Supporting access to income and essential resources is a key part of economic abuse advocacy. 

The information in this section is designed to help professionals respond to financial hardship, strengthen economic safety and support victim-survivors of economic abuse towards economic independence. 

Information in this section 

Coerced debt: information for domestic abuse practitioners 

Economic abuse can leave victim-survivors facing coerced debt, arrears, damaged credit and ongoing financial harm. This information provides guidance on recognising coerced debt, supporting conversations about coerced debt and accessing appropriate referral pathways. 

Supporting safe banking through economic abuse advocacy 

Safe banking is often a critical part of safety planning. This information supports professionals to recognise banking-related economic abuse, support safe disclosures and access specialist banking support to help victim-survivors regain control of their finances. 

Supporting safety through flexible funds

Economic abuse can leave victim-survivors without access to food, transport, heating, accommodation and other essentials. This information explores how flexible funds and hardship support can help address immediate safety risks and reduce barriers to economic stability and independence. 

Economic abuse advocacy on employment, skills and economic independence  

Economic abuse can disrupt employment, education and training opportunities, limiting a victim-survivor’s ability to access income and maintain financial independence. This information provides guidance on recognising employment sabotage and supporting pathways into employment, skills development and economic independence. 

Who is this information for? 

This information is relevant for practitioners across the coordinated community response, including: 

• Domestic abuse services 
• Housing providers 
• Health and social care services 
• Welfare rights advisers 
• Employment and skills services 
• Banking and financial services 
• Local authorities 
• Community and voluntary organisations 

While some information may be particularly relevant to specific sectors, all practitioners can play a role in recognising economic abuse, identifying barriers to economic independence and supporting access to appropriate help. 

Building confidence in economic abuse advocacy 

Economic abuse can be difficult to identify and respond to. Surviving Economic Abuse provides training, consultancy and practical resources to help organisations strengthen their response and build confidence in economic abuse advocacy. 

As the LEAA model grows, we will be adding more practical resources and guidance for practitioners on how to support victim-survivors with access to income and essentials.  

Join our practitioners’ network to stay up to date with the latest information and guidance on economic abuse advocacy.  

Further information on the Local economic abuse advocacy model