All the most current resources you need to successfully operate the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program are available here. TDA keeps this page updated with any new policy updates and news, including the following:
- Handbook release notices with update summaries
- Form release notices
- Brand new policy updates that haven’t yet been updated within the handbooks
- FAQs and other resources, as required
Please bookmark this page and check back periodically.
February 9, 2024 - New Income Eligibility Guidelines posted
The new 2024 Income Eligibility Guidelines for the Elderly (Form H1666) for CSFP has been posted and released. The form and instructions can be accessed on SquareMeals at: http://www.squaremeals.org/Programs/CommoditySupplementalFoodProgram/CSFPAdministrationForms.aspx in the CSFP Forms table.
Please replace any previous versions of the form that you may have saved.
The IEGs are also posted to the Income Eligibility Guidelines page on SquareMeals: https://squaremeals.org/FandN-Resources/Income-Eligibility-Guidelines
CSFP Handbook Update
December 19, 2023 - A section of the CSFP Handbook was revised for clarity and to reflect the most recent policy guidance. Significant revisions to content and guidance are noted under the section name below and included in the published Revision Notice.
Section 3, Managing the Program
- Removed an outdated reference to the Written Notice of Beneficiary Rights form as a requirement in CE written application procedures; and
- Clarified that CEs may request additional data during the application process but may not allow this to be a barrier to participation.
October 23, 2023 - Updated Policy for Religious Organizations and Related Archival of Forms
The following forms have been removed from SquareMeals and archived:
- The Emergency Food Assistance Program and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program Beneficiary Referral Request
- The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and/or The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) Written Notice of Beneficiary Rights
Per changes to 7 CFR 16, sites operated by religious organizations are no longer required to post a written notice of beneficiary rights and are not required to provide referrals to alternate sites for participants who object to the religious nature of the site. NOTE: 7 CFR 16 still prohibits discrimination based on religious belief, engaging in explicitly religious activity, and requires that religious activities remain separate in time and place and any participation must be voluntary.
See below for more information on corresponding updates to forms and handbooks related to this policy update.
October 23, 2023 - RELEASE: Revised CSFP Forms H1504 Participant Application (with instructions) and H1516 Participant Rights and Responsibilities
Two CSFP-related forms have been revised to:
- Update links within the Non-discrimination Statement; and
- Remove requirements for sites operated by religious organizations to display a Written Notice of Beneficiary Rights and to provide referrals to alternate sites for participants who object to the religious character of the site. These changes reflect the removal of these requirements from 7 CFR 16.
Updated forms include the following:
- H1504 – CSFP Participant Application (and Instructions)
- H1516 – CSFP Participant Rights and Responsibilities
All forms can be found in the Forms table at: https://squaremeals.org/Programs/TheEmergencyFoodAssistanceProgram/TEFAPAdministrationForms.aspx
CSFP Handbook Update
October 6, 2023 - Sections of the CSFP Handbook were revised for clarity and to reflect the most recent policy guidance. Significant revisions to content and guidance are noted under the section names below and included in the published Revision Notice.
Section 3, Managing the Program
- Removed requirements for sites operated by religious organizations to display a Written Notice of Beneficiary Rights and to provide a referral to an alternate site to participants who object to the religious character of the site. These changes reflect the removal of these requirements from 7 CFR 16.
Section 6, Civil Rights
- Updated the Complaints section to better explain how Contracting Entities should process Civil Rights complaints, along with notification requirements to USDA and TDA.