Because many domestic violence victims are economically dependent on the men who abuse them, few victims have the resources necessary to begin a new life for themselves and their children. The prevalence of violence in women's lives suggests the need for Federal, State, and local welfare programs that are quite different from those recently enacted by the U.S. Congress in the Federal welfare reform bill of 1996. First, welfare-to-work programs should be designed to provide flexibility and support for poor women who experience violence. Second, to implement these programs responsibly, State and Federal Governments must have accurate information and develop procedures that permit battered women to come forward safely. One key problem currently facing battered women on welfare is the risk of sanctions or reduced welfare benefits if the agency becomes aware that they have live-in partners or boyfriends. Third, because policymakers have generally ignored the role that violence plays in the lives of poor women, some new welfare reform provisions may have the effect of exacerbating women's poverty. Finally, adequate public assistance support is a necessary part of efforts to eliminate violence against women. Without the minimal safety net provided by public assistance, women and children cannot leave violent situations. A federally mandated lifetime limit of welfare benefits to 5 years defeats the function of welfare to provide the economic safety net that battered women need in order to escape abuse. 49 references