From advice service MoneyHelper
Financial abuse can take many different forms and can happen to anybody regardless of age or the type of relationship you are in.
Financial abusers could be partners, a family member or others, for example carers. Everybody has the right to make their own independent financial choices. If a partner or a family member or indeed anybody else is controlling your financial affairs against your will, then this is financial abuse.
Please always remember you are not alone. There are places to go for help and support and things you can do.
Financial abuse is often part of wider economic abuse. Economic abuse can include:
- stopping you from going to work, college or university
- causing you to lose out on benefits by not letting you go to appointments at the Jobcentre or apply for jobs
- controlling your access to essential things, such as food, clothing or transport.
Spotting the signs of financial abuse
It can take quite some time to recognise you are being financially abused, but if you feel uncomfortable about the way that someone you know is behaving with your money, they may be financially abusing you. Our list can help you identify if that is what’s happening. Some possible signs include:
- forcing you to take out money or get credit in your name
- making you hand over control of your accounts or changing your login details
- asking you to prove what you’ve spent your money on
- controlling what you can and can’t spend your money on
- pressuring you to arrange for your benefits to be paid into a bank account you don’t have access to
Free help is available – click the link to read more about spotting the signs, and find links to a range of organisations who are in a position to help, advise and support you.
How to leave safely
If you want to leave an abusive situation and it’s safe for you to do so, there are things you can do to make sure that you’re safe and could help you take control of your finances:
- make a safety plan in case you need to leave your home
- keep a record of the abuse you have experienced if you can
- take photographs of any physical harm to you, your home or things you own
- report each incident to your local police and doctor, so they can keep a record
- contact a family law solicitor - legal Aid is available to help if you or your children are victims of abuse
- gather important documents before you need to leave
Free help is available – click the link to read information from Surviving Economic Abuse.
Taking back control after financial abuse
Seeking help is the first step to help you take back control of your money and your independence.
Free help is available – MoneyHelper's free, independent and impartial guide explains how to work with service providers to separate your finances, keep making essential payments and open new accounts in your own name.
MoneyHelper exists to help people
You can access further independent, impartial and free guidance and support around money and pensions at www.moneyhelper.org.uk or speak to them free in confidence on 0800 138 7777.