SMART: Florida moves to become first state to restrict cash assistance on non-essentials.

Under the state’s proposed policy change, Florida Department of Children and Families, or DCF, benefits distributed through Electronic Benefit Transfer, or EBT cards, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF grants will no longer be eligible for purchases involving tobacco and vaping products, alcohol, adult material, video games, theme park tickets, tattoos, tanning beds, or fortune-telling services.

“Florida will be the first state in the nation to restrict temporary cash assistance benefits from being used for inappropriate and non-essential purchases,” DeSantis said during a press conference in Tampa. “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 and help the dependents.”

How will the children survive without tattoos?