Her job skills and experience may be out of date. Even if she has up-to-date skills and opportunity, the jobs she qualifies for may not be sufficient to support herself and the children.  A full time (40 hrs/wk) in a minimum wage job results in earning levels below the poverty line. Minimum wage jobs are seldom full time, and provide no health insurance benefits. Even working two part time jobs, she may have to pay additional expenses of child care and transportation costs. If her abuser were not violent with her, this would not be an issue.