Governor Ron DeSantis announced August 24 that Florida will become the first state in the nation to restrict how recipients can spend Temporary Cash Assistance benefits, prohibiting purchases of video games, tattoos, entertainment tickets, and other non-essential items.
The new restrictions, announced in Tampa, amend Florida’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) State Plan to block TCA benefits from being used directly on tobacco, nicotine, vaping products, drugs, pornography, video games, entertainment tickets, theme park admission, tattoos, spa services, tanning, and 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. The restrictions will be implemented in phases, beginning with SNAP-authorized retailers before expanding to additional products and services.
Temporary Cash Assistance is distributed through an EBT card to eligible families to cover basic needs including food, clothing, housing, utilities, household goods, and personal care. The average household receiving TCA receives approximately $250 per month, according to the governor’s office.
The policy builds on restrictions Florida already had in place. Since 2026, the state has prohibited EBT use at adult entertainment establishments, casinos, gaming facilities, and pari-mutuel wagering locations, with point-of-sale blocks preventing those transactions. The new restrictions expand this framework to additional categories of spending.
The announcement also aligns with broader welfare policy conversations about how government assistance is used. In April 2026, Florida launched its Healthy SNAP initiative, which restricted SNAP food benefits from purchasing soda, energy drinks, candy, and ultra-processed prepared desserts. The TCA restrictions follow a similar logic of directing benefits toward essential needs.
DCF Interim Secretary Kate Williams stated that the changes “preserve that flexibility while strengthening the integrity of the program,” describing the restrictions as “commonsense” measures. The policy does not change the amount of assistance provided, only what recipients can purchase with those funds.
Florida currently serves more than 4,000 children through its Relative Caregiver Program, which uses TANF funds to support relatives caring for children in the state. The restrictions apply to direct purchases but do not affect the core amount of cash assistance distributed.
Sources
- Executive Office of the Governor — Official press release announcing the first-in-the-nation restrictions on TCA purchases, the list of prohibited items, average monthly benefit amount ($250), and implementation timeline
- WFTV — Detailed breakdown of the restricted items and confirmation that Florida is the first state to impose these restrictions
- WTSP — Reporting on what can and cannot be purchased with TCA benefits under the new restrictions
- North Escambia — Coverage of the announcement and the list of prohibited purchases
