Economic abuse

This also includes (but is not limited to) preventing the victim from finishing education or obtaining employment, or intentionally squandering or misusing communal resources.

By restricting the victim's access to economic resources, the offender has limited recourses to exit the abusive or violent relationship.

They may also greatly limit their ability to leave the abusive situation by refusing to pay court-ordered spousal or child support.

Economic abuse is a common feature of mate crime, which is the act of befriending a vulnerable person with the intent of exploiting them.

[7] The Survivors’ Empowerment and Economic Security Act was introduced by the 110th United States Congress to the Senate (S. 1136) and House of Representatives (H.R.

It was first defined in law in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021[1], which was introduced into parliament in early 2020 and was given Royal Assent on 29 April 2021.

The Act defines economic abuse as any behaviour that has a substantial adverse effect on a victim's ability to acquire, use or maintain money or other property, or obtain goods or services.