Minnesota Survivor Financial Security Policy Scorecard
How well does Minnesota support survivors’ financial security?
Freedom from debt brought on by my [harm-doer] so that I can rebuild my independence and my safety net which I had meticulously put in place before I met him to feel secure. I grew up in poverty and he was well aware of the importance my high credit score and lack of credit card debt had in my life in making me feel safe. Once that was gone I couldn't afford to live apart from him and so moved in to another apartment with him even though it literally almost killed me to do so.
This state somewhat considers survivors’ financial security in a few policies, but has a lot of work to do
Honorable Mention
The Minnesota Department of Human Services Domestic Violence Information brochure includes in its definition of domestic violence “taking money or property without permission or against your wishes” (Minn. DHS Domestic Violence Information)
Positive policies this state has
This state does not have model policies in this category.
Adverse policies this state has
This state does not have adverse policies in this category.
Positive policies this state should adopt
The state’s definition of intimate partner violence includes all or similar language to the following: Committing acts of economic abuse, including but not limited to: controlling, regulating, monitoring or depleting the other party’s movements, finances, economic resources, credit, access to services, basic necessities, ability to work and/or ability to pursue education or job training
Adverse policies this state should avoid
A definition that explicitly excludes economic abuse or tactics
Related sources:
Positive policies this state has
Survivors are given leave from work to deal with the consequences of abuse
Survivors who take leave are protected from job loss, discrimination and retaliation
Survivors get at least 10 days of leave annually
Leave policy provides an exhaustive list of reasons to take time off for work to deal with the consequences of abuse
Adverse policies this state has
This state does not have adverse policies in this category.
Positive policies this state should adopt
Leave is guaranteed paid
Leave does not deplete accrued time off (i.e., sick leave, vacation)
Leave is available to all employees regardless of employer, sector or employee status (PT/FT)
Survivors are not required to prove that they were subjected to intimate partner violence to access leave, or can access leave with a sworn statement from either the survivor or a qualified third party that intimate partner violence occurred
Employers must keep employees’ reasoning for leave and related documentation confidential
Adverse policies this state should avoid
Survivors are required to produce a protective order or police report proving that intimate partner violence has occurred in order to access leave
Positive policies this state has
This state does not have model policies in this category.
Adverse policies this state has
This state does not have adverse policies in this category.
Positive policies this state should adopt
Employers are prohibited from discriminating or retaliating against employees based on their status as a survivor
Protections against discrimination and retaliation are available to all employees regardless of employer type, sector, and employee status (PT/FT)
Employers must make reasonable accommodations available for survivors
Reasonable accommodation requirements apply to all employers regardless of employer type, sector, and employee status (PT/FT)
Employers must keep employees’ survivor status confidential
Confidentiality requirements apply to all employers regardless of employer type, sector, and employee status (PT/FT)
Survivors are not required to prove that they were subjected to intimate partner violence to access protections, or can access protections with a sworn statement from either the survivor or a qualified third party that intimate partner violence occurred
Adverse policies this state should avoid
Survivors are required to produce a protective order or police report proving that intimate partner violence has occurred to access protections
Related sources:
No Safe Workplaces resources found for Minnesota.
Positive policies this state has
Survivors who must leave or quit work due to intimate partner violence remain eligible for benefits
Adverse policies this state has
This state does not have adverse policies in this category.
Positive policies this state should adopt
State provides 100% wage replacement for survivors of intimate partner violence
Survivors are not required to prove that they were subjected to intimate partner violence to access the program, or can access it with a sworn statement from either the survivor or a qualified third party that intimate partner violence occurred
Adverse policies this state should avoid
Survivors are required to produce a protective order or police report proving that intimate partner violence has occurred to access the program
Related sources:
Positive policies this state has
This state does not have model policies in this category.
Adverse policies this state has
This state does not have adverse policies in this category.
Positive policies this state should adopt
State protects survivors from litigation abuse by their harm-doer
The policy includes a broad definition of litigation to include any kind of legal action or proceeding
The policy requires harm-doers using litigation abuse tactics to pay all attorney’s fees and costs incurred by a survivor
The policy permits the dismissal with prejudice of any action in which a harm-doer is found to have committed litigation abuse
The policy requires attorneys that participate in litigation abuse to pay the survivor’s attorney’s fees
Adverse policies this state should avoid
This state does not have adverse policies in this category.
Related sources:
No Litigation Abuse Protections resources found for Minnesota.
Positive policies this state has
This state does not have model policies in this category.
Adverse policies this state has
This state does not have adverse policies in this category.
Positive policies this state should adopt
Survivors have the right to sue their harm-doers through a designated intimate partner or violence gender-based violence tort
Statute of limitations applicable to designated tort or torts that arise out of intimate partner or gender-based violence is at least 5 years
Statute of limitations applicable to designated tort or torts that arise out of intimate partner or gender-based violence is at least 20 years in cases of brain injury and / or a disability
The designated tort is structured as a continuing tort
Adverse policies this state should avoid
Designated tort excludes any gender identities and sexualities
Related sources:
No Designated Tort for Intimate Partner Violence resources found for Minnesota.
Positive policies this state has
Survivors can appeal eligibility determination
Survivors can appeal amount awarded
Emergency / expedited awards are available in cases of financial hardship
Adverse policies this state has
Survivors are required to cooperate with law enforcement for the investigation and / or prosecution of the crime
Positive policies this state should adopt
There is no deadline to apply for compensation
Survivors are not required to report the crime to police within a specific timeframe to be eligible for compensation
Compensation is available to people who are undocumented
Funds are available to cover the cost of attorneys’ fees incurred in applying for compensation
Compensation is available to cover the cost of attorneys’ fees incurred in other legal proceedings related to intimate partner violence
Compensation awards are available to cover the cost of coerced and fraudulent debt
Adverse policies this state should avoid
Survivors are required to submit a police report as part of the application process
Compensation is not available to survivors with a criminal record
Positive policies this state has
Survivors are eligible for exemptions or deferments from work or job training requirements
Survivors are eligible for benefit replacement when applying for a separate household from their harm doer
Survivors are not required to prove that they were subjected to intimate partner violence to access exemptions or special considerations, or can access them with a sworn statement from either the survivor or a qualified third party that intimate partner violence occurred
Adverse policies this state has
This state does not have adverse policies in this category.
Positive policies this state should adopt
Survivors are eligible for expedited enrollment into the program
Survivors can remove harm-doers from listed household members on SNAP applications or renewals
Survivors are eligible for specific exemptions or special considerations without having to apply through a shelter or other intimate partner violence service provider organization
Adverse policies this state should avoid
Survivors are required to produce a protective order or police report proving that intimate partner violence occurred to access exemptions and / or special considerations
Positive policies this state has
Survivors are eligible for exemptions or deferments from work or job training requirements
Survivors are eligible for time-limit exemptions or deferrals
Survivors are eligible for specific exemptions and special considerations without having to apply through a shelter or other intimate partner violence service provider organization
Survivors are not required to prove that they were subjected to intimate partner violence to access exemptions or special considerations, or can access them with a sworn statement by either the survivor or a qualified third party that intimate partner violence occurred required
Adverse policies this state has
This state does not have adverse policies in this category.
Positive policies this state should adopt
This state does not have model policies in this category.
Adverse policies this state should avoid
Survivors are required to produce a protective order or police report proving that intimate partner violence has occurred to access exemptions or special considerations
Positive policies this state has
This state does not have model policies in this category.
Adverse policies this state has
This state does not have adverse policies in this category.
Positive policies this state should adopt
Financial institutions operating within the state are required to be trained in intimate partner violence or economic abuse
Financial institutions operating in the state are required to designate internal team to handle survivor accounts
Financial institutions operating in the state are required to implement procedures and policies that create protections against unintended disclosures of survivors’ contact information and addresses.
Survivors are not required to prove that they were subjected to intimate partner violence to access protections, or can access them with a sworn statement from either the survivor or a qualified third party that intimate partner violence occurred
Adverse policies this state should avoid
Survivors are required to produce a protective order or police report proving that intimate partner violence occurred to access protections
Related sources:
No Safe Banking Protections resources found for Minnesota.
Positive policies this state has
This state does not have model policies in this category.
Adverse policies this state has
This state does not have adverse policies in this category.
Positive policies this state should adopt
Survivors have the right to sue their harm-doers for coerced and fraudulent debt through a designated tort
Creditors and/or debt collectors operating within the state are required to be trained in intimate partner violence, coerced and fraudulent debt or economic abuse
State law provides survivors with relief from debt collection practices relating to coerced or fraudulent debt
State law provides survivors with relief from the obligation to pay for coerced or fraudulent debt
Survivors are not required to prove that they were subjected to intimate partner violence to access protections, or can access them with a sworn statement from either the survivor or a qualified third party that intimate partner violence occurred
Adverse policies this state should avoid
Survivors are required to produce a protective order or police report proving that intimate partner violence occurred to access protections
Related sources:
No Coerced and Fraudulent Debt Protections resources found for Minnesota.
Positive policies this state has
Survivors are eligible to terminate a lease early
Survivors are not required to prove that they were subjected to intimate partner violence to access protections, or can access them with a sworn statement from either the survivor or a qualified third party that intimate partner violence occurred
Adverse policies this state has
This state does not have adverse policies in this category.
Positive policies this state should adopt
Early lease termination does not result in any penalties including future rent, deduction of deposits or other costs
Survivors can omit their credit scores on rental applications
Landlords are prohibited from evicting someone based on incidents of intimate partner violence
Landlords are prohibited from discriminating against survivors who are rental applicants or tenants
Survivors are not responsible for property damage as a result of intimate partner violence
Adverse policies this state should avoid
Survivors are required to produce a protective order or police report proving intimate partner violence occurred to access protections
Related sources:
Positive policies this state has
This state does not have model policies in this category.
Adverse policies this state has
This state does not have adverse policies in this category.
Positive policies this state should adopt
State has a task force or something similar to study, design and/or implement non-law enforcement responses to intimate partner violence
State provides options for non-law enforcement first responders to intimate partner violence
Survivors are able to drop criminal proceedings against their harm-doer with negatively impacting their ability to access resources
Adverse policies this state should avoid
Mandatory arrest requirements for calls related to intimate partner violence
Mandatory reporting for suspected intimate partner violence
“No-drop” policies
Related sources:
No Alternatives to Law Enforcement Responses resources found for Minnesota.
Understanding this report
Scoring guide
Overall State Score
This state prioritizes survivors’ financial security across all policy categories and is a model for other states to follow!
This state is prioritizing survivors’ financial security in a broad range of policies and is on its way to becoming a Model State!
This state considers survivors’ financial security in multiple policies, and is making progress towards becoming a survivor financial security friendly state
This state somewhat considers survivors’ financial security in a few policies, but has a lot of work to do
This state does not prioritize survivors’ financial security or consider their unique circumstances or needs
Policy Category Scores
This policy has it all!
This policy includes a majority of our Model Policy characteristics
This policy includes some of our Model Policy characteristics, but needs improvement
This state does not have this policy
This policy is harmful for survivors
Checklist Legend
This state’s policy includes this characteristicThis state’s policy does not include this characteristicIt is unclear whether this state’s policy includes this characteristicHonorable Mention: A promising policy that doesn’t quite fit
Innovative Idea: This state is thinking outside the box on policy solutions
