As we move into the final few months of 2026, and with the Autumn Budget bringing household finances and the cost of living back into sharp focus, I’ve been reflecting on the challenges facing individuals and families across our communities.
Whether it’s the cost of food, energy, housing, transport or simply managing everyday expenses, financial security remains a significant concern for many.
We often talk about the difficult choices people are having to make, the pressure of stretching household budgets and the importance of supporting those who are struggling financially.
But what about those who don’t have the freedom to make those choices in the first place?
What about someone who cannot access their own wages, is prevented from working, has debts created in their name or has to ask permission to purchase everyday essentials?
For some, financial hardship isn’t simply about the rising cost of living. It’s about someone else deliberately restricting their choices, resources and independence.
It’s About More Than Money!
At Alpha Vesta, we continue to see misunderstandings around domestic abuse, with outdated definitions and terminologies sometimes reinforcing stereotypes and misconceptions across the media, professional practice and public awareness.
Despite the introduction of the statutory definition under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, which explicitly recognises economic abuse, references to financial abuse are still commonly used without acknowledging the broader impact.
Economic abuse goes far beyond money or bank accounts. It can involve restricting, controlling, exploiting or sabotaging someone’s access to the resources and opportunities they need to live independently.
This might include:
- Restricting access to wages, benefits or household finances.
- Monitoring spending, demanding receipts or controlling banking apps and passwords.
- Pressuring someone into debt or financial commitments.
- Interfering with employment, education or access to transport.
- Withholding money for everyday essentials, including children’s needs.
- Continuing financial control after separation through mortgages, bills or shared responsibilities.
These behaviours can develop gradually, sometimes disguised as care, support or concern.
Importantly, not all arrangements where one person manages household finances are abusive. What matters is whether decisions are freely agreed, individuals retain choice and independence, and resources are not being used to control, exploit or harm someone.
Recognising these distinctions is essential to identifying economic abuse early and helping people access appropriate support.
Financial pressures can affect anyone, but for someone experiencing economic abuse within the context of domestic abuse, those pressures may create additional barriers to safety and independence.
Imagine wanting to leave an abusive relationship but having no access to savings, no independent income, debts in your name or nowhere affordable to live.
Imagine being prevented from working, or having your employment repeatedly disrupted by someone else’s behaviour.
Imagine having left an abusive relationship, only to find that joint financial commitments, housing costs or deliberately created debts continue to affect your ability to rebuild your life.
When everyday essentials become more expensive, the consequences of being denied access to money, housing, transport or employment can become even more significant.
And whilst we rightly discuss the current financial pressures facing households, we must also recognise that not everyone has equal freedom to make decisions about their own finances. For some, the question isn’t simply whether they can afford something; it’s whether someone else will allow them to access it.
According to the Crime Survey for England and Wales, year ending March 2025, around 1 in 9 adults had experienced economic abuse since the age of 16.
That’s a significant number of people who may have experienced restrictions on their financial independence, opportunities or access to essential resources. Yet economic abuse can be particularly difficult to recognise, especially when someone doesn’t identify what they are experiencing as domestic abuse.
And this is where we believe our communities, employers, colleagues, friends and family members have such an important role to play. It’s not about making assumptions, investigating someone’s personal circumstances or trying to fix the situation. It’s about recognising when something might not be right, responding with compassion and knowing how to signpost someone towards appropriate support.
Why Getting the Fundamentals Right, Really Matters
At Alpha Vesta, we believe that accurate information and a clear understanding of domestic abuse are essential to recognising the signs and responding appropriately.
If we continue to describe economic abuse only in terms of financial control, we risk overlooking the wider ways in which someone’s independence can be undermined.
If we assume domestic abuse always involves physical violence or only happens to women, we risk missing other experiences of abuse.
And if we don’t understand the difference between behaviours recognised within the statutory definition and specific criminal offences, we risk creating confusion about how domestic abuse is identified and responded to.
For example, economic abuse is recognised under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 but is not a standalone criminal offence. However, it can form part of the criminal offence of controlling or coercive behaviour, where the legal criteria are met, or involve other offences such as fraud or theft.
These distinctions really matter. Misunderstandings can reinforce stereotypes, prevent people from recognising abuse and create barriers to accessing appropriate support.
Accurate information, appropriate training and a better understanding of the different forms of domestic abuse are fundamental to prevention and early intervention.
After all, we cannot recognise what we don’t understand.
#IDidntKnow – Helping More People Recognise Economic Abuse
This autumn, we’ve been updating our #IDidntKnow resources to raise awareness of the different forms of domestic abuse and help people recognise what they might see, hear or notice in everyday situations.
Our newly developed Economic Abuse factsheet highlights four ways economic abuse can manifest:
RESTRICT – Limiting access to money, resources or everyday essentials.
CONTROL – Taking away someone’s choices and independence.
EXPLOIT – Misusing someone’s money, possessions or financial responsibilities.
SABOTAGE – Undermining their ability to work, study or maintain financial stability.
Through this resource, we hope to challenge misconceptions, encourage conversations and help individuals, communities and organisations recognise when someone may need support.
A Final Thought
As conversations continue around the cost of living, financial security and the economic pressures facing our communities, we hope with this blog we can also shine a light on those whose choices, resources and independence are being deliberately restricted by someone else.
Domestic abuse doesn’t always look the way we might expect. It isn’t always visible, those experiencing it may not recognise it as abuse, and its impact can continue long after the abuse has ended.
At Alpha Vesta, we remain committed to breaking the cycle of domestic abuse through awareness, prevention and early intervention. By working together with individuals, communities, employers and professionals, we can help build the understanding and confidence needed to recognise the signs, reach out safely and signpost to appropriate support.
So, as we head towards the end of another year, I’d encourage you to take a few moments to read and share our Economic Abuse factsheet. You never know when something you learn today might help you recognise something tomorrow.
All the best
Lucy
Lucy Whittaker
Founding Director & Lead Trainer
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