Overview
- Polling of 5,094 adults found 27% of UK mothers with under-18s experienced economic abuse in the past year, indicating effects on roughly 3.9 million children.
- Among affected mothers, 17% said they could not provide essentials such as food or clothing for their children, while 14% reported their child had poor mental health as a result.
- One in six victim-survivors said a partner or ex stole children’s pocket or birthday money, and an equal share reported blocked access to benefits they were entitled to receive.
- Around a third of women who endured economic abuse said their ex-partner refused to pay child maintenance or paid it unreliably despite being able to do so.
- SEA is urging stronger government action to close system loopholes, while Nationwide promotes trained staff and safe spaces in branches and TSB publicises a ‘flee fund’ for essentials.