“Economic abuse might not be a term you’re familiar with, but it’s an issue that is gaining more attention lately. In an ideal world, when we enter intimate relationships, we’d naturally have conversations about sharing financial responsibilities fairly—especially as we move beyond the initial, exciting dating phase. These discussions are important to make sure both partners have an equal opportunity to be financially secure during the relationship and even if it ends.
But what happens when one partner starts to control the other’s access to money, or manipulates their finances and the things money can buy? If this sounds familiar, whether it’s happening to you, a friend, or a loved one, it could be a sign of economic abuse.”
What is economic abuse?
Economic abuse is a legally recognised form of domestic abuse, defined under the Domestic Abuse Act. It typically happens within the context of intimate partner violence, involving the control of a partner or ex-partner’s finances, assets, and other things that money can buy. This form of abuse often accompanies other types of abuse and is frequently part of a broader pattern of behaviour called coercive control.
Guidance from the Home Office describes controlling or coercive behaviour as:
‘an intentional pattern of behaviour that occurs on two or more occasions, or which takes place over time, in order for one individual to exert power, control or coercion over another.’
How finances and essentials can be used for control
Economic abuse can take many forms and may involve controlling different aspects of a person’s financial life, such as their income, spending, bank accounts, bills, and borrowing. It can also extend to limiting access to essential things like transportation and technology, which allow us to work and stay connected. Additionally, it can involve restricting access to property or daily necessities like food and clothing. This kind of abuse might also show up through actions like damaging possessions or refusing to contribute to household expenses, including mortgage payments or children’s needs.
This type of abuse is a form of coercive and controlling behaviour that can persist long after leaving a relationship, often referred to as post-separation abuse, and it can have a lifelong impact. It’s also important to note that this kind of abuse isn’t limited to intimate partner relationships; it can occur in family dynamics as well, such as between a parent and a child over the age of 16 (legally).
Shockingly the statistics by the charity surviving economic abuse found that 1 in 6 women in the UK has experienced economic abuse by a current or former partner.
How to identify economic abuse
Economic abuse can be challenging to recognise, often starting subtly and gradually intensifying over time. In the beginning, certain behaviours may appear protective or supportive. For instance, a partner might encourage you to leave your job to focus on the children, offer to manage finances to relieve your stress, or suggest moving your savings or inheritance into a joint family account. However, this can later lead to being cut off from money or having restricted access to shared accounts. Many women experience economic abuse for years without even realising it.
It’s important to be aware that economic abuse can often occur alongside other forms of domestic abuse. Someone experiencing abuse in other ways might not immediately realise they’re also facing economic abuse, especially when their priority is keeping themselves safe from harm.
Again, economic abuse can be difficult to recognise but an abuser might do any of the following:
Sabotage your income and access to money:
- prevent you from being in education or employment
- limit your working hours
- take your pay
- refuse to let you claim benefits
- take children’s savings or birthday money
- refuse to let you access a bank account
Restrict how you use money and the things that you own:
- control when and how money is spent
- dictate what you can buy
- make you ask for money or provide an allowance
- check your receipts
- make you keep a spending diary
- make you justify every purchase made
- control the use of property, such as a mobile phone or car
- insist all economic assets (eg savings, house) are in their name
- keep financial information secret
Exploit your economic situation:
- steal your money or property
- cause damage to your property
- refuse to contribute to household costs
- spend money needed for household items and bills
- misuse money in joint bank accounts
- insist all bills, credit cards and loans are in your name and make you pay them
- build up debt in your name, sometimes without your knowledge
What is the impact of economic abuse?
The impact of economic abuse can be devastating, often leading to lifelong consequences by restricting financial independence. When a perpetrator controls access to money, prevents the victim from working, sabotages their employment or benefits, restricts access to joint accounts, or coerces them into debt, it can severely impact the victim’s financial stability and career. This is clearly demonstrated in the case study below:
Case Study – Laura
Case study taken from the statutory coercive and controlling behaviour guidelines page 47 *Trigger warning – this case study features false allegations of child abuse and mentions of abuse.
After a decade of marriage and three children, Darren continued to harass Laura after their separation and subsequent divorce. The harassment got increasingly worse so Laura got a non-molestation order against Darren. When Darren breached the order, he was arrested and told a harassment warning could be issued against him. Laura also complained to the police about the economic abuse she experienced after separating but found that the police took no further action as they lacked the powers at the time.
Darren made false allegations about Laura’s income, so she regularly had to prove her expenditure relating to wages, childcare etc. Darren had taken credit cards out in Laura’s name and home address after he had left. All her payments were stopped for several months, before being reinstated and backdated. Darren made false child abuse allegations to social services and the police causing Laura to be interviewed by police under caution. This could have a significant impact on Laura’s career given that she works with vulnerable children and she feared it would affect any Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) results restricting her from future employment and income.
Darren also refused to remove Laura from joint mortgages and then defaulted on the mortgage payments to the extent that the property went into negative equity. Darren did not comply with a court order to permit removal of her name from the mortgages, and the bank said it was unable to remove Laura without his cooperation. Laura got orders of sale but the properties were in such a poor state the bank would not accept the low offers she received. The properties were repossessed by the bank, who unintentionally disclosed Laura’s new address to Darren through the court paperwork.
As Laura was ‘jointly and severally liable’, the bank chased her for the large debt accrued, asking her to pay the full amount or attaching a debt order to her new home. With Laura’s credit rating ruined and her financial stability compromised by Darren’s actions, she felt she would not be able to get a mortgage or loan again, and that the economic abuse she had been subjected to would impact her for the rest of her life.
Although Laura was out of the relationship and divorced, the pattern of economic abuse continued way past the separation (this is post-separation abuse). In other cases, economic abuse can force a victim to be economically dependent on the perpetrator, making it more difficult for them to escape and access safety.
It is also important to recognise that some victims may not be ready to admit or acknowledge that they are experiencing economic abuse, and they may not even be aware that it is a crime.
For example, someone who has entered into shared financial arrangements may not realise that the perpetrator is using the arrangement to control, dictate or misuse how this money is spent. Economic abuse can affect victims from a range of socio-economic backgrounds, for example a victim of economic abuse may appear financially stable but may not have access to, or control of, their finances.
Now that you have more awareness of economic abuse, some of the behaviours and the long-term negative impact it can have, what can you do if you suspect a friend or family member is experiencing this? Or perhaps, as you’re reading this, you recognise these behaviours in your own relationship.
- Be there to listen. It can take time for someone to recognise that economic abuse is happening, and even longer for them to feel safe enough to open up and ask for help. Offer a supportive, non-judgmental ear when they’re ready to talk.
- Share this article with your friends and loved ones—raising awareness about economic abuse, its warning signs, and how it begins can help protect more people. The more who know, the better!
- Visit the charity website surviving economic abuse for more specialised support, if you believe you are experiencing economic abuse right now.
- Report the economic abuse to your bank if it is safe to do so. Surviving economic abuse has developed a banking support directory which details the support available from your bank.
- Keep a record of the economic abuse incidences if it is safe to do so. If you have experienced economic abuse or post separation abuse, you may be able to pursue a prosecution against the abuser for controlling or coercive behaviour.
- If it is safe to do so continue to maintain some form of financial independence from your partner. Some banks will allow you to create a new account, without providing your current address if it isn’t safe.
- Speak to your financial adviser who will be able to identify any risks to your financial wellbeing.
Get support – you do not have to deal with this alone. Contact ‘surviving economic abuse’ to speak to someone on their helpline, which has been set up for those individuals experiencing domestic abuse and financial difficulty.
