The money is there.
The choice may not be.
Dr. Venera Bekteshi, PhD, MSW, MPA, MA, LCSW
The account balance cannot tell you who holds the key.
A household may have enough money for an appointment, medication, or a journey somewhere safer. Yet one person may need permission to use any of it.
Imagine having to explain every purchase. Every withdrawal. Every place you need to go.
When it is safe to speak privately, ask:
“Can you use money for the things you need, safely and independently?”
Shared finances alone do not establish abuse. Listen to how the arrangement works—and what choices the person actually has.
Economic context means asking whether resources are within someone’s reach.
Explore the CIAS Practitioner Toolkit: the toolkit · Section 1, Table 1: Economic context (p. 6) ↗ · training video: Economic Context
Source: Office on Women’s Health guidance on financial control and abuse. womenshealth.gov/relationships-and-safety/other-types/financial-abuse
