Domestic violence and elder abuse

Financial abuse is just one type of domestic/family violence and elder abuse. This type of abuse uses money, assets or other property as a weapon.

Some examples include the theft of a person’s money or assets, misuse of a person’s money or other assets, withholding money from a person, forcing a person to take out loans they don’t want or stopping a person from accepting a job.

1800RESPECT has a Financial Abuse Support Toolkit to help you understand what financial abuse is, what it feels like and steps to take.

Many banks also have information about how they may be able to support you if you or someone you know is experiencing financial abuse. Speak to your bank or search their website for more information.

If you or someone else is in danger, call 000 immediately.

You can call 1800 RESPECT. They provide confidential information, counselling and support services. 1800 RESPECT are contactable by phone, text or by online chat or video calls. You can contact them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by phone, text or online chat. Their video calls are available in business hours*, with no appointment needed.

Contact details for 1800 RESPECT

Their website also has information about what to expect when you contact them and many excellent resources.

* Monday-Friday 9am-5pm (Australian Eastern time), except national public holidays.

1800 RESPECT has resources on the kinds of financial support that may be available in the event of abuse.

Uniting Care administer the Escaping Violence Payment. You can reach out to them for more information about the program, eligibility and how to apply for a payment.

There are certain, restricted conditions that could allow you to access some of your super early.

Severe Financial Hardship

If you are in a state of severe financial hardship, you can apply for a payment of up to $10,000 gross (before tax). However, you must have been receiving a Commonwealth income support payment continuously for at least the last 26 weeks. You will also need to satisfy the ElectricSuper Trustee that you are not able to meet reasonable and immediate family living expenses. You can apply for a release from your super under financial hardship once in any 12-month period.

If you have reached your preservation age, there are different conditions. That is, that you need to have reached your preservation age plus 39 weeks, you need to have been receiving Commonwealth income support payments for a cumulative period of 39 weeks since you reached preservation age and you are unemployed (or employed for less than 10 hours a week) at the time of your application.

Compassionate Grounds

There are also conditions where you may be able to access some of your superannuation under ‘Compassionate Grounds’. These include, amongst other limited conditions, preventing foreclosure or forced sale of your home. You can read more about the conditions of accessing your super under compassionate grounds on the ATO website (it is the ATO who administers this type of early access and, if you are eligible to apply, you need to apply through them).

Nobody should coerce you to access your super against your wishes.