Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) has a lifetime limit of five years of benefits under federal law. States are allowed to use their own funds to extend the time limit beyond five years.
SNAP has a limit for able bodied adults without dependents-3 months of EBT benefits in a three year period. But states can get waivers intended for high unemployment areas and many use loopholes to repeatedly extend them.
Just like TANF, SNAP was also intended to be a temporary safety net. After last fall’s government shutdown ended, I saw many video of people dancing showing full fridges and grocery bags when their EBT benefits were restored.
Some states are banning people from buying soda and junk food with their SNAP benefits but this has created a loophole. People are crossing state lines to buy soda and junk food with their SNAP benefits. I found a video of a man bragging about driving from Indiana to Tennessee to buy soda with his benefits. A judge blocked 5 states including Tennessee from implementing this ban. Congress should implement a nationwide ban on junk food or prohibit SNAP benefits from being used out of state.