Economic (financial) abuse
Economic or financial abuse is the controlling of another person's access to money.
Definition, signs, examples, and how you can obtain support for yourself or someone you know.
What is economic/ financial abuse?
This type of abuse involves restricting or controlling a partner's access to money.
Some of the signs of economic (financial) abuse
If you notice any of the following or similar signs in another person, they may be being financially abused:
- Not having their purse with them
- Not being able to access their bank account
- Saying that their partner deals with all the finances
- Being short of money/ asking to borrow money
- Only carrying cash
- Asking a partner's permission before spending money (see coercive control)
- Inexplicably leaving their job
- Insinuating that their partner doesn't want them to work.
Examples of economic (financial) abuse
Below are some of the examples of economic (financial) abuse:
- Spending someone else's money
- Creating a debt in someone else's name
- Withholding money
- Controlling access to bank accounts, cash and bills
- Stopping someone from working
- Asking for an account of all money spent.