Florida has become the first state to implement broad restrictions on how welfare cash benefits can be spent, barring recipients from using Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) funds loaded onto EBT cards for purchases such as tattoos, theme park tickets, video games, vaping products, and other nonessential items.

The TCA program is funded through the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and is separate from SNAP food assistance, although families may receive both benefits on the same EBT card with separate balances.

The Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families (ACF) approved Florida’s updated TANF plan as complete in a letter sent to Governor Ron DeSantis on Thursday, praising the state for imposing what it called "common-sense restrictions" on inappropriate, luxury, and nonessential purchases.

Governor DeSantis stated, "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. When people come to us for those basic needs, we will give them short-term assistance for those needs, but not for superfluous purchases. What this is saying is, if an individual or a family is going to come to the government to cover their basic needs, it is the government’s expectation that they be used for those basic needs."

The Trump administration supports Florida’s approach and encourages other states to follow suit. DeSantis noted that 27 states currently lack EBT location restrictions beyond federal requirements, and most do not impose item-level purchase limits on TANF funds.

While Florida is the first state to enact such measures, officials hope it will not be the last.

Sources