Debt Awareness Week serves as a vital opportunity to highlight financial struggles and encourage individuals to seek support. While debt can affect anyone, parents experiencing child-to-parent abuse often face unique financial challenges, including coercive control over money, forced borrowing, and financial manipulation. Understanding the connection between debt and child-to-parent abuse can empower parents to take steps towards financial and emotional recovery.

Financial abuse is a key element of coercive control and is increasingly seen in cases of child-to-parent abuse. Parents may find themselves pressured into giving money, taking out loans, or covering costs for their child against their will. Over time, this can lead to overwhelming debt, financial instability, and emotional distress.

Common signs of financial abuse in child-to-parent abuse include:

• Forced Borrowing: Parents being coerced into taking out loans, credit cards, or payday loans for their child.
• Control Over Finances: A child demanding access to bank accounts, benefits, or wages.
• Unpaid Debts: Parents accumulating debt due to their child’s spending or lifestyle choices.
• Threats and Manipulation: A child using emotional blackmail, threats, or intimidation to obtain money.
• Destruction of Property: Breaking valuable belongings to force parents into financial submission.
• Fear of Repercussions: Parents feeling unable to refuse financial demands due to the threat of aggression or false accusations.

For many parents, financial abuse leads to not only debt but also significant stress, anxiety, and isolation. The fear of losing financial security, coupled with emotional manipulation, can make it difficult to seek help or set boundaries.

Parents may experience:

• A loss of financial independence.
• Guilt and shame for struggling with debt.
• A sense of helplessness in their own home.
• Fear of confronting their child about financial issues.
• Difficulty accessing financial assistance due to coercion or lack of control over their own funds.

If you are struggling with debt or experiencing financial abuse, the following UK organisations can provide free and confidential advice:

• StepChange Debt Charity (www.stepchange.org) – Provides expert debt advice and solutions to help you regain control.
• National Debtline (www.nationaldebtline.org) – A free and confidential debt advice service.
• Citizens Advice (www.citizensadvice.org.uk) – Offers financial guidance and support for those dealing with financial and emotional abuse.
• MoneyHelper (www.moneyhelper.org.uk) – A government-backed service offering free money and debt advice.

Financial abuse within child-to-parent abuse can feel isolating, but support is available. Seeking help for debt and coercive control is a courageous step towards regaining financial and emotional freedom. By raising awareness and breaking the silence, we can help parents rebuild their confidence and stability.



If you are experiencing financial coercion or abuse, reach out to trusted support services such as us here at PEGS or the services above.