Politics
Florida becomes first state to restrict welfare cash purchases for non-essential items
Federal health officials approved Florida's plan to prevent EBT cash assistance from being spent on items such as vapes, tattoos, and theme park tickets.
The short version
- Florida has implemented item-level restrictions on cash benefits provided through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.
- Prohibited purchases include non-essential items and services such as tattoos, vapes, video games, theme park admissions, and certain sugary foods.
- The Department of Health and Human Services approved Florida's updated plan, with Trump administration officials encouraging other states to follow suit.
- The policy will not reduce monthly benefit payouts, which average around $250 per household, and will be phased in through EBT vendors and retailers.
Key facts
- Florida received approval from the federal Administration for Children and Families for its updated Temporary Assistance for Needy Families plan.[Fox News]
- The restrictions target item-level purchases including tattoos, body piercings, theme park tickets, video games, vapes, nicotine products, pornography, psychic services, and energy drinks.[Fox News]
- Florida's average participating household receives approximately $250 per month, and officials confirmed benefit dollar amounts will remain unchanged.[Fox News]
- Under the new plan, recipients will be limited to making cash withdrawals at SNAP-authorized retailers and financial institutions that accept EBT cards.[Fox News]
What remains uncertain
- A detailed timeline for when retailers and EBT vendors will fully complete the technical integration to block prohibited items has not been specified.[Fox News]