| DATE: | March 7, 2025 | |
| SUBJECT: | Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP): Income Guidelines for 2025 | |
| TO: | Regional Directors Supplemental Nutrition Programs All Regions | Directors CSFP State Agencies and Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs) |
This memorandum transmits the 2025 Income Guidelines (IGs) for state agencies and ITOs in determining the eligibility of individuals applying to participate in CSFP. These guidelines should be used in conjunction with CSFP regulations at 7 CFR Part 247, which establish household income limits.
Per 7 CFR Part 247.9(b), state agencies must use a household income limit at or below 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines (Poverty Guidelines) published annually by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The 2025 IGs in the attached tables contain the maximum income limits by household size to be used for eligibility determinations in CSFP. State agencies and ITOs may choose to maintain income limits at 130 percent of the Poverty Guidelines, and as such, the 130 percent annual income amounts are also included in this memorandum.
To establish annual income limits of 150 percent, the Poverty Guidelines are multiplied by 1.50, and the results are rounded up to the next whole dollar. To establish annual income limits of 130 percent, the Poverty Guidelines are multiplied by 1.30, and the results are rounded up to the next whole dollar. From these results, weekly and monthly income limits are calculated. The first table contains the income limits for households residing in the 48 contiguous states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Separate income limits for Alaska and Hawaii are established and published annually by HHS, which are reflected in the second and third tables.
Pursuant to program regulations, CSFP state agencies and ITOs must implement the 2025 IGs immediately upon receipt of this memorandum. The guidelines remain in effect until notification of the CSFP IGs for 2026.
CSFP regulations at 7 CFR Part 247.9(d)(1) define “income” as gross income before deductions for such items as income taxes, employees’ social security taxes, insurance premiums, and bonds. Income exclusions are listed in Parts 247.9(d)(2) and (d)(3) and via policy memoranda available online at the Food and Nutrition Service’s (FNS) website. State agencies and ITOs may also authorize local agencies to consider the household’s average income during the previous 12 months and current household income to determine which more accurately reflects the household’s status, in accordance with 7 CFR Part 247.9(d)(4).
Per 7 CFR 247.9(b) and FD-159: Federal and State Programs Conferring CSFP Income Eligibility, state agencies may accept as income-eligible for CSFP benefits any applicant who documents that they are certified as fully eligible for any of the following federal programs: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), The Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), The Low-Income Subsidy Program (LIS), or the Medicare Savings Programs (MSP). Stage agencies may also accept, as evidence of income within the state agency’s CSFP guidelines, documentation of the applicant’s participation in state-administered programs not specified in the regulations that routinely require documentation of income, provided that the programs have income eligibility guidelines at or below the state agency’s CSFP threshold.
State agencies and ITOs should direct any questions they may have regarding the 2025 IGs to their respective FNS regional offices.
Sara Olson
Director
Policy Division
Supplemental Nutrition and Safety Programs