Financial Abuse

This is a form of domestic violence in which the abuser uses money as a means of controlling his partner. It is a tactic that abusers use to gain power and dominance over their partners and is designed to isolate a woman into a state of complete financial dependence. By controlling the woman's access to financial resources, the abuser ensures that she will be prevented from leaving.

It can involve:

• The abuser controlling all household / family finances

• Taking all of the woman's bank cards and emptying joint accounts

• Women's signatures being forged on cheques

• Having to account for all purchases including providing receipts and account for all spending

• Denying you access to your bank account or shared bank accounts

• Sabotaging your work or preventing you from attending work (example: hiding your car keys)

• Withholding money for food, household or personal items

• Not paying bills, rent or the mortgage and allowing arrears to build up

• Non-payment or erratic payment of child maintenance.