Florida Receives Federal OK to Block Welfare Cash for Tattoos, Vapes and Other Nonessential Items
ACF's letter lets the state phase in EBT-based item blocks on Temporary Cash Assistance through vendor and retailer controls, positioning the change as a possible model for other states.
Overview
- The Administration for Children and Families, which sent a letter Thursday, August 27, 2026, determined Florida’s amended TANF state plan to be complete and cleared the way for item-level limits on Temporary Cash Assistance.
- The amended plan specifically bars TCA funds from buying items the state calls inappropriate or nonessential, including tattoos and body piercings, vaping and other nicotine products, video games, theme‑park admission, pornography, and psychic or fortune‑telling services.
- Officials say the restrictions will be rolled out in phases as Florida works with its EBT vendor and participating retailers to block prohibited purchases and that benefit amounts will not be reduced for recipients.
- The action builds on Florida’s April limits on certain SNAP food purchases and exists inside an unsettled legal and policy landscape over who can restrict benefit spending, leaving potential operational and court challenges unresolved.
- Florida reports average TCA household payments of about $250 per month and both the governor’s office and ACF are promoting the policy as a template that could change how cash welfare is administered in other states.