP
You, or someone representing you, will pick up the food once a month at one of the four distribution sites

Next section:

2. Determine Your Eligibility

2. Determine your eligibility

To be eligible, you should be able to answer yes to these questions:

Are you a senior 60 years old or older?
Is your income equal to or less than program income requirements?

Family size	Income in a year	Income in a month	Income in a week
1	$15,444	$1,287	$321.75
2	$20,832	$1,736	$434
3	$26,208	$2,184	$546
4	$31,596	$2,633	$658.25
5	$36,972	$3,081	$770.25
6	$42,360	$3,530	$882.50
7	$47,760	$3,980	$995
8	$53,160	$4,430	$1,107.50
for each additional person, add:	$5,412	$451	$112.75

Take a short survey to see if you might be eligible for this or 30 other programs.

Am I Eligible?

Next section:

3. What You Need to Include

3. What you need to include

It’s important to include the right documents when you apply. Your documents show whether the program is right for you.

This page can help you choose the right documents for your application.

For each person applying, any one document:

Driver license or official photo ID
Passport
Birth certificate
Work I.D. with photo
Social Security Card for dependents
Social Security Card or ITIN
SNAP card with photo
Medicaid card, or medical referral form if the address is completed by the provider
Green Card

For each income source of each income earner, any one document:

Wages & Salary

W2 form
Income tax return
Letter from employer on company letterhead signed and dated
Paycheck stubs (1 stub of earnings to date. If you are paid monthly, bring 1 pay stub. If you are paid a few times a month bring 2 stubs. If you are paid each week bring 4 stubs.)

Self-employment

Signed and dated income tax return and all schedules

Military Pay

Leave and Earnings Statement (LES)

Severance Pay

Self-declaration from the participant

Unemployment Insurance Benefits (UIB)

Award letter or certificate
Current benefit check

Social Security benefits (SSI Dependent Disability Survivor’s Retirement)

Current award letter or certificate

Next section:

4. How to Apply

4. How to apply

Here are your options.

Apply by phone

Call a food distribution site near you for application information.

The Bronx: 917-982-2564
Brooklyn: 718-498-9208
Queens: 718-523-2220
Long Island: 516-623-4568

Apply in person

Collect your documents and take them to a CSFP site near you. You can call ahead to verify the types of documents are recommended.

Find a site

Come back to it later.
We can send you a link to this page to help you get back to it when you’re ready.

Healthy food for seniors