This 10-year follow up study based on Swedish national registers compares the economic situation of women victims of violence leading to hospitalization (n=6,085) to non-exposed women (n=55,016) in 1992-2005. Women exposed to severe violence had a poorer financial situation already before the assault. Violence seems to heavily reinforce this pattern, indicating a continued need of support from the social work profession. Assaulted women had a worse income development, lower odds for being in employment, and higher odds for having low incomes and means tested social assistance during the 10-year follow up, independent of having children or not.