Florida Becomes First State to Restrict Welfare Spending on Non-Essential Items

Florida has moved ahead of all other states in restricting how recipients can spend welfare cash distributed through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. The restrictions, which the Trump administration is encouraging other states to adopt, prohibit purchases of tattoos, vaping products, theme park tickets, video games, pornography and fortune-telling services, among other items deemed non-essential by state officials.

The federal Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families approved Florida’s updated plan Thursday in a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis. The policy distinguishes itself by imposing restrictions on specific items at otherwise eligible retailers, rather than simply banning certain merchant categories as Florida had done previously with alcohol and adult entertainment establishments.

DeSantis framed the initiative as promoting accountability in public assistance programs. “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,” the governor said in announcing the policy.

The cash-assistance program operates separately from SNAP food benefits, though eligible families may receive both types of support through the same EBT card. Florida’s average participating household receives approximately $250 monthly, with no reduction in benefit amounts under the new restrictions.

The state’s Healthy SNAP initiative, launched in April, already barred food-benefit purchases of soda, energy drinks, candy and ultra-processed desserts. The new cash-assistance restrictions apply similar food limitations while extending oversight to non-food items deemed superfluous.

ACF Assistant Secretary Alex J. Adams emphasized that temporary assistance programs should support basic needs rather than discretionary spending. The administration estimates that 27 states currently lack location-based EBT restrictions beyond federal requirements and most states do not impose item-level purchase limits on cash assistance programs.

Implementation will proceed as Florida coordinates with its EBT vendor and participating retailers to block prohibited purchases. Recipients will eventually be limited to withdrawing cash only at SNAP-authorized retailers and financial institutions accepting EBT cards.

The Trump administration has signaled its intention to promote Florida’s approach as a model for other states, with Adams noting that additional states may adopt similar restrictions in coming months.