Currently in the U.S., the unemployment rate is over five percent (U.S. Department of Labor, 2015). Unemployment affects the lives of survivors of domestic violence in a number of ways. For example, one study found that “stress” and “job loss” (61% and 49%, respectively) were frequently cited as causing an increase in domestic violence victims seeking shelter (National Network to End Domestic Violence, 2010). According to Legal Momentum, “violence often jeopardizes victims’ ability to keep a job, whether because of the need for time off for court appearances or medical attention, or abusers’ active interference or sabotage….Accordingly, female victims are more likely than other women to be unemployed, to suffer from health problems that can affect employability and job performance, to report lower personal income, and to rely on welfare” (Legal Momentum, n.d.). The following resources are comprised of information on how to obtain unemployment insurance that can prove vital for survivors.
