Understanding Domestic Abuse

  Taking Care of Yourself

Ideals of a healthy family
Develop a safety plan
Rebuild your financial future

Rebuild your financial future

Contact your local domestic abuse program to discuss community programs and resources. This may include:

• Emergency assistance funds
• Shelter
• Utility assistance
• Rent assistance
• Public benefits
• Affordable housing

To locate a program in your community, contact that
National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1–800–799–SAFE.

Obtain a copy of your credit report and monitor your credit often. Most financial institutions provide credit monitoring services, such as Privacy Guard, at low costs. You can get a copy of your credit report by contacting one of three credit bureaus.

• Equifax: 1–800–685–1111 or www.equifax.com
• Experian: 1–866–966–1067 or www.experian.com
• TransUnion: 1–877–680–7275 or www.transunion.com

Information is also available at FREE Annual Credit Report, 1–877–322–8228, www.annualcreditreport.com.

Open a post office box for mail and any financial information you may receive before you leave or right after you leave your abuser. You can obtain P.O. boxes from the United States Postal Service or vendors such as Parcel Plus, Mail Boxes Etc. or the UPS Store.

Call your utility companies, including wireless telephone services and financial institutions, to secure your private information with a PIN and password. Do the same on all new credit, wireless or utility accounts. Do not allow vendors to use your mother's maiden name, Social Security number, or date of birth to authenticate your identity.

Change all ATM and debit card PINs, online banking passwords and online investing passwords. Change the password on your e–mail account also.

If your partner is currently the designated beneficiary of your insurance, will or trust account, choose a new person to be the beneficiary.