Feds Approve Nebraska's TANF Purchase Restrictions: Benefits Barred for Tobacco, Tattoos, Psychics, Video Games and Other Non-Essentials
Lincoln, Nebraska — The federal government on Tuesday, October 20, approved Nebraska's request to bar the use of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds for tobacco, tattoos, psychic readings, video games and other purchases deemed inappropriate and non-essential. The approval came just four days after Governor Jim Pillen filed to change Nebraska's participation in the federal programme.
Alex Adams, assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families, wrote in a Tuesday letter to Pillen that the agency looks forward to partnering with governors and state agencies to develop and implement common-sense EBT (electronic benefit transfer) purchase prohibitions that strengthen program integrity, protect taxpayer dollars from waste, fraud and abuse, and help ensure that TANF assistance is used for lawful, appropriate and effective purposes. Adams said Nebraska is the second state to take the step and that it will inspire others.
TANF helps low-income families with children pay for necessities such as rent, childcare and utilities while they take part in workforce programmes, with benefits delivered by prepaid debit card or direct deposit. A Nebraska DHHS spokesperson said that as of January 2026, 2,856 Nebraska households were on TANF, with an average benefit of $470 a month and an average household size of 2.7 people.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 内布拉斯加州议会大厦（Lincoln）。图：w_lemay，Wikimedia Commons，CC BY-SA 2.0。 / The Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln. Photo by w_lemay, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
