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A10. (4/4) Help is available. You’re not alone. You deserve to be believed, supported, and empowered to be safe in your relationship and in all aspects of your life. 💜

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A10. (3/4) “Financial literacy” isn’t always the answer. Victims and survivors often have a VERY keen understanding of their finances. The problem is that someone else is working hard to keep them financially trapped, powerless, and controlled.

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A10. (2/4) As with all forms of abuse, “just leaving” isn’t always possible, practical, or even safe. Victims and survivors deserve help and support every step of the way, regardless of whether or not they ultimately leave the relationship.

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A10. (1/4) Financial abuse is one of the most prevalent, but often least-understood, forms of domestic violence. Some studies estimate that it occurs in as many as 99% of abusive relationships: nnedv.org/spotlight_on/f…

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A9. Financial empowerment can include things like: setting and reaching financial goals, trusting yourself to make financial decisions, rebuilding your credit, being able to afford basic needs, and generally financial freedom, stability, and options.

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A8. (2/2) Ask a victim or survivor what would (or would not!) be safe, helpful, and doable for them. For example: helping them create a safety plan, offering to stash money for them, researching resources that can help them, etc.: nnedv.org/content/if-you…

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A8. (1/2) Abusers work really hard to make survivors feel powerless. Supporting a victim or survivor means helping them rebuild the power that’s been taken away from them. Learn more from NNEDV’s @WomensLaw team: womenslaw.org/about-abuse/he…

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A7. (4/4) Your donation to NNEDV helps us continue our work to end financial abuse and support victims and survivors. Make a gift here: nnedv.org/donate-now/

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A7. (3/4) NNEDV’s Independence Program offers credit-building microloans to victims and survivors: nnedv.org/content/indepe…

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A7. (2/4) State and territorial domestic violence coalitions represent local programs, shelters, and other services. Find your coalition: nnedv.org/content/state-…

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A7. (1/4) The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides 24/7 support by phone (800-799-SAFE), chat (thehotline.org), or text (START to 88788).

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A6. (4/4) Consider other needs, like a restraining order that would require child support, spousal support, mortgage/rent assistance, and more: nnedv.org/content/financ…

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A6. (3/4) Freeze your credit by contacting all three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion: nnedv.org/content/financ…

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A6. (2/4) Update your account information, password, PINs, etc., through any utility companies, phone or internet providers, ATM and debit cards, online banking, and any other accounts where your financial information is stored: nnedv.org/content/financ…

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A6. (1/4) Consider opening a P.O. box for mail and any sensitive financial information you don’t want the abuser to intercept: nnedv.org/content/financ…

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A5. (3/3) Access every social safety resource that you can! Reach out to your state or territorial domestic violence coalition to find programs in your area: nnedv.org/content/state-…

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A5. (2/3) NNEDV’s Independence Program offers credit-building microloans to victims and survivors. Learn more: nnedv.org/content/indepe…

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A5. (1/3) Creating a budget, getting financial coaching, and understanding financial basics can help survivors whose abusers have prevented them from having these skills. The Moving Ahead Curriculum is a great tool: thelearningcommunitytoendviolence.org/movingahead

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A4. (3/3) Be sure to make necessary changes to your insurance plans, will, or trust beneficiaries to appoint a new person if your partner is your current designee: nnedv.org/content/financ…

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A4. (2/3) Review bank statements and other financial documents, especially if an abuser has prevented you from accessing these accounts: nnedv.org/content/financ…

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