CLICK TO WATCH THE TEFAP COVID INFORMATIONAL VIDEO

TEFAP Requirements - COVID Edition

Compiled by Auzeen Rasaie, OFB Compliance

We know that you are working hard and navigating change. It is important to remember that all of our programs are self declaration. We are never going to ask you to require proof of need or eligibility - and it is never the wrong answer to give somebody food.

Summary- key information includes: 

1. Eligibility requirements are still in place as they were pre-pandemic 
2. Changes to income guidelines as of March 30 
3. Refresher on intake requirements and changes to signature verification
4. Refresher on allowing authorized individuals to pick up on behalf of other eligible individuals.

 Intake and Eligibility Requirements : 

NOTE: Client intake and eligibility declaration are still required as they were pre-pandemic. 

• To determine the household income level, the last month’s or the last year’s income can be used. This flexibility is intended to allow households which have experienced recent adverse situations, to participate in the program. 

• Additional note on intake: as of March 30, 2020 the income eligibility was raised to 300%, this is the same as school lunch program eligibility.      

• Verbal declaration will be used in place of a signature, at least through the pandemic. Further information on this new process can be found Here. 
• Form 4 sign-in sheet for food pantries can be found here. Please continue to use this form and ensure that you are using the latest version with updated 2020 income guidelines. 
• You CANNOT ask for or require income verification, photo identification, SSN, or any form of confirmation of a person's eligibility. 
• A full address is NOT required. Individuals can provide city or zipcode. (See Page 6 of TEFAP Manual for recipient declaration requirements). 
• Address verification is not required. If you are a program that has service boundaries:
   * You must serve individuals who come in that are outside of your service area the first time and offer them resources to find a pantry in their area (please refer people to Oregon Food Bank’s website or have them call Oregon Food Bank to speak to a client navigator 

Required Posters: 

NOTE: All posters can be found Here. For hard copies please reach out to the Network Compliance Team. 

 Authorized Representative Form: 

1. Authorized Representatives are people who have taken on the task of picking up food for other individuals who cannot be present at the time of distribution. 

• This can be a great option when a person has transportation constraints, time constraints, etc to have another person pick up food for them. 
• During a time that we are encouraging people to stay home and limit their outings, this is an option to minimize the number of people gathering to pick up food to have people picking up for a friend, family member, neighbor, in addition to themselves.                                         

2. Authorized Representative form can be found here, and also includes a information about preventing the spread of illness. 

• If a person would like to pick up food for someone else, but does not yet have the authorized representative form, you can fulfill their request and provide the form for their next visit.
•  They do not need to fill out a new one every time.         
• You do not need to collect the Authorized Representative form during current social distancing protocol.     
• A person can also provide a note in place of the template with the needed information if you do not have copies of the form available to give. The information needed is: 
• Name
• Number in household
• Address (or “H” for those who do not have an address)
• Declaration that they meet the eligibility guidelines