Financial Help for Domestic Violence Survivors

Domestic violence, as experts are learning and victims have known for a long time, goes way beyond simply “violence.” It also goes way beyond the statistics that estimate about 10 million people in the U.S. a year are victims of domestic violence.

Domestic violence generally refers to physical assault, sexual assault, willful intimidation, and other abusive behavior. However, it almost always includes financial control and can mean devastating financial consequences for the victim.

Some 94-99% of female domestic abuse victims are victims of financial abuse, sometimes called economic control. Control of finances stems from coercive control practiced by many abusers — a systematic pattern of power to keep a partner in line.

The destructive effects of financial control and abuse are far-reaching. Some 60% of women don’t report abuse. While much of it has to do with fear of being physically harmed, many stay quiet because they have no control over finances and no means of support without their abuser. Once a woman leaves a relationship, her financial struggles often continue since her ability to build a financial foundation, including credit history, was likely hindered during the abusive relationship.

“Financial struggles don’t create or cause domestic violence — it crosses all socioeconomic lines,’’ said Kim Pentico, director of the Economic Justice Program for the National Network To End Domestic Violence. “But financial struggles create significant barriers to getting or staying safe. There’s some form of financial or economic abuse faced by up to 99% of the survivors. Economic factors exist within the violence.”

Leaving an abusive partner may seem like a simple move, but many survivors lack the means to rent a hotel room or apartment on short notice.

“In a real sense,” Pentico said, “many women are being battered because they can’t afford to not be battered. They see it as a choice between being battered and homelessness.’’

Financial abuse and its effects should not be downplayed, either by the victim or those who support her.

“(The victim) may experience all other manifestations of domestic violence, but an absence of physical harm may lead her to rationalize and accept unacceptable and abusive behavior,’’ wrote Dara Richardson-Heron, former chief executive officer of the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA). “The media, communities, and even loved ones often exacerbate this problem by dismissing this type of domestic violence by saying, ‘At least he didn’t hit you.’

“In addition to asking why she ‘doesn’t just leave,’ this rhetoric is high on the list of damaging things to say to someone experiencing domestic violence.’’

If you wonder whether you’re a victim of domestic, and particularly financial abuse, ask yourself if your partner:

• Keeps or discourages you from seeing friends or family members?
• Embarrasses or shames you with put-downs?
• Controls who you see, where you go and/or what you do?
• Prevents you from making your own decisions?
• Prevents you from working or attending school?
• Harasses you at your workplace?
• Controls your access to money?

If you are considering leaving an abusive relationship — or you have already left — one of your biggest concerns is likely the financial outcome. It may seem overwhelming, particularly if you haven’t had access to the household’s money. Still, there are many places that understand your situation and are prepared to offer financial help for domestic abuse survivors.

Government agencies, churches, and nonprofit agencies can provide safety, security, and perhaps a financial escape or information on pursuing one. Many resources consider the issues surrounding leaving and take a multi-pronged approach that includes financial matters.

What Is the Impact of Domestic Abuse on Finances?

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one of the telltale characteristics of an abuser is the desire to control all the finances.

Specifically, some of the forms this control can take are:

• Demanding the victim quit a job.
• Applying for credit cards, getting loans or opening accounts in the victim’s name without their knowledge or consent. This sets up a debt trap for the victim, who ends up owing money he/she may not be able to pay.
• Forcing the victim to sign financial documents.
• Refinancing a home mortgage or car loan without a victim’s knowledge.
• Deciding when or how the victim can access or use cash, bank accounts or credit cards.
• Forcing a victim to give the abuser money, ATM cards or credit cards.
• Using a victim’s checkbook, ATM card or credit cards without the victim’s knowledge.

Victims often stay in a violent or otherwise abusive relationship because they don’t have the means to support themselves or their children financially, both short-term and long-term. This not only includes access to money but the ability to stay afloat financially, including finding a job, paying for a place to live, getting a car or accessing other transportation, and more.

How Domestic Violence Victims Can Respond to Financial Abuse

Prioritize you and your children’s safety. Call 911 If you believe yourself to be in imminent danger. Here are some other resources that offer support or legal aid for domestic abuse survivors.

• The National Domestic Violence hotline: 1-800-799-7233
• Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE
• National Resource Center on Domestic Violence legal help. 1-800-537-2238

A trained domestic violence advocate can offer guidance on safely, creating distance between yourself and the abuser. There are also many steps, both big and small, a victim of financial abuse can take:

• Avoid using credit and debit cards – the abuser can use that information to track you.
• Keep personal and financial records in a safe location.
• Leave copies of records with a friend or relative, and use a bank safety deposit box (one that is not accessible by the abuser).
• Keep an emergency evacuation box with copies of your family’s vital records and documents.
• Have copies of car and house keys, extra money and emergency phone numbers in a safe place.

Preparing to Leave

The decision to leave an abuser is not one to be made lightly.

“All the ‘helpers’ — the friends and family — they so want her to leave and get away from him,’’ Pentico said. “It’s so important to understand that when survivors of domestic violence make an act of independence, their lethality rate increases by seven times. Her risk of dying increases.”

Most domestic homicides occur following an act of independence by the victim. This could mean getting a protective order, leaving the abuser, or getting a job. “The power and control in the relationship have been challenged,” Pentico said. “He’s going to do whatever it takes to get that back. She must be cautious because you can’t always equate leaving with safety. It can actually be more dangerous. It’s counterintuitive.’’

Calculate what it would cost to live on your own, and start setting aside money in a safe place, even if it is just a few dollars.

Be digitally safe while you prepare to leave — erase your search history or use the private browser function. Change your passwords and keep the new passwords private and secure. Open an email address that only you can access and move key contacts to that account.

It’s important to build a credit history to access housing, goods, transportation, affordable insurance options, and more. A financial abuse survivor’s access to credit is one of the essential stepping stones to gaining independence.

Emergency Preparation

Planning can help ease the struggle of leaving an abusive partner. Establishing a concrete course of action gives you a path to pursue if you find yourself in a life-threatening situation. Here are some things you can prepare to make leaving an abusive relationship easier.

• Escape Bag – An escape bag should contain essential items like clothes, money, some non-perishable snacks, and water. This will make it easier to get away from a dangerous situation without worrying about leaving something behind.
• Important Paperwork – Make copies of important documents and leave them with someone you can trust, like a close friend or family member. This includes birth certificates, medical records, IDs, Visas, or anything related to identification, healthcare, work, or travel. The original documents should be kept in a secure location, away from both the copies and the abuser.
• Pets and Children – Sometimes, an abuser may endanger not just your life but the life of your loved ones, as well. Always bring children when fleeing an abusive relationship. As for pets, find a temporary home or shelter where they’ll be safe while you work on establishing a new residence and securing your finances.
• Police – Call the police and let them know about your plans to leave. They can offer emergency planning assistance to aid in your transition.
• Code Word – Use a code word to alert family and friends of your need for help without tipping off the abuser. Make sure your loved ones know to alert the authorities when they hear the word.
• Destination – Contact your local National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) branch and ask about any domestic abuse shelters in your area. Also look into temp housing programs offered by local agencies. Ask loved ones if they can provide a safe place to stay, even if for a short while.

Financial Preparation

Establishing a concrete picture of where you stand financially is crucial to begin a new life outside of the influence of an abuser.

Good credit is essential to help rent an apartment, get a credit card, get a car if you don’t have one, and get better rates on insurance. Start this process as soon as you start preparing to leave.

If you don’t handle the family’s money, you must get a sense of what you and your spouse own and owe, especially learning in whose name those assets and debts reside.

You might have to take a stealth approach to avoid flagging your intentions to your spouse. Write down information in a safe place. Visit the bank in person and inquire about accounts. While looking online for information, use a private browser window, so your searches aren’t saved in the cache.

Alert Creditors

If you plan a change of address, let your creditors know so that you’ll continue to get the bills you pay yourself or the ones that are in your name.

Establish a New Credit Record

Establish a new credit record under your name, especially if credit has been held jointly with your partner. If possible, you might consider turning joint credit cards, gas cards, and retail accounts into individual accounts, although this may be difficult if your partner is controlling the finances. If you can do it, it will mean not having to re-establish your credit should you file for divorce.

Get a Copy of Your Credit Report

Request a free copy of your credit report from one of the three major credit bureaus, Equifax, TransUnion, or Experian. The easiest way is to call FREE Annual Credit Report at 1-877-322-8228 or go online to www.annualcreditreport.com. You can order a free report from all three credit bureaus at once, though it is better to space them out a few months. The three credit bureaus usually get the same information, so getting one every four months will help keep you abreast of what’s going on.

Check for Unfamiliar Accounts

Check the reports and make sure your partner didn’t open any lines of credit in your name. If there’s any evidence of error or fraud, dispute the information with the credit bureaus. Monitor your credit report often to see if it has been adversely affected by your partner’s actions. It will show any shared debt that is being neglected and can point you in the right direction when canceling joint accounts. Most financial institutions provide credit monitoring services at low costs, such as Privacy Guard.

Make Copies of Important Documents

Make copies of important financial or personal documents, such as bank statements, birth certificates, marriage certificates and ownership documents for shared assets. It’s also helpful to have all original documents that list your social security number and passwords.

Make Necessary Changes

If your partner knows your information, you might consider changing your social security number. Create new personal identification numbers (PINs) and passwords on all accounts, including email and benefit plans. Avoid using personal details that are easy to guess. Making these changes will prevent your partner from running up bills in your name or draining the accounts.

Establish Solo Accounts

Immediately set up a personal checking and savings account for yourself. Make sure the account is listed only in your name. Have statements delivered to a secure mailing address or email address so that the abuser won’t have access.

Protect Yourself from Debt

Pay off any balances on joint credit cards, so it will be easier to close the account and prevent an abuser from racking up debt. If you can’t pay it off, ask the credit issuer to remove your name from the account because you may be liable for joint credit card debts with a spouse. That will protect you from having to pay anything charged after leaving the abuser. If you have significant debt, seek help from a nonprofit debt consolidation company.

Where to Get Financial Assistance for Single Parents

Many resources are available for single parents that can help find housing, food, and child care. Take a look at our Financial Help for Single Parents resource page to learn how to survive as a single parent with one income. This page includes federal, state, local, and nonprofit programs, web resources, and information about setting up a one-income budget.

Housing Assistance

• DomesticShelters.org – Nationwide database of verified domestic violence shelters. This free website that lets you filter results by location, service, and language. Use it to search for local 24-hour hotlines, housing services, support groups, legal and financial services, and more.
• New Hope For Women – Domestic abuse resource center serving residents of Maine. They provide a transitional housing program that shelters victims for two years. This program is reserved for those with low incomes, individuals who are homeless, or at the risk of becoming homeless as a result of domestic violence.
• HELP USA – An organization that offers services and resources dedicated to combating homelessness and aiding victims of domestic abuse. It began as a local Brooklyn shelter for families experiencing homelessness. Today, their services include low-income housing, emergency shelters, job training, and trauma counseling.
• Women Against Abuse – Operates shelters or ‘safe havens’ for victims of domestic abuse in the Philadelphia area. The safe havens consist of two, one-hundred bed buildings that are available 24-hours a day.
• 211 – This is the FTC designated hotline for referral services. Whereas 911 is what you call when in need of immediate emergency services, you call 211 when you’re looking for basic needs like housing, food, healthcare, and transportation.

Food Assistance

Many domestic violence survivors can get help from the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), otherwise known as food stamps. Learn how to apply for SNAP.

Another food assistance program is Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).  a federal program aimed at making families self-sufficient. Learn more about TANF.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, more commonly known as WIC, is run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is available through the state government. It provides supplemental food, health care referrals and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and infants and children up to age five who are at nutritional risk. Learn more about WIC.

Financial Education

The NCADV, in collaboration with the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE), has developed a financial education webinar series, free and available to the public. It can be found on the NCADV website.

NEFE is a foundation dedicated to helping all Americans acquire the information and necessary skills to control their finances. NEFE partners with other organizations, like NCADV, to provide financial education, particularly to underserved individuals whose financial education issues are not being addressed.

The two organizations have also partnered on “Hope and Power for Your Personal Finances: A Rebuilding Guide Following Domestic Violence,’’ a manual that promotes self-sufficiency. It’s available in English and Spanish and can be downloaded from the NCADV website.

The NCADV also partners with the Allstate Foundation Purple Purse as part of the longest-running national campaign focused on ending domestic violence through financial empowerment services for survivors. Allstate has invested more than $50-million to help more than a million survivors.

These programs make a difference. Research shows that individuals who participate in financial education programs are more likely to save money, understand consumer credit, and establish a budget.

The programs teach budgeting, balancing a checkbook, keeping financial records safe and confidential, preventing identity theft, finding and maintaining affordable housing, getting a job, managing money, taxes, insurance, debt management and building good credit.

“Financial education is something we all need and it’s a piece that removes one of the barriers that ensure safety,’’ Pentico said. “But we can’t control his violence. If she learns about finances and rebuilds her credit, then he shows up at her house with a gun, that doesn’t help anything.

“But if access to money gets her further and further away, if it puts her in a building with more security, those measures can help. You have to be careful in saying financial education can make women safe. That implies she has control over his behavior, which she doesn’t.’’

If you have credit card debt, talk to a credit counselor at a nonprofit credit counseling agency and find out your options for debt relief. If you can’t pay your electric bill, get help from a government agency, non-profit or utility company.

Below are some resources for victims of financial abuse. They not only provide education and other support but also links to other resources:

• National Coalition Against Domestic Violence – http://www.ncadv.org
• National Endowment for Financial Education – nefe.org.
• Women’s Institute for Financial Education – https://www.wife.org/.
• The Association for Enterprise Opportunity – https://aeoworks.org/.
• Your Money Matters: Tax Information for Survivors of Domestic Abuse – http://www.irs.gov (search for publication #3865)
• Social Security Administration’s Website for Women – https://www.ssa.gov/people/women/

What Is Crime Victim Compensation?

The first compensation program was created in 1965 in California. Nine other states had programs by 1972. Today, compensation programs nationwide pay about $500 million annually to more than 200,000 victims.

Most money comes from offenders, usually a funding mechanism through fees and fines charged against people convicted of crimes. Meanwhile, federal grants account for about 35% of the funding.

Domestic violence victims file about 33% of the claims. Maximum benefits average $25,000, but some states can offer more. Each state operates under its own law, but all programs have the same basic criteria. Generally, the victim must report the crime promptly and cooperate with police and prosecutors. They must also submit a victim compensation application in a timely manner.

Each state has its own criteria through the National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards. A complete list can be found here.

Assistance for College Students

One big step to financial security is obtaining a degree or special certification – something else that costs money. Fortunately, there are resources for survivors of domestic abuse who want to further their education.

Some scholarships available for domestic violence victims and their families are:

• Angel Scholarship – for students who have been impacted by domestic violence.
• Break the Silence About Domestic Violence – scholarship provides $1,000 for high school and college students whose lives have been impacted by domestic violence.
• The David Scholarship – provides up to $1,000 for men between 16-25 who have overcome hardship.
• The Ruth Scholarship – provides up to $1,000 for women between 16-25 who have overcome hardship.
• Scholarships for Women  – a website that’s a clearinghouse for scholarships and grants for women, has links to education financial assistance programs across the U.S. that may be targeted for a specific region.

Nonprofit Programs for Domestic Abuse Survivors

Here are some nonprofit programs that help victims of domestic violence:

• National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233) – ndvh.org
• National Dating Abuse Helpline (1-866-331-9474) – loveisrespect.org
• Americans Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center (1-866-879-6636) – 866uswomen.org
• National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-422-4453) – childhelp.org
• National Sexual Assault Hotline (1-800-656-4673) – rainn.org
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) – suicidepreventionlifeline.org
• National Center for Victims of Crime (1-202-467-8700) – victimsofcrime.org
• National Human Trafficking Resource Center/Polaris Project (1-888-373-7888) – polarisproject.org
• National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (1-510-465-1984) – nnirr.org
• National Coalition for the Homeless (1-202-737-6444) – nationalhomeless.org
• National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (1-800-537-2238) – nrcdv.org and www.vawnet.org
• Futures Without Violence: The National Health Resource Center on Domestic Violence (1-888-792-2873) – futureswithoutviolence.org
• National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma & Mental Health (1-312-726-7020, ext. 2011) – nationalcenterdvtraumamh.org