Financial Abuse

Financial abuse can take many forms, from denying you all access to funds, to making you solely responsible for all finances while handling money irresponsibly him or herself.

Money becomes a tool by which the abuser can further control the victim, ensuring either your financial dependence, or shifting the responsibility of keeping a roof over the family's head onto you while simultaneously denying your ability to do so or obstructing you.

Financial abuse can include the following:

• preventing you from getting or keeping a job
• denying you sufficient housekeeping
• having to account for every penny spent
• denying access to cheque book/account/finances
• putting all bills in your name
• demanding your paychecks
• spending money allocated to bills/groceries on himself
• forcing you to beg or commit crimes for money
• spending Child Benefit on himself
• not permitting you to spend available funds on yourself or children

Many survivors of abuse with children have reported that financial abuse has been an ongoing problem since they left their abuser, with refusal to pay regular child maintenance the most common mentioned aspect.

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