|
According to the Family Violence Prevention Fund, the Ohio Domestic Violence Network and the American Institute on Domestic Violence:
- Every 9 seconds, a woman is battered in the U.S.
- 5.3 million women are abused each year.
- Ohio police fielded 71,946 domestic violence calls in 2006.
Many victims of domestic violence face economic abuse from their abusers. Abusers often control the finances of their victims in order to prevent them from:
- Accessing resources.
- Working or maintaining control of earnings.
- Gaining financial independence.
The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program offers these tips for “domestic victims and survivors that are seeking to secure their financial future”:
- Plan for Your Safety . – Domestic violence victims should contact local domestic violence programs to discuss their options and learn about available resources to help them (for example: emergency assistance, funds, shelter, utility and/or rent assistance, public benefits, and affordable housing). To find programs in your area, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE.
- Monitor Your Credit Regularly. – Victims should obtain a copy of their credit report and make sure it is correct. Victims can receive a free copy of their report by visiting: www.annualcreditreport.com or contact the credit bureaus directly at:
- Protect Your Mail. – Victims should open a post office box for mail and any financial information they may receive before they leave or immediately after leaving an abusive situation.
- Secure Your Financial Information. – Victims should contact their utility companies, wireless telephone service, and financial institutions to secure their private financial information with special PIN numbers and passwords. They should do the same with all new credit, wireless, and/or utility accounts. Victims should ask these companies to use identifiers other than their social security numbers, date of birth, or mother's maiden name to authenticate their identity.
- Change All Codes. – Victims should change all ATM and debit card PIN numbers, online banking passwords, and online investing passwords. They should also change the password on their email accounts.
- Change Legal Papers. – Victims should make all necessary changes to legal papers such as insurance plans, living wills, wills, or trust beneficiaries and appoint a new person if their abuser is the current designee.
Things to Remember
Domesticviolence.org recommends that victims take several things along to their new living situation if at all possible. The following is a non-comprehensive list:
- Children
- Money
 - Keys to the car, house, work
- Medicines
- Birth Certificates
- Social Security Cards
- School and Medical Records
- Bankbooks, Credit Cards
- Driver's License and Car Registration
- Welfare Identification
- Passports, Green Cards, Work Permits
- Unpaid Bills
- Insurance Papers
- Lease/Rental Agreements or Mortgage Payment Book
- Court Papers – Custody Orders, Divorce Papers, Protection Orders
- Address Book
For More Help:
Ohio has two domestic violence organizations that assist victims. They are:
|
Your Money NOW 
Financial Planning
