The Economic Safety Kit.

Your Exit Strategy

A step by step guide on how to leave an abusive relationship.

Before you read this kit

Your safety comes first. If you are in immediate danger, call 999. This kit is designed to be used at your own pace — you do not have to do everything at once. Store this document somewhere private. You are not alone. The National Domestic Abuse Helpline is free and confidential: 0808 2000 247. The guide is available to print, but if it is not safe for you to do so, it may be wise to ask a friend to do this for you.

Before taking any action

Some financial or digital changes may alert the person harming you.

Opening a new bank account, redirecting money, changing passwords, checking a device or restricting a joint account could be noticed.

Only take a step when it feels safe for you to do so.

Where possible:

  • use a device and email account the other person cannot access;

  • speak to a domestic abuse specialist before making major changes;

  • make a personal safety plan based on your circumstances;

  • remember that private browsing and the Quick Exit button may not remove every trace of your activity.

You do not have to complete every step. Start with the action that feels safest and most useful today.

If you are in immediate danger, call 999. If you cannot speak on a mobile call, listen to the operator and press 55 when prompted.

  • Copies of these documents give you evidence and identity proof for housing, benefits, banking, legal proceedings, and debt resolution

    IDENTITY DOCUMENTS

    ☐     Passport (yours and your children's)

    ☐     Birth certificate (yours and your children's)

    ☐     National Insurance number (card or letter)

    ☐     Driving licence or other photo ID

    ☐     Marriage or civil partnership certificate

    ☐     Any immigration documents (visa, biometric residence permit, settled status confirmation)

     

    FINANCIAL AND PROPERTY DOCUMENTS

    ☐     Recent bank statements for all accounts (at least 3 months)

    ☐     Credit card and loan statements — including any you did not open yourself

    ☐     Mortgage documents or tenancy agreement / lease

    ☐     Council tax bills and utility bills in your name or jointly held

    ☐     Payslips (yours) or evidence of income

    ☐     Benefits letters (Universal Credit, Child Benefit, Tax Credits, PIP, etc.)

    ☐     Pension information — yours and, if accessible, your partner's

    ☐     Joint asset documents — savings accounts, ISAs, investments

    ☐     Vehicle registration documents (V5C) if relevant

     

    LEGAL DOCUMENTS

    ☐     Any existing court orders — Non-Molestation Orders, Occupation Orders, Restraining Orders

    ☐     Separation agreements or any previous legal correspondence

    ☐     Children's school records or medical documents if relevant to custody

  • Your bank can be one of your most powerful allies — even before you leave

    Many banks and building societies can help. The UK Finance Financial Abuse Code (Third Edition, April 2025) means that over 40 firms and brands have made specific commitments to support you. You do not need to have left the relationship to ask for help.

    STEP 1: OPEN A PRIVATE BANK ACCOUNT

    ☐     Open a new bank account at a different bank from any account your partner has access to

    ☐     Ensure your partner's name is not on the new account in any way

    ☐     Use a different address if possible — or ask the bank about their safe address scheme

    ☐     Redirect any income, wages, or benefits to this new private account

    ☐     Do not access this account on any device shared with your partner

    STEP 2: CONTACT YOUR BANK'S SPECIALIST TEAM

    ☐     Call your bank and ask to speak to their vulnerability team, financial abuse team, or domestic abuse support team

    ☐     Ask about Safe Spaces — many bank branches provide a private space where you can make calls or access support

    ☐     Ask whether they accept the Economic Abuse Evidence Form (EAEF) — this allows a trained debt adviser to communicate your situation to creditors without you having to repeat your story each time

    ☐     Ask about freezing or restricting joint accounts to prevent further damage

    ☐     Report any accounts, cards or loans taken out in your name without your consent

    STEP 3: PROTECT YOUR CREDIT

    ☐     Check your credit report (free) at Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion

    ☐     Add a Notice of Correction to your credit file if you have been a victim of fraud or coercion

    ☐     Apply to de-link from a financial association with your partner (financial disassociation)

    ☐     If you have coerced debt, contact StepChange (0800 138 1111) or National Debtline (0808 808 4000)

    The Economic Abuse Evidence Form (EAEF)
    The EAEF is a powerful tool. A specially trained money or debt adviser completes it on your behalf and sends it to your creditors, so you only have to tell your story once. In its pilot, cases supported by an EAEF had a median decision time of 13 days, compared with 63 days for cases without one. Only advisers trained by Money Advice Plus and Surviving Economic Abuse can complete the form, so the best route in is the Financial Support Line for Victims of Domestic Abuse (run by Money Advice Plus): 0808 196 8845. Your IDVA or debt adviser can also refer you to a specialist economic-abuse debt-advice service.

  • Abusers frequently use technology to monitor financial activity and movements

    DEVICES

    ☐     Check whether any of your devices (phone, tablet, laptop) are monitored — look for unfamiliar apps

    ☐     Change your phone PIN/passcode on a safe device

    ☐     Review app permissions — check which apps have access to your location

    ☐     If you cannot safely check your devices, use a separate device for any planning or research

     

    ONLINE ACCOUNTS & PASSWORDS

    ☐     Change passwords on all email accounts

    ☐     Change passwords on all banking and financial apps

    ☐     Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on all accounts

    ☐     Check whether your partner has access to your email

    ☐     Check whether joint Apple ID, Google account or Microsoft account gives your partner visibility of your location or messages

     

    SAFE COMMUNICATION

    ☐     Use a private, secure messaging app (Signal is recommended) for conversations about your plans — on a safe device

    ☐     If you need to save documents digitally, use a cloud account (Google Drive, Dropbox) that your partner has no access to

    ☐     Clear your browser history after researching support options, or use a private/incognito browser window

  • A private record of what has happened — this is your evidence, and it matters

    Economic abuse is a pattern of behaviour. Documenting it creates a record that can support you in legal proceedings and debt resolution.

    Download PDF Guide

  • A secure, private list of the people and organisations you can call.

    • Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA)

      0808 196 8845

      Specialist economic abuse support, EAEF access, bank account help

    • National DA Helpline (Refuge)

      0808 2000 247

      Free, 24/7, all forms of domestic abuse

    • StepChange Debt Charity

      0800 138 1111

      Free debt advice, trained in economic abuse

    • National Debtline

      0808 808 4000

      Free debt advice for England, Wales & Scotland

    • Citizens Advice

      0800 144 8848

      Benefits, housing, legal rights, debt

    • Hourglass (older survivors)

      0808 808 8141

      Specialist support for over-60s, pension/asset abuse

    • Galop (LGBTQ+ DA support)

      0800 999 5428

      Specialist support for LGBTQ+ survivors

    • Karma Nirvana (South Asian)

      0800 599 9247

      Honour-based abuse and forced marriage

    • Men's Advice Line

      0808 801 0327

      Support for male survivors of DA

    • Action Fraud (financial crime)

      0300 123 2040

      Report fraud, including coerced credit/identity fraud

    • Legal Aid / Civil Legal Advice

      0345 345 4 345

      Free legal advice if you meet eligibility criteria

  • Physical items to have ready if you need to leave quickly.

    If you need to leave urgently and have nothing ready, leave — your safety is more important than any document.

    ⚠️  Emergency Funding Update

    Emergency funding changes regularly. Availability, eligibility and application windows can change quickly. Check the current Women’s Aid Flexible Fund information, speak to a local domestic abuse service, or contact the National Domestic Abuse Helpline for help exploring safe options.

    FINANCIAL & DOCUMENT ESSENTIALS

    ☐     Cash (even a small amount — ATMs may be monitored)

    ☐     Debit card for your private account

    ☐     Copies of key documents (see Section 1)

    ☐     Your National Insurance number written down

    ☐     Bank account details for your private account

    ☐     Contact details for your solicitor / IDVA

    ☐     A prepaid phone or SIM card (optional)

    PERSONAL ESSENTIALS

    ☐     Medications (enough for several days)

    ☐     Change of clothes for you and children

    ☐     Toiletries

    ☐     Phone charger

    ☐     A small comfort item for children

    ☐     Keys (spare if possible)

    ☐     Something that gives you strength (a letter, a photo, a book)