Economic abuse can happen to anyone, Alberta advocates say

Financial abuse involves controlling or misusing someone’s money, banking, credit, debt or property. Economic abuse can include financial abuse, but also extends to restricting access to employment, education, housing, transportation, childcare and other basic needs.

It also does not necessarily end when a relationship does. According to the CCFWE, economic abuse can continue long after separation, including through joint debt, hidden income or child support, creating barriers that can make it more difficult for survivors to regain their independence and rebuild their lives.

“I think what gets lost often is the more subtle forms of economic abuse that people wouldn’t necessarily always identify as abuse,” Pilipchuk said. “They can really work together to form this cage that absolutely traps someone in their relationship and can make it really difficult for them to leave.”

Those behaviours can include controlling how someone spends their money, restricting where or when they can work, interfering with their employment or controlling their access to basic needs such as food, housing, utilities, clothing and medication.

Economic exploitation can also involve pressuring someone to spend their own money on household essentials while refusing to contribute, borrowing money without paying it back or damaging property in their name.

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