Help for Survivors
Read how financial abuse works, its long-term impact on survivors’ lives, and steps you can take to protect yourself or support someone you know.
You deserve to feel safe, supported, and in control of your finances. If you’ve experienced financial abuse and want to reach out for help, you have options. It’s your choice whether or not to inform law enforcement. You may also call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit thehotline.org for confidential, 24/7 support.
Financial abuse can take many forms, including but not limited to someone taking your money or stealing from you, withholding access to money or basic necessities, sabotaging your job or preventing you from working, controlling your financial decisions, and using your credit cards or accounts without permission. These actions not only harm a person’s financial stability but can deeply impact their long-term credit history, employment, and freedom.
How to Identify Financial Abuse
Financial abuse can be subtle and hard to recognize. Warning signs might include:
- A partner preventing access to bank accounts
- Frequent “helpful” gestures that disguise controlling behavior
- Unexplained debt or missing money
- Job loss or interference with employment caused by a partner
If these situations feel familiar, it may signal financial abuse.
How to Protect Yourself
Taking proactive steps can reduce your vulnerability, though safety should always come first. Survivors may find it helpful to:
- Keep communications private by controlling access to your phone
- Open your own mail to protect sensitive financial details
- Store cards, checks, and important documents in a safe place
- Review bank statements on your own
- Avoid cosigning loans or opening joint accounts with an abuser
Never share your PIN or sign blank checks. And remember: regaining control of finances may increase the risk of retaliation. Always prioritize your safety.
How Financial Abuse Affects Employment
Abusers often undermine a survivor’s ability to work as another form of control. They may refuse transportation or childcare, harass the survivor at work, cause disturbances that lead to job loss, or block promotions and career choices.
These actions can lead to employment gaps, poor references, and reduced lifetime earnings, making it more difficult for survivors to achieve financial independence.
How Financial Abuse Damages Credit History
Credit damage is one of the longest-lasting effects of financial abuse. Abusers may open accounts without permission, run up debt, miss payments, or drain joint bank accounts. Survivors are often left with low credit scores, heavy debt, and difficulty renting housing, applying for loans, or passing employer credit checks — even years after leaving the relationship.
The Lasting Impact
Without steady income or healthy credit, survivors may struggle to rent an apartment, secure transportation, pursue education or training, or rebuild a financial safety net. Financial abuse often continues even after the relationship ends, creating barriers long after physical separation.
Supporting Someone Experiencing Financial Abuse
If someone you know may be experiencing financial abuse:
- Speak with them privately and listen without judgment
- Believe their story and offer consistent support
- Share resources and help them think through a safety plan
- Refer them to trusted organizations like the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or online at thehotline.org
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