The IL Link card allots a monthly food balance and also a separate cash balance. On the cash side, they can purchase anything they want. As a grocery store employee I watch recipients buy cigarettes, alcohol and wire money via Western Union every day and it makes me SICK!
What prompted me to look that up was...
At a gas station/convenience store, I watched a 300#, 5’0” bleach blonde, (complete with 4 sizes-too-small capri pants and cankle tattoos), spend 5 minutes getting her EBT card to read so she could purchase her 44oz soft drink and a King Size candy bar.
As the long line grew behind me, there were audible sighs as she then asked for 2 packs of smokes @ $5.50 each and paid for them with 6 ones and a pile of change that had to be counted out.