What does financial abuse look like?

Financial abuse can take many forms, and it can often be difficult to spot. Every person’s situation is unique, but here’s some of the most common forms:

• Controlling behaviour: This can include restricting a person’s access to their finances, bank accounts, or financial records, as well as limiting their ability to work, study, or apply for benefits.
• Withholding Financial Support: This involves denying necessary financial assistance that a partner or dependent child needs for their basic maintenance and well-being.
• Coercion Over Assets: Pressuring someone to give up control of their assets, take out loans, or co-sign on credit cards in the name of the controlling partner.
• Exclusion from Financial Decisions: Preventing someone from having a say in household spending or the sale of shared property.
• Financial Dependence: Using control over finances or debt to obstruct a person from leaving a relationship.
• Justification of Spending: Demanding that every expense is justified and evidenced, which can create additional stress and control.
• Harassment via Transactions: Using transaction descriptions in online transfers to intimidate or abuse someone emotionally.
• Monitoring Access: Restricting someone’s access to phones and the internet to control their communication and information.
• Theft of Assets: Taking someone’s money, debit or credit cards, or possessions without their knowledge or consent.
• Forcing Responsibility for Others' Expenses: Forcing someone to pay for someone else’s bills, like utilities or household maintenance bills.