Florida is preparing new restrictions on how families can spend Temporary Cash Assistance benefits, with video games, theme park tickets, tattoos and several other purchases set to be blocked.
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the changes on August 24, saying Florida will amend its Temporary Assistance for Needy Families state plan to restrict purchases considered luxury, inappropriate or nonessential.
The policy applies to Temporary Cash Assistance, or TCA, which is distributed through EBT cards to eligible low-income families. It does not apply to regular SNAP food benefits.
The Florida governor’s office said the state will be the first in the country to impose this particular set of restrictions through its TANF plan.
What Florida Plans to Ban?
Under the new rules, TCA benefits will no longer be allowed for direct purchases of:
- Tobacco, nicotine and vaping products
- Drugs and intoxicants
- Pornography
- Video games
- Entertainment tickets
- Theme park admission
- Entertainment subscriptions
- Tattoos
- Spa services
- Tanning
- Other luxury services
- Psychic and fortune-telling services
WFTV reported that the restrictions will be introduced in phases rather than appearing all at once.
The first stage will focus on retailers already authorized to accept SNAP, followed by transaction-level controls covering additional goods and services.
Florida has not announced a specific date when every restriction will become active.
The Benefits Average About $250 Per Household Each Month
Temporary Cash Assistance is designed to help families with children pay ongoing basic expenses.
According to the Florida Department of Children and Families, the program serves qualifying families with children under 18, or under 19 when the child remains a full-time high school student.
Pregnant women can also qualify in certain circumstances.
The governor’s office said participating households receive about $250 per month on average.
Florida says the money is intended for expenses such as food, clothing, housing, utilities, household goods and personal care.
Cash benefits are loaded onto an EBT card. Unlike SNAP, which limits purchases to eligible food products, TCA functions more like cash assistance and historically has offered recipients more flexibility in how the money is spent.
This Is Not a Ban on SNAP Purchases
The distinction between TCA and SNAP is important.
SNAP benefits are federal food assistance and already come with detailed restrictions on what recipients can buy.
Temporary Cash Assistance comes through the TANF program and can be used for a wider range of household needs.
Florida law already prohibits EBT use at locations including casinos, gambling facilities, adult entertainment establishments and certain gaming venues.
The new policy expands restrictions to individual products and services rather than focusing only on where the card is used.
Who Qualifies for Temporary Cash Assistance in Florida?
Florida sets several requirements for TCA eligibility.
Families generally must have children in the household, meet income and asset limits and live in Florida.
Gross family income must generally be below 185% of the federal poverty level, while countable assets are limited to $2,000 for many households.
Adults can receive cash assistance for a maximum of 48 months over their lifetime in most cases.
Some recipients are also required to participate in employment or training activities.
The program includes a Relative Caregiver Program for relatives caring for children placed in their homes through the child welfare system.
Florida says more than 4,000 children are currently supported through that program.
DeSantis Says the Goal Is to Keep Assistance Focused on Basic Needs
DeSantis framed the change as a way to control how taxpayer-funded assistance is spent.
He said public assistance should help families pay for essentials, support children and address barriers to becoming financially independent.
Florida Department of Children and Families Interim Secretary Kate Williams said the state wants to preserve flexibility for families while adding tighter controls on spending.
The policy also fits a broader pattern of Florida placing additional conditions around public assistance programs.
For example, state law requires many adult SNAP recipients without minor children in the home to participate in employment and training programs unless they qualify for an exemption.
The New Rules Could Be Technically Difficult to Enforce
Blocking entire businesses is relatively straightforward. Blocking selected products inside a business is more complicated.
An EBT system can identify the merchant handling a transaction, but separating a video game from groceries or household supplies at the same retailer requires more detailed transaction information.
Florida said that is why implementation will happen in phases.
The state plans to start with restrictions that can be applied through existing retailer controls and later expand to product-level transactions.
The governor’s announcement did not explain exactly how mixed purchases will work or what will happen when a restricted and permitted item appear in the same transaction.
Florida still has to implement the amended TANF plan and create the transaction controls needed to enforce the new restrictions.
The state has not released a final schedule.
For now, recipients do not need to replace their EBT cards, and the broader eligibility rules for Temporary Cash Assistance remain in place.
The main change is where the cash benefit can be spent.
Once fully implemented, Florida families receiving TCA will still be able to use the money for everyday needs, but purchases including video games, theme park admission, tattoos, spa treatments and entertainment subscriptions will be blocked.
References
- Executive Office of the Governor of Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis Announces First-in-the-Nation Restrictions on Temporary Cash Assistance Purchases
- WFTV, Florida to Ban Video Games and Theme Park Ticket Purchases With Welfare Assistance
- Florida Department of Children and Families, Temporary Cash Assistance
