the essential guide - Texas Council on Family Violence

Chapter 4: Economic Options for SurvivorsIn this chapter you will: Identify <strong>the</strong> dynamics of financial abuse. Identify public benefits and review application processes. Identify economic resources including child support, employment services and tax breaks. Identify additional resources available to immigrant survivors, older survivors or survivors withdisabilities.“Being oppressed means <strong>the</strong> absence of choices.” – Bell HooksFinancial AbuseFinancial Abuse (or Economic Abuse) is a common, but often overlooked, element of an abusiverelationship. Batterers will often use financial means to obtain and maintain control and keep <strong>the</strong>irpartner trapped in <strong>the</strong> relationship.Types of Financial Abuse (from <strong>the</strong> National Network to End Domestic Violence All State FinancialEmpowerment Curriculum):‣ Controlling all decisions of how money is spent.‣ Withholding money or “giving an allowance.”‣ Withholding basic living resources, medication or food.‣ Prohibiting partner to work or earn money.‣ Stealing partner’s identity, money, credit or property.Even after leaving an abusive partner, a survivor of family violence may spend years coping with <strong>the</strong>consequences of <strong>the</strong> financial abuse.Long-term impacts may include:‣ Lack of knowledge about money matters and inexperience managing finances: Some survivorsmay never have opened or managed a bank account, paid bills or used credit.‣ Poor work history: Batterers may forbid <strong>the</strong>ir partners to work, force <strong>the</strong>m to work, or interferewith employment to <strong>the</strong> point of causing poor attendance, performance or job loss.‣ Poor credit: It is not uncommon for abusers to destroy <strong>the</strong>ir partner’s credit or property in anattempt to fur<strong>the</strong>r isolate <strong>the</strong>m and trap <strong>the</strong>m in <strong>the</strong> relationship. To this end, batterers may takeout extensive debts in <strong>the</strong> partner’s name with no intention of repaying <strong>the</strong>m.THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE: AN INTRODUCTION TO ADVOCATING FOR SURVIVORS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE35 | P a g e