What is Economic Abuse? How to Find Support

Economic abuse, otherwise known as financial abuse, can be hard to recognise, especially when it happens in a close relationship or within a family. It is a form of coercive control and domestic abuse, and it can affect your access to money, financial independence, and sense of safety.

This guide explains what economic abuse is, how to recognise the signs, where to get support and what steps may help you recover. 

What is financial abuse?

Financial abuse is a legally recognised form of domestic abuse. In simple terms, it involves controlling a person’s ability to acquire, use, or maintain money and financial resources. This then limits independence and makes it harder to leave or rebuild after abuse.

It often happens in the context of an intimate partner or family relationship. It can involve the control of a partner, ex-partner or relative’s money and finances, as well as the things that money can buy.

Economic abuse can also involve identity theft, where someone uses another person’s personal information without consent to obtain goods or services, often for financial gain. This can include taking out loans, opening bank accounts or using credit cards in someone else’s name.

Coerced debt is a related form of abuse, where someone is pressured or forced into taking out credit or loans.

The impact of economic abuse

The impact of economic abuse can last long after the abusive behaviour itself. For many people, it creates financial instability, damages credit records, leads to long-term debt and makes it harder to regain independence.

It can also cause emotional and psychological stress. Someone experiencing economic abuse may feel trapped, monitored or unable to make basic decisions about work, spending or daily life. 

Over time, that loss of control can affect confidence, safety and the ability to move forward.

Types of economic abuse

Economic abuse can take different forms, and it is not always obvious at first. In some cases, it is direct and visible. In others, it happens through subtle patterns of control that build over time and make someone more dependent.

Below are some of the main financial abuse examples that are used to control victims.

1. Controlling access to money

This form of economic abuse involves controlling someone’s money or financial information. It can include withholding money for essentials, hiding money, making someone ask for money, or keeping important financial details from them.

It can also mean dictating spending, demanding receipts or change, or stopping someone from accessing a bank account. 

2. Financial coercion

Financial coercion is when someone is pressured or forced into financial decisions they did not choose freely. This can include being made to take out credit, buy something on finance, or sign papers without understanding them.

It can also involve loans or accounts being taken out in their name without consent. This can lead to debt and long-term financial harm.

3. Economic exploitation

Economic exploitation is when someone uses another person’s money, income, possessions or financial identity for their own benefit. This can include stealing money, taking wages or savings, using a credit card without consent, or putting bills in someone else’s name.

It can also involve building up debt in another person’s name or making them pay for things against their wishes. Over time, this can seriously affect financial stability.

4. Restricting work or education

Economic abuse can also limit a person’s ability to earn or become more independent. Someone may be stopped from working, prevented from going to work, or put under pressure that makes employment difficult.

This can reduce confidence, block progress and increase financial dependence over time.

Signs of financial abuse

Signs you may be experiencing economic abuse

If a family member, partner or former partner controls how you access, spend or earn money, you may be experiencing economic abuse. 

Surviving Economic Abuse advises that if you can answer yes to one or more of the following questions, economic abuse may be part of what you are experiencing.

Has your relative, current or former partner ever:

• Stopped you from having the money you needed to buy food, clothes or other essentials, or to pay the bills? 
• Dictated how you must spend money?
• Insisted you give them receipts or change from any purchases?
• Hidden money so you couldn’t find it?
• Kept important financial information from you?
• Made you ask for money when you needed it?
• Stopped you from having a job or going to work, or made it difficult for you to do so?
• Forced you to get a credit card or loan?
• Made you buy something on credit when you didn’t want to?
• Taken out a credit card or loan in your name?
• Bought something on your credit card without your knowledge or consent? 
• Made you buy things for them or pay their bills when you didn’t want to?
• Spent their money however they wanted while your money was used for essentials? 
• Stolen things from you?
• Put bills in your name so you had to pay them?
• Built up debt in your name?
• Forced you to give them savings or wages?
• Stopped you from having or accessing a bank account?
• Made you sign papers without telling you what they were for?
• Broken or destroyed your possessions? 

Signs someone else may be experiencing economic abuse

Economic abuse can also be difficult to spot from the outside. However, friends, relatives and colleagues may notice changes before the person affected feels able to talk about them.

Signs someone else may be experiencing economic abuse can include:

• Sudden financial dependence on a partner or family member
• Unexplained debt or accounts that they do not seem to control
• Limited access to their own money or bank account
• Anxiety around spending or needing permission to buy essentials
• Difficulty staying in work or education because of pressure at home
• A lack of financial autonomy in situations where you would usually expect it

Financial abuse in relationships and marriage

Economic abuse often happens in marriages, long-term relationships and family settings. It can involve one person using money, accounts or financial decisions to control another.

This may be hidden behind shared finances or one person “taking charge” of money. Even when it seems subtle, it is serious if it limits choice, increases dependency or makes it harder to meet your own needs safely.

How to get help and support with economic abuse

Support with economic abuse can include emotional support, domestic abuse support and specialist financial help. If it is safe to do so, speaking to someone you trust can be a good first step. Specialist services can also help you understand your options and make plans around money, debt, and safety.

Money Advice Plus runs the Financial Support Line for Victims of Domestic Abuse in partnership with Surviving Economic Abuse. The service helps victims and survivors with money worries and aims to support financial control and stability.

Advisers can help with debt, including coerced debt, benefits, budgeting, bills and banking issues. In cases of abuse survivors suffering severe hardship, they may also be able to signpost or refer people for small grants.

The line is available on 0808 196 8845, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Other UK support organisations include:

• National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247
• Women’s Aid local services
• Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA)
• Money Advice Plus: 0808 196 8845
• StepChangefor debt support

Recognising and responding to economic abuse

Recognising economic abuse is an important step. It is real, serious and often linked to wider domestic abuse, but support is available, and recovery is possible. If any of the signs in this guide feel familiar, specialist support can help you think through your next steps safely.

It may also help to check your credit report so you can spot accounts in your name, identify unexpected financial links and monitor changes over time. Used carefully, tools like this can support your recovery alongside specialist advice.

FAQs about economic abuse

Is economic abuse a form of domestic abuse?

Yes. Economic abuse is recognised in UK law as a form of domestic abuse under the Domestic Abuse Act.

Can financial abuse happen without physical abuse?

Yes. Economic abuse does not need to involve physical abuse to be serious. It can happen on its own or alongside other forms of abuse, and it can still have a major effect on safety, independence and long-term financial stability.

What should I do if I think I’m being financially abused?

If it is safe to do so, seek specialist support and talk to someone you trust. You can contact organisations such as the National Domestic Abuse Helpline, Surviving Economic Abuse or the Financial Support Line for Victims of Domestic Abuse for practical and confidential guidance.

It may also help to review your credit information for accounts, debt or financial links that you do not recognise.