A new report from Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA), the UK’s only charity dedicated to tackling economic abuse, shows a shocking 55% of women in the UK don’t know anything about this devastating form of domestic abuse and 33% only know ‘a little’ about it.

This is particularly stark as the survey, conducted on behalf of SEA by Ipsos UK, shows that more than 4 million women (15% of women in the UK) have had their money and economic resources controlled by an abuser in the previous 12 months. Of these women, 42% did not speak to anyone, not even a family member or friend, about what they were going through.

Economic abuse is a dangerous and vastly prevalent form of domestic abuse that takes many forms – including a current or ex-partner restricting access to money or bank accounts, damaging property or possessions, taking out loans or building up debt in a victim-survivor’s name.

The report, ‘Counting the Cost: The Scale and Impact of Economic Abuse in the UK’, found for the first time that the impact of the perpetrators’ economic abuse is not experienced by all equally. Women already facing structural disadvantage are most affected by the abuser’s economic control and report the greatest levels of harm, like poor mental health, financial difficulty, and homelessness. The survey showed that in the previous 12 months:

• 29% of Black, Asian and racially minoritised UK women had experienced at least one form of economic abuse compared to 13% of White UK women. Black and mixed-race victim-survivors were more likely to be harmed (84% and 90% respectively) than White victim-survivors (69%).
• 23% of disabled UK women had experienced at least one form of economic abuse compared to 13% of non-disabled UK women. Disabled victim-survivors were disproportionately impacted, with 84% reporting harm, compared to 67% of non-disabled victim-survivors.
• 38% of younger UK women aged 18-24 had experienced economic abuse, but less than half of them (44%) identified their experiences as such. Younger victim-survivors aged 18–34 were the most likely to report harm (80–82%), compared to 48% of victim-survivors aged 55+.
• 28% of UK women with children in the household had experienced economic abuse, compared to 10% of UK women without children. 75% of women with children had experienced harm as a result of the economic abuse compared to 68% of women without children.
• 77% of victim-survivors from lower socio-economic groups experienced harm as a result of the economic abuse, 10 percentage points higher than victim-survivors from higher socio-economic groups (67%).

The report found that awareness of economic abuse makes a difference to those seeking help:

• Victim-survivors who had heard the term ‘economic abuse’ and knew a lot or a little about it were more likely to seek help; 59% compared to just 41% who had not heard of it.
• Victim-survivors who had heard the term ‘economic abuse’ were also more likely to speak to a domestic abuse charity (11% vs. 3%).
• Banks and building societies were also accessed more by victim-survivors who had heard the term economic abuse and knew a lot or a little about it (6% vs. 1%).

Among women who had experienced economic abuse, those who had heard of SEA reported lower levels of poor mental health (such as anxiety, depression or self-harm) than those who had not (25% vs 41%).

Sam Smethers, CEO of Surviving Economic Abuse, said: “The Prime Minister has described economic abuse as a ‘national emergency’ and our data shows this to be true with 4.1 million women experiencing it. Yet the vast majority know only a little or nothing about it and 4 in 10 do not seek any help. But awareness is critical because those who are aware are more likely to get the help they need.

“Many are trapped in dangerous situations with an abuser or left with mountains of debt, homeless and experiencing this form of coercive control long after the relationship has ended.   Economic abuse is devastating for all victim-survivors but for, the first time, our data shows the impact of this abuse is felt particularly strongly by younger women, mothers, Black and minoritised women and disabled women.

“The only way the Government will achieve its goal of halving violence against women and girls in ten years is to place economic abuse at the heart of its strategy. It must act now to better support victim-survivors and their children and help stop economic abuse forever.”

Zoe* was trapped in a relationship with the abuser for ten years. He has continued to subject her to post-separation abuse since they split. 

“For so long, I felt ashamed. Everyone acted like I was just bad with money, that it was my fault I couldn’t make ends meet. When my ex refused to pay child maintenance, I was told there was nothing anyone could do. I took on more debt just to buy shoes and clothes for my child, debts I still owe today.

“He used money as a weapon — even after the relationship ended. I had to sell our home, live with the consequences of the bad credit he’d forced me into, and over twenty years later, I’m still in housing insecurity.

“Knowing this was economic abuse would have made such a difference. It’s not just ‘what happens’ after divorce — it’s abuse, and people need to know that. That’s why I tell anyone going through this to contact SEA, and to speak to their bank — there is help, and you’re not alone.”

As it launches its new three-year strategy, SEA is calling for a whole-society response to break the cycle of economic abuse that traps victim-survivors with abusers and prevents women and children from safely rebuilding their lives. SEA urges the government to put economic abuse at the centre of its strategy to halve violence against women and girls in a decade. As part of this, it must help drive systemic change across the public and private sectors, turning good practice into common practice, to transform the lives of victim-survivors.

The charity also calls on the public to join its mission to raise awareness of economic abuse so more victim-survivors and those around them can spot the signs and access support. Add your voice to help save lives and stop economic abuse forever here.

If someone you care about is experiencing economic abuse, or you think they might be, Surviving Economic Abuse has information on some of the signs to look out for and what you can do to help:

1. Look out for warning signs

• Are they short of money or unable to buy inexpensive items even if they work? Have they asked to borrow money to pay bills or for essential items?
• Do they say their partner deals with all money matters? Are their wages or benefits paid directly into their partner’s account?
• Are they counting the pennies, or seeking their partner’s permission before making any purchases?
• Have they left their work when they liked their job? Do they make excuses not to join friends for coffee and meals out?
• Do they wear ill-fitting or worn-out clothing? Do they not have the money to go to the hairdresser’s or buy personal items?

2. How to offer support

• Express concern – don’t ask too many questions, but say help is available and that they are not alone.
• Believe them – take time to listen and recognise it may take time to act.
• Provide practical help – offer a spare room or provide essential items like food, clothing, and toiletries.
• Have information about domestic abuse services to hand, such as the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247, run by Refuge. Surviving Economic Abuse has information on available support, including how professionals like the police and banks can help: https://survivingeconomicabuse.org/i-need-help/

ENDS

For further information or to arrange an interview with a victim-survivor or SEA spokesperson, please contact Surviving Economic Abuse press office: [email protected] / 07786 073249