Financial Abuse

Economic or financial abuse is when someone uses power and control over someone else’s finances, money, and/or livelihood. Financial abuse occurs in approximately 99% of abusive relationships. Many victim/survivors describe financial abuse as the main reason that they stayed in an abusive relationship or went back to one. 

 

Some examples of financial abuse provided by the National Domestic Violence Hotline include:

​

• Giving an allowance and closely watching how you spend it and/or demanding receipts for purchases;

• Placing your paycheck in their bank account and denying you access to it;

• Preventing you from viewing or having access to bank accounts;

• Forbidding you to work or limiting the hours that you can work;

• Maxing out credit cards in your name without permission or not paying bills on credit cards, which could ruin your credit score;

• Stealing money from you or your family and friends;

• Using funds from children’s savings accounts without your permission;

• Living in your home but refusing to work or contribute to the household;

• Making you give them your tax returns or confiscating joint tax returns;

• Refusing to give you money to pay for necessities/shared expenses like food, clothing, transportation, or medical care and medicine;

 

Violence Free Minnesota works with our member programs to empower victim/survivors who may have experienced financial abuse. Learn more about our Economic Empowerment Program.