Florida is the first state in the nation to ban the use of public assistance money for items such as tattoos, pornography, vapes, tanning and more.
Republican Governor Ron DeSantis announced this week the state is amending its Temporary Cash Assistance, or TCA, benefits to prohibit their use for “inappropriate, luxury and non-essential items.”
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“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. “We will continue supporting Floridians who genuinely need assistance, while working to improve accountability and transparency so that these programs operate as intended.”
The ban includes:
Tobacco, nicotine and vaping products;
Video games, entertainment tickets, theme park admission and entertainment subscriptions;
Tattoos, spa services, tanning and other luxury services; and
Psychic and fortune-telling services.
Florida’s cash-assistance program is funded through the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. It is separate from SNAP, the food assistance program, though many recipients receive both types of benefits on the same EBT card, according to Fox News. Florida already prohibits EBT cards from being used to purchase alcohol and at gambling or adult entertainment establishments.
The average TCA household receives about $250 a month.
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