TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A new proposal, led by the DeSantis administration, could amend the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and restrict certain purchases under the use of Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) benefits.
“Florida will be the first state in the nation to restrict Temporary Cash Assistance benefits from being used for inappropriate and non-essential purchases,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a press conference at Feeding Tampa Bay Monday.
The governor said this will help save taxpayer dollars, reduce fraud and ensure those who are truly in need of assistance, receive the help they need.
“I do think that if somebody really is needy, we just want to make sure that money is going to the things that are going to help that individual.” Gov. DeSantis said.
Under the amended TANF state plan, the following would be prohibited from purchasing with TCA benefits:
Tobacco, nicotine and vaping products;
Drugs and intoxicants;
Pornography;
Video games, entertainment tickets, theme park admission and entertainment subscriptions;
Tattoos, spa services, tanning and other luxury services; and
Psychic and fortune-telling services.
Officials acknowledged Florida already prohibits many of the items and services previously stated but said, “The first-in-the-nation policy expands those controls to additional items and services at eligible retailers,” in a press release Monday evening.
The administration said this will align with a similar policy implemented in April, called ‘Healthy SNAP’ regarding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP.
Under the ‘Healthy SNAP,’ initiative, SNAP benefits cannot be used for the purchases of soda, candy, energy drinks, and ultra processed, prepared desserts.
“Retailers updated their point-of-sale and online purchasing systems so that restricted products could be easily identified and automatically blocked during SNAP transactions,” Interim Secretary for the Florida Department of Children and Families Kate Williams explained. “That experience, and the partnerships developed through it, will help to inform implementation of the temporary cash assistance changes.”
The matter has not yet been finalized as Williams said the state’s plan is currently being amended.
“We’re working on amending the state plan right now, and then we’ll work closely with our federal partners on identifying timelines and some of those implementation details,” Williams said. “So, more to come, but we’ll make sure that that’s closely communicated with retailers and recipients as well.”
Officials said new restrictions will be implemented in phases beginning with SNAP authorized retailers.