Financial abuse is a form of domestic abuse, which is characterised in relationships by controlling a person's ability to acquire, use and maintain their own money and financial resources. The bank and SafeLives, the
For the last six months,
The COVID-19 outbreak is a difficult and stressful time for many people, and those experiencing financial abuse will be in a particularly vulnerable position. As the Domestic Abuse Bill continues to make its way through
Have unusually restricted access to finances: As people are home together, an abuser might have greater oversight of spending. Abusers may also use the instability of the current situation to take even greater control of finances. Many people are concerned about their finances at the moment, but someone experiencing financial abuse might express particularly heightened distress about a change in their personal or household income.
Cannot access financial support: Look out for someone who says that their partner is preventing them from speaking to their mortgage provider, utility company or another contract provider to negotiate a payment holiday or other form of financial support available during COVID-19.
Are struggling to work from home: Abusers may use the lockdown to interfere with someone's ability to work by insisting that they are responsible for childcare, or to deny someone the equipment they need such as a laptop. They may be carrying out additional paid or unpaid work and/or caring responsibilities with no help from their partner, for example providing food packages for their family or being forced to disinfect the home regularly.
Are not staying socially connected: An abuser may use current isolation measures to cut someone off further from sources of support. If someone you care about is in touch less frequently, this may be a sign that an abuser is limiting their contact with others. Also look out for a change in their usual tone if you are in contact by phone.
Prioritising buying items or paying bills that may not seem essential: Someone experiencing financial abuse might prioritise a particular bill to meet the demands of the abuser, who may be spending more time at home. For example, they may need to pay for extra mobile phone data over a water bill. They may also buy expensive items that don't seem essential, such as new technology for the home, to meet the abuser's demands.
Suzanne Jacob OBE, CEO at SafeLives, said: 'Sadly we know that for many people home is not a place of safety, but rather a place where they may face increased control, abuse and isolation. It is crucial we continue to raise awareness of the many forms of domestic abuse. Abuse does not have to be physical and often it involves much more subtle, insidious tactics by the perpetrator - including financial abuse. We're grateful to
SafeLives has worked with specialist charity Surviving Economic Abuse to develop a bespoke training package for teams within
Together with partners, SafeLives and Surviving Economic Abuse,
Report their circumstances using
Conduct secure confidential conversations with
Access existing support services including online banking and mobile app access as well as the ability to open a new account with a different sort code to hide a survivor's location after they leave
(C) 2020 Electronic News Publishing, source