Florida has become the first U.S. state to implement sweeping restrictions on cash-assistance welfare benefits, banning recipients from using electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards for purchases such as tattoos, theme park tickets, video games, and vaping products, according to an announcement from Gov. Ron DeSantis’s office.
Florida Implements Strict TANF Spending Limits on EBT Cards
The state’s cash-assistance program, known as Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA), draws funding from the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. While it remains separate from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food-assistance initiative, families often receive both benefit types through separate balances on a single EBT card. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families (ACF) determined Florida’s updated TANF plan to be complete, praising the state for enacting common-sense restrictions on luxury and non-essential items.
State officials emphasize that taxpayer-funded assistance should focus strictly on fundamental needs. “Taxpayer-funded assistance should help families put food on the table, keep the lights on, purchase clothing, provide for their children and overcome barriers on the path toward independence,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a public statement. Existing rules already barred EBT cards at alcohol vendors, adult-entertainment establishments, casinos, and commercial bingo halls. The updated framework introduces item-level restrictions at otherwise eligible retail stores, prohibiting purchases that include body piercings, theme park admissions, video games, nicotine vapes, pornography, and psychic or fortune-telling services.
Federal Backing and Impact on Recipients
The policy mirrors Florida’s independent “Healthy SNAP” initiative launched in April, which restricted food benefits from purchasing soda, energy drinks, candy, and ultra-processed prepared desserts. Federal officials are backing the move, signaling a push for nationwide adoption. Adams stated to Fox News Digital that the administration views TANF as short-term assistance rather than unrestricted cash. Adams noted that 27 states currently lack restrictions on EBT usage beyond federal baselines, making Florida a model for future nationwide policy shifts.
State data indicates that the average participating household receives roughly $250 a month through the program. Officials stress that the updated purchasing limits do not reduce individual benefit amounts. “No one loses any of their benefit,” Adams said. “What this is saying is, if an individual or a family is going to the Government for help to cover those basic needs, the Government expects those resources to be used precisely for those needs.” Florida is currently coordinating with its EBT provider and participating retailers to roll out the purchasing blocks gradually.
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