Scotland investigates cost of leaving abusive relationships

Leaving an abusive relationship is hard, financially and emotionally. This has been recognised by the Scottish government, which wants to understand just how expensive it is to escape such situations.  

The social justice and social security committee has launched an inquiry into the financial struggles women face when leaving an abusive partner.  

They will also look into:  

• what support survivors can access 

• how social security and public systems handle financial challenges in abusive situations 

• what advice and information is available 

The inquiry is open for input from 13 December 2024 to 20 February 2025 and you can respond anonymously. 

The cost of leaving  

Since 2018-19, Scottish police have logged over 60,000 domestic abuse incidents every year. With many cases left unreported, the true figure is sadly likely to be far higher. 

Women’s Aid research shows it can cost upwards of £50,000 to leave an abuser.  

The biggest costs are:  

• legal fees for family courts  

• housing – this is the second largest financial burden 

• Even with state support, a survivor can face a £10,000 gap – this doubles if they don’t have access to public funds due to immigration status. 

Domestic abuse at Christmas  

Sadly, incidents of domestic abuse rise at this time of year.  

The women’s charity Refuge warns that Christmas brings specific challenges for victims, such as social isolation and increased costs which are made worse by the cost-of-living crisis. 

Collette Stevenson, convener of the social justice and social security committee, says:

"The Christmas period should be a time where women can get together with their families. 

"But sadly for many women suffering from abuse Christmas can be a lonely and terrible time, with economic abuse trapping them in abusive relationships.” 

What is economic abuse? 

Economic abuse is a form of control that often goes unnoticed. It involves limiting a partner’s access to money, work, or education to keep them dependent on the abuser. 

Common examples of financial abuse include: 

• building up debt on joint accounts or credit cards 

• taking loans or mortgages in your name without consent 

• controlling household spending 

• withholding child support payments 

• stopping you from earning your own money 

Sebrina McCullough, our head of external relations explains:  

“Financial or economic abuse can be subtle and develop gradually but can have a devastating long-term effect on each survivor, not just limiting their financial wellbeing but also impacting on social inclusion, housing security and physical and mental health.  

“It can affect women from all social backgrounds and walks of life – no one is exempt.” 

Struggle to break free 

Many women feel trapped in these relationships because they don’t see a way out without financial independence. Often, they feel dependent on their abusive partner and their confidence becomes drained over time. But help is available. 

We offer female advisers who provide tailored support, including: 

• reviewing benefits and grant options 

• helping with debt issues 

• connecting survivors to support organisations like Refuge 

• have translators on hand to help women who don’t speak English as a first language 

Scrapping the PARV order  

What has Labour said about tackling domestic violence?  

Before the general election, Keir Starmer said he wanted to “imagine a society where violence against women is stamped out everywhere.”  

In September, the government announced its ‘first steps’ policy in the government’s pledge to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG).   

These first steps include:  

• domestic abuse specialists embedded in 999 control rooms 

• domestic abuse protection orders to keep abusers away from victims 

• six police forces empowered to charge suspects directly 

• specialist advisers for domestic abuse victims  

• programs to combat sexism in schools and train young male influencers 

Have your say 

If you’ve experienced domestic abuse, the Scottish parliament inquiry is interested in hearing your views. This is your chance to have a say in how Scotland supports women escaping abusive relationships.  

Views can be submitted by using the online submission form.