• Economic and financial abuse is a form of intimate partner violence. It aims to limit a woman’s access to finances or resources in order to control her behavior and undermine her economic independence.
• Economic and financial abuse is widespread. Research suggests that 15.7% of women have experienced this type of abuse in their lifetimes. Some women are at greater risk; 63% of women who were experiencing high financial stress and 24% of women with a disability or long-term health condition had a history of economic and financial abuse.
• Older women are also particularly vulnerable. In 2014-15, the most commonly reported type of abuse to the Elder Abuse Prevention Unit helpline was financial abuse, accounting for 40% of reports (AIFS, 2016).
• Economic and financial abuse is highly likely to be present alongside other forms of abuse such as sexual and physical abuse. It can continue long after the relationship has ended, making it difficult for women to leave abusive relationships and/or to achieve financial security postseparation.