Economic abuse and the hidden cost of domestic violence

Research Brief: Economic Abuse and the Hidden Cost of Domestic Violence
DID YOU KNOW?
86% of Americans fail to associate domestic violence with economic abuse.1 The Bureau of National Affairs has estimated that domestic violence costs United
States employers $3 billion to $5 billion annually in lost time and productivity.2 Research indicates that financial abuse is experienced in 98% of abusive
relationships, and surveys of survivors reflect that concern over their ability to provide financially for themselves and their children was one of the top reasons for staying in or returning to the relationship.3
What is economic abuse?
Abuse presents in many different forms. Though most people think of physical or emotional abuse when the topic of domestic violence is discussed, economic abuse is also a form of abuse used to maintain power and control over the victim. Economic abuse is defined as "making or attempting to make an individual financially dependent by maintaining total control over financial resources, withholding one's access to money, or forbidding one's attendance at school or employment."4 Economic abuse is a threat to the safety and economic self-sufficiency of domestic violence victims. Specific actions by a batterer may include:1,5,9,10
Controlling the finances Not allowing the victim to work Jeopardizing the victim's employment through harassment Refusing to take the victim to work Taking the victim's money without permission Racking up debt without the victim's knowledge Forcing the victim to be the main provider Denying access to or knowledge of the household finances Failing to pay child support
What is the impact of economic abuse on victims?
Domestic violence can create obstacles that prevent victims from achieving economic security and selfsufficiency.6,7 By controlling and limiting the victim's access to financial resources, the batterer ensures that the victim will be financially limited if he/she chooses to leave the relationship. As a result, victims of domestic violence are often forced to choose between staying in an abusive relationship or facing economic hardship and possibly extreme poverty and homelessness.6,8 The following are examples of some of the long-term consequences of economic abuse:3,9
Ruined Credit Legal Fees

Bankruptcy Wage garnishment Homelessness Lack of financial education Anxiety Having to choose between economic security and safety Difficulty in being approved for loans for education, a car, and/or a home. Difficulty in maintaining utilities (gas, electric, etc.) , obtaining a cell phone,
and/or renting an apartment.
What are the costs to communities?
Over $5.8 billion each year is spent on the health-related costs associated with domestic violence.6,11,12
Nearly 8 million days of paid work each year is lost due to domestic violence issues - the equivalent of more than 32,000 full-time jobs. 2,11,12
96% of domestic violence victims who are employed experience problems at work due to abuse.11 Domestic violence crimes account for approximately 15% of the total crime costs in the United
States each year.2 57% of U.S. cities cite domestic violence against women and children as the top cause of
homelessness.11,14 The Bureau of National Affairs has estimated that $31 billion in medical costs are directly attributed
to domestic violence annually.2,11,13
Need Help?
If you or someone you know is involved in an abusive relationship, there are resources available that can assist in staying safe.
Contact your local domestic violence program through Georgia's Family Violence Hotline at 1-80033-HAVEN (4-2836).
Contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). You can also contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
References:
1 The Allstate Fondation (2009, May). The Allstate Foundation National Poll "Crisis Economics and Domestic Violence. Retrieved August 29, 2013 from https://clicktoempower.org/media/2038/executive_summary.pdf. 2 110th Congress (2007-2009). S. 1136 (110th): Survivors' Empowerment and Economic Security Act. Retrieved August 29, 2013 from http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/110/s1136/text. 3 National Network to End Domestic Violence (2013). About Financial Abuse. Retrieved August 29, 2013 from http://nnedvb.org/resources/ejresources/aboutfinancial-abuse.html. 4 The United States Department of Justice- Office on Violence Against Women (2013, March). What is Domestic Violence? Retrieved August 29, 3013 from http://www.ovw.usdoj.gov/domviolence.html. 5 National Network to End Domestic Violence (2010, June). Financial Empowerment Curriculum: Understanding Financial Abuse- Keeping Safe and Starting Over. Retrieved August 20,2013 from http://nnedv.org/downloads/EconJust/Curriculum_English_2010/PC_Module_One_June2010_FINAL.pdf. 6 National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Economic Abuse. Retrieved August 20, 2013 from http://www.uncfsp.org/projects/userfiles/File/DCE_STOP_NOW/NCADV_Economic_Abuse_Fact_Sheet.pdf. 7 Family Violence Prevention Fund (2005, February). Testimony of the Family Violence Prevention Fund on Welfare Reform and Marriage Promotion Initiatives: Submitted to the House Ways and Means Committee. Retrieved August 20, 2013 from http://endabuse.org/programs/publicpolicy/files/MarriageTestimony.pdf. 8 Women Helping Battered Women. Important Information About Domestic Violence.. Retrieved August 20, 2013 from http://www.whbw.org/important_information_about_domestic_violence.htm. 9 Pollet,Susan L. (2011, February). Economic Abuse: The Unseen Side of Domestic Violence. NYSBA Journal, 40-43. 10 Georgia Commission on Family Violence/Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence. (2013). 2012 Georgia Domestic Violence Fatality Review Annual Report. Retrieved August 20, 2013 from http://www.fatalityreview.com/homepage/images/stories/2012annualreport.pdf. 11 Department of Heath and Human Services/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. (2003,March) Cost of Intimate Partner Violence Against Women in the United States. Retrieved August 29, 2013 from http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/ipvbook-a.pdf. 12 The Allstate Foundation (2011). The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program: Facts on Domestic Violence & Economic Abuse. Retrieved August 20, 2013 from http://www.clicktoempower.org/newsroom/press-kit/facts-n-domestic-violence-economic-abuse.aspx. 13Office of the Manhattan Borough President, Sakhi for South Asian Women, Cornell University-ILF School, and The Worker Institute (2012, October). Economic Abuse: The Untold Cost of Domestic Violence. Retrieved August 20, 2013 from http://www.mbpo.org/upload/EconomicAbuseUntoldCostofDV.pdf. 14National Network to End Domestic Violence. Domestic Violence, Housing, and Homelessness. Retrieved August 20, 2013 from http://nnedv.org/downloads/policy/NNEDV_DVHousing-factsheet.pdf. 15 The United States Conference of Mayers. (1999). A Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness in America's Cities, 39.