This #DebtAwarenessWeek, the theme is debunking the shame and stigma around debt, and that conversation must include survivors of domestic abuse.
Too often, debt is framed as a personal failure or poor financial management. But in reality, many people experience debt because of circumstances beyond their control. For survivors, debt is not the result of a bad decision; it is the result of economic abuse.
“When you phone up the companies, they just say, ‘well, your name is on it, so you’re responsible for it’. Tomorrow he could leave the country and disappear and I’m going to be landed with all this debt”. (Survivor)
Across Scotland, survivors are living with coerced debt, where an abusive partner or ex-partner takes out credit in their name, pressures or forces them into loans, runs up bills they are left responsible for, or deliberately sabotages their finances. Others are left managing debt after years of economic restriction that prevented them from working, accessing their own money, or making independent financial decisions.
Coerced debt follows survivors long after the relationship has ended and directly impacts on them being able to rebuild their financial stability and their lives.
Too often, shame and stigma around debt mean that survivors feel unable to speak about what has happened to them. They may worry about being judged, blamed, or not believed. That stigma can stop people from seeking advice, challenging debts that were never truly theirs, or accessing the support that could help them rebuild their lives.
“You’re already feeling ashamed because of the domestic abuse. And then you’re feeling ashamed that you’ve gotten yourself in this mess because of all the debt and there’s so much shame” (Survivor)
At SWA we know that awareness of coerced debt is still far too low, including across systems that survivors often turn to for help.
This #DebtAwarenessWeek, we want to highlight that:
- Coerced debt is a form of economic abuse
- Coerced debt caused by abuse is not the survivor’s fault
- Greater awareness is essential, so survivors are recognised and supported
Debunking shame and stigma is not just about changing how we talk about debt. It is about ensuring professionals across sectors, including financial services, advice services, housing and public services, understand the realities of economic abuse and respond appropriately when survivors disclose coerced debt.
Women and children should not have to carry the burden of financial insecurity caused by abuse.
If you are worried that you may be experiencing economic abuse or coerced debt, please know that you are not alone and that support is available. You can contact Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline for confidential support, speak to your bank and ask to be connected with a specialist team or someone trained in domestic and financial abuse, or reach out to debt advice services across Scotland who can help you explore your options.
Experiencing debt is not something to feel ashamed of; the responsibility lies with the abuser, not with you.
By recognising coerced debt and challenging stigma, we can help create systems that believe survivors, understand economic abuse, and respond with the support women deserve.
Scottish Women’s Aid has authored a research report focusing on links between economic abuse, coerced debt, illegal money lending, and domestic abuse in Scotland, commissioned by the Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit and Trading Standards Scotland. The report will launch in May 2026 and be shared on social media.
#DebtAwarenessWeek #EconomicAbuse #CoercedDebt #DomesticAbuse #EndTheStigma
