Florida plans to restrict how families can use Temporary Cash Assistance benefits, including prohibiting purchases of video games, theme park tickets, tattoos and several other products and services.
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Monday that the state will amend its Temporary Assistance for Needy Families plan. The governor’s office said Florida will be the first state to impose these restrictions.
Under the amended plan, Temporary Cash Assistance benefits may not be used to directly purchase:
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Tobacco, nicotine or vaping products
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Video games, entertainment tickets, theme park admission or entertainment subscriptions
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Tattoos, spa services, tanning or other luxury services
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Psychic or fortune-telling services
“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,” DeSantis said in a statement.
Temporary Cash Assistance is issued through an EBT card and is intended to help eligible families pay for basic needs such as food, clothing, housing, utilities, household goods and personal care. According to the governor’s office, participating households receive an average of approximately $250 per month.
These cash benefits are separate from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, commonly known as SNAP.
The state said the restrictions will be implemented in phases, beginning at SNAP-authorized retailers before expanding transaction-level controls to additional products and services. The announcement did not provide specific implementation dates.
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