If you have experienced economic abuse, you are not alone. There are organisations that can support you with the issues you may be facing.
If you are in immediate danger, call the police on 999. If you are not in immediate danger but have concerns about your safety, there are domestic abuse helplines that you can call, many of which offer a 24-hour service.
The following organisations may be able to help you with specialist information and advice. If you are confident to do so, explain that you are a victim of domestic abuse. This will help them take your safety into account and discuss appropriate options with you. A domestic abuse worker may be able to support you to speak to specialist services.
Coordinates a network of local domestic abuse services nationwide and runs an online chat service (Mon–Fri, 8am–6pm; Sat–Sun 10am–6pm). The website a search function to find local services. It also has information for survivors, including the Survivor’s Handbook and Forum, where survivors share their experiences.
Supports women and children who have experienced domestic abuse by providing refuges and support in the community. Runs a freephone 24-hour helpline.
www.refuge.org.uk
0808 2000 247
Supports anyone with experience of domestic abuse or forced marriage. Runs a 24-hour helpline and has online resources are available in eight languages. You can also email [email protected].
www.sdafmh.org.uk
0800 027 1234
Provides advice and support to women and children in English, Welsh, and other languages. Runs the Live Fear Free Helpline which offers a 24-hour phone service, live online chat and text service. You can also email [email protected].
www.welshwomensaid.org.uk
0808 80 10 800
Open to anyone who has or is currently experiencing domestic or sexual abuse as well as sexual assault. Also has a web chat service or you can email [email protected].
www.dsahelpline.org
0808 802 1414
Anti-violence charity offering support and advice for the LGBT+ community. Runs the national LGBT+ domestic abuse helpline, as well as a webchat service.
www.galop.org.uk
0800 999 5428(Mon, Tues & Fri, 10am–5pm; Wed–Thurs, 10am–8pm)
Runs a helpline to support victims of honour-based abuse and forced marriage.
www.karmanirvana.org.uk
0800 5999 247 (Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm)
Offers specialist advice and information for women from black and minority ethnic groups experiencing violence and abuse.
www.southallblacksisters.org.uk
0208 571 9595 (Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm)
Provides information advice to men with experience of domestic abuse. In addition to the helpline, they have a webchat service and email address.
www.mensadviceline.org.uk
0808 801 0327(Mon–Fri, 9am–8pm)
A user-led organisation run by disabled people. Stay Safe East provides specialist and holistic advocacy and support services to disabled people from diverse communities in London who are victims/survivors of domestic or sexual violence, hate crime, harassment and other forms of abuse.
www.staysafe-east.org.uk
07865 340122 (Mon-Thurs, 10am–5pm)
Provides support and advice to women, particularly of South Asian origin, who have been or are at risk of being disowned due to abuse or persecution.
www.sharan.org.uk
0844 504 3231
AVA’s Breathing Space app can help with signposting, self-care and sharing survivor stories.
Provides resources written by survivors and experts from different cultures and experiences to support recovery from trauma.
Mental Health & Money Advice is the first UK-wide service to combine support for both mental health and financial problems. Their site gathers a range of tools, resources and contacts that can help support anyone across the UK.
www.mentalhealthandmoneyadvice.org
Mind provide advice and support for anyone experiencing a mental health problem. Their Infoline offers confidential help and signposting. They also provide a Legal support line providing information on mental health-related law to the public, service users, family members/carers, mental health professionals and mental health advocates.
www.mind.org.uk
Infoline – 0300 123 3393 (Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm)
Legal line – 0300 466 6463 (Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm)
A free listening service offering support to anyone feeling isolated, distressed or suicidal via a 24-hour phone line and local branches.
www.samaritans.org
116 123
Runs a 24-hour national support line, local support services and an information service for people affected by crime or trauma.
www.victimsupport.org.uk
0808 1689 111
A specialist mental health charity providing free counselling and therapy for women who have experienced domestic abuse.
The Financial Support Line for Victims of Domestic Abuse is run in partnership between Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA) and Money Advice Plus. It offers specialist advice to victim-survivors of domestic abuse in financial difficulty.
0808 1968845 (Mon-Fri, 9am-1pm and 2pm-5pm)
[email protected]
Offers specialist debt and benefit advice. Can offer case work and support to people in financial difficulty within their area. Works with SEA running the Financial Support Line for Victims of Domestic Abuse (see above).
Offers money and pensions guidance online, over the phone and face-to-face. The service is open to everyone and free of charge, aiming to help people clear debts, reduce spending and maximise their income, as well as build up savings.
www.moneyhelper.org.uk
0800 138 7777 (Mon–Fri, 8am–6pm)
Website offers consumer tips to help people cut their bills, find good deals and save money. Users can sign up for weekly money saving tips by email. Website hosts tools including an income tax calculator, discount finder and budget planner, as well as guides on financial products and utilities. In 2019, they published a blog on financial abuse.
Provides advice and information about debt, savings and financial products, and offers workshops and training. The website hosts a Budget Builder.
UK Finance
View the 2021 Financial Abuse Code that many banks and building societies have signed up to. It outlines how banks and building societies should treat people who have been financially abused.
Offers free, confidential advice and information on loans, credit and debt, and recommends solutions. Runs a debt advice helpline with qualified debt advisers.
0800 043 4050 (Mon–Fri, 8am–8pm; Sat, 9am–3pm)
Speak to an expert debt adviser by phone or email. People can also complete a debt questionnaire online to access tailored debt advice and information on debt solutions.
0800 085 0226 (Mon–Fri, 8am–7pm)
Helps people tackle debts and manage money. Runs the National Debtline and Business Debtline, which are free, impartial and confidential debt advice services. Qualified debt advisers are available by phone, with fact sheets online. Also offers training and resources.
www.moneyadvicetrust.org
National Debtline 0808 808 4000 (Mon–Fri, 9am–8pm; Sat, 9.30am–1pm)
Business Debtline 0800 197 6026 (Mon–Fri, 9am–8pm)
Get expert debt advice, online or by phone, based on your situation. Recommends debt solutions and provides debt information.
www.stepchange.org
0800 138 1111 (Mon–Fri, 8am–8pm; Sat, 8am–4pm)
Helps people in financial hardship access benefits, grants and support. The website has a benefits calculator, grants search and a ‘find an adviser’ tool to look for local support. Turn2us also has its own grants scheme and a freephone helpline.
www.turn2us.org.uk
0808 802 2000 (Mon–Fri, 9am–5.30pm)
Provides free debt advice in line with Scottish debt law. Via the free helpline, you can book an appointment with a Scottish debt adviser.
www.stepchange.org/how-we-help/debt-advice-scotland
0800 138 1111 (Mon–Fri, 8am–8pm; Sat, 8am–4pm)
Debt service provides free, confidential tailored debt advice, as well as information on solutions to tackle debt. Services are available in each council area. Can negotiate with creditors on your behalf.
www.adviceni.net/money-debt/debt
0800 915 4604
We also have a list of some of the grants that you may be entitled to and information on debt.
Defends the legal rights of people who cannot afford a lawyer. All Law Centres offer face-to-face legal advice to local residents, and some run a telephone advice line.
The government’s legal aid scheme can help people who are eligible meet the costs of legal advice, family mediation and representation in a court or tribunal. Use the website to check if you are eligible. Please note that Legal aid rules are different in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
A network of family lawyers committed to resolving family disputes in a way that considers the needs of the whole family, particularly children. Find a lawyer and access information and support online.
www.resolution.org.uk
020 3841 0300 (Mon–Fri, 9am–5.30pm)
Supports women with advice and information on their legal rights so that they can access justice. Runs advice lines on family law, criminal law and immigration law, and offers legal guides on topics including marriage, divorce and finances; domestic abuse; children and the law; sexual violence; and legal aid.
www.rightsofwomen.org.uk
Family law: 020 7251 6577 (Tues–Thu, 7pm–9pm; Fri, 12pm–2pm)
Criminal law: 020 7251 8887 (Tues, 7pm–9pm; Thurs, 2pm–4pm; Fri 10am–12pm)
Provides details of local solicitors and legal advisers.
www.lawsociety.org.uk
020 7242 1222 (Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm)
Advicenow is a not-for-profit website run by the charity Law for Life. It provides practical information on rights and the law in England and Wales.
For organisations that can support you with advice and representation at low or no cost if you are going through legal proceedings, see our resource Accessing legal support. We also have information about immigration support and ‘no recourse to public funds‘.
If you are in urgent need of a refuge, contact the National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247 (available 24 hours, run by Refuge).
If you are looking for alternative accommodation, contact your local authority – some have private rented assistance schemes. Local authorities have a list of local housing associations that may also be useful. We have further information and guidance on housing.
Shelter
Supports people facing housing issues or homelessness with advice, support and legal services. Runs face-to-face advice and support services across the UK, has expert information online, and offers free legal advice to support people who have lost their homes or are facing eviction. Also runs a helpline for people in need of urgent housing advice, including those at risk of harm.
Call HMRC for information about eligibility, claiming and stopping Child Benefit, changing your details and making a complaint.
www.gov.uk/child-benefit
0300 200 3100 (Mon–Fri, 8am–6pm)
Can help resolve disagreements about child maintenance. Can work out how much should be paid, arrange payments between parties and take action if payments are not made. Victims of domestic abuse are exempt from paying the £20 application fee.
www.gov.uk/child-maintenance
0800 171 2345 (Mon–Fri, 8:30am–3:30pm)
Provides practical, emotional and financial support to families experiencing financial hardship or domestic abuse. Support services include grants, mental health and wellbeing services, and a phone support service.
www.family-action.org.uk
0808 802 6666 (Mon–Fri, 9am–9pm)
Provides information to help single parents, including on managing money, debt and child maintenance. Also runs programmes to help build skills and opportunities for employment, as well as a helpline, online chat service and forum.
www.gingerbread.org.uk
0808 802 0925 (Mon, 10am–6pm; Tues, Thurs & Fri, 10am–4pm; Wed, 10am–1pm & 5pm–7pm)
Has information on family legal matters and attending court, and a helpline staffed by trained legal advisers. Service covers England only.
Women’s Aid has a website called The Hide Out especially to help children and young people understand domestic abuse and to support them to cope with the effects.
Older children might find the information on the website Love is Respect helps them to understand what’s going on.
The Family Fund
Provides grants for low-income families raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people, including for household equipment, sensory toys and family breaks.
www.familyfund.org.uk
01904 550 055
You can find more information on supporting children here.
You can sign up to the Protective Registration service if you have had personal details leaked or stolen, or if you have evidence of unusual activity on your accounts. This service can flag concerns to companies providing credit.
Can provide practical information about your data protection and information rights.
Can remove people from mailing lists to prevent post going to an old address.
www.mpsonline.org.uk
0207 291 3310
Contact Royal Mail for privacy queries regarding post or mail redirection.
www.royalmail.com
03457 777 888
You can find further information on Economic Abuse and the postal service here.
Provides education, support and a helpline for people experiencing stalking and harassment. Also has an online ‘Am I Being Stalked?’ tool.
www.suzylamplugh.org
0808 802 0300 (Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri, 9.30am–4pm; Wed, 9.30–8pm)
Provides support for stalking victims in Scotland, including a Throughcare Stalking Support Service and psychological support from qualified, experienced and accredited professionals.
www.actionagainststalking.org
0800 820 2427 (a voicemail service – leave a message and they will return your call)
Citizen’s Advice has a wealth of information and resources on issues such as housing, benefits and your legal rights. Be aware that their main website is for residents of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. There is a separate site for people who live in Scotland.
Last updated March 2022
If you are experiencing economic abuse, you are not alone. We have more information that can support you to take steps towards safety and begin to regain control of your finances.
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