Money Changes Everything! Why Child Support Matters
By: Esther Aparicio, Esq., SAVES Attorney Advisor
“Why don’t you just leave?”
It’s a question many survivors of domestic violence hear all too often—one that is not only hurtful and judgmental but dangerously overlooks the increased risks that survivors face when trying to escape an abusive situation. For many, escaping is only the first step in a long journey towards stability and safety. A critical step in that journey, is financial stability. According to research from the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, two-thirds (67%) of survivors reported staying in or returning to an abusive relationship due to financial pressures—including the inability to pay bills, cover rent or mortgage, or provide food for their family.[1] The reality is, financial insecurity is not a secondary issue, it is a primary barrier to safety.
An often overlooked—or perhaps, misunderstood—form of financial help is child support. In plain terms, child support is a payment made by a parent to the custodial parent to help with the costs of raising the child(ren). The purpose of child support is to ensure that the children’s needs are met. When implemented safely, it is also an important source of economic stability, helping survivors meet basic needs and build a foundation for long-term independence.
Survivors understand how child support can make a difference in their lives. In fact, a survey conducted by the Office of Child Support Services found that more than 90% of women with current or former abusive partners want to pursue child support if they can do so safely.[2] For families with income below the poverty level, child support can represent nearly half of custodial parents’ income.[3] In these cases, child support becomes more than a monthly payment. It becomes the difference between staying and leaving, between fear and rebuilding.
The impact of child support extends beyond improving a survivor’s immediate financial outlook. Survivors often face chronic health conditions related to the occurrence of physical injury and emotional abuse. Health conditions can vary from chronic pain, seizures, traumatic brain injuries to diabetes, substance abuse and mental health challenges. These conditions often require ongoing care, medication and follow-up. Child support can provide a critical source of income that relieves survivors from deciding between buying groceries and filling a prescription.
In a time where the country faces an unprecedented housing crisis, survivors without an income to report or a decent credit score are left with little to no options for safe housing. Housing instability can include several unwanted moves – not paying bills or skipping meals to pay rent or experiencing credit problems. While child support might not be enough to cover a full rent or mortgage payment, child support contributes to the overall expenses associated with housing a child. These can include utilities, home supplies, and overall maintenance.
The economic impact of child support also plays a role for survivors who have lost current employment and new job opportunities. Missed workdays are not uncommon for survivors, as they take time off to recover from injuries, attend court hearings, or seek immediate safety. For survivors seeking or starting new jobs, those who caused them harm often hinder a survivor’s effort to learn new skills or obtain training, limiting their employment prospects. That is why for survivors, child support makes it possible to cover basic needs and begin to rebuild a life free from abuse; one where stability isn’t just a hope, but a real possibility.
Discussing why child support matters is just as important as improving access to it. This effort, however, cannot be left to the courts and legal advocates alone. While courts and legal advocates are essential, building safer and more supportive child support systems requires collaboration across sectors. Survivors often interact with a range of systems like housing, healthcare, employment and financial services—all which can either support or hinder their ability to access child support safely. Child support agencies, financial institutions, housing organizations, employers, and funders must all come together. Whether it’s through trainings, technical assistance, or funding efforts—everyone has a role to play.
Financial empowerment is about knowledge, safety, and control. Child support is a major part of that picture. That’s why we must demystify what it is, talk about how to safely pursue it, and engage partners to sustain the efforts. By acknowledging the real financial implications of child support, we can build stronger resources for survivors and help them create safer, more stable futures for themselves and their children. So, yeah, money can change everything.
[1] https://vawnet.org/sites/default/files/assets/files/2018-11/NRCDV_PublicBenefits-WeWouldHaveHadToStay-Nov2018.pdf
[2] https://acf.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ocse/im-22-04a.pdf
[3] https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/29421/412272-Child-Support-Plays-an-Increasingly-Important-Role-for-Poor-Custodial-Families.PDF
TAGS: #Children and Teens #Gender Based Violence #News