What is Economic Abuse?

Economic abuse is one of the lesser-known forms of domestic abuse, yet it is a devastating form of coercive control and violence against women and girls, and it is rife in Northern Ireland.

16% of women in Northern Ireland experienced economic abuse in the past year, that's almost one in six (Ipsos & SEA, 2024)

At Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA) , the only UK charity dedicated to raising awareness of economic abuse and transforming responses to it, we define it as a perpetrator restricting, exploiting, or sabotaging a victim-survivor's access to the resources she needs to be safe and independent. This can include money, housing, education, employment, transport, utilities and even food.

When I use the phrase economic abuse, people often ask, “Isn’t that just a fancy term for financial abuse?” But financial abuse is only one part of it. Economic abuse isn’t just about money it’s about power and control, reaching into every area of a woman’s life.

A perpetrator may coerce a victim-survivor into debt, refuse to pay shared bills or a mortgage, or restrict the sale of property. They may exploit financial products like bank accounts, credit cards, loans, pensions and insurance. Others sabotage employment or education, purposely making a woman late or absent until she loses her job or course place.

Without economic safety, there is no physical safety. When a perpetrator controls economic resources, it becomes incredibly difficult to leave. And here in Northern Ireland, where we face a femicide crisis, it’s important to note that Home Office data shows a third of domestic homicides include evidence of economic issues.

Economic abuse often escalates post-separation. Perpetrators may refuse child maintenance or weaponise the court system, leaving victim-survivors with huge legal debts. Refuge’s Know Economic Abuse research found 45% of victims couldn’t get a credit card, and a quarter couldn’t buy a home as a result of credit ratings destroyed by economic abuse.

SEA successfully campaigned for economic abuse to be recognised in England and Wales’ Domestic Abuse Act 2021. While it’s not yet named in Northern Ireland’s legislation, it can still be addressed as coercive control.

If we want to end violence against women and girls, we must start recognising and responding to economic abuse.

Surviving Economic Abuse offers specialist training, including funded spaces through Belfast City Council’s Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Local Change Fund.

Contact:

sharon.coyle@survivingeconomicabuse.org

www.survivingeconomicabuse.org

If you’ve experienced economic abuse or are supporting someone who has, visit

survivingeconomicabuse.org/i-need-help for support and resources.

Written by Sharon Coyle, Training and Partnerships Manager, Surviving Economic Abuse