The Association of British Insurers (ABI), which represents insurance companies across the UK, has joined forces with charities to release new guides designed to help insurance firms better support individuals who are experiencing economic or domestic abuse. These guides, developed in partnership with Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA) and the Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse (EIDA), focus on how abusers can exploit insurance and pension products to maintain control over victims. Tactics include redirecting claim payments, forcing victims to withdraw from their pensions, or changing insurance policies without their consent. Abusers may also remain listed on policies after a relationship ends, preventing victims from accessing necessary information or making changes. Economic abuse is a form of domestic abuse where one person controls another’s finances, including their money, assets, or income. This can involve changing contact details, intercepting mail, or restricting access to online accounts, which makes it harder for victims to receive important information about their insurance or pensions. The ABI’s guides stress the importance of training across various departments in insurance firms—such as product development, underwriting, operations, risk management, compliance, and leadership—to help employees identify and respond appropriately to signs of abuse. In addition to the customer-focused guide, the ABI has created a separate resource to help employers support employees who are experiencing domestic abuse. The guide acknowledges that abuse can affect an employee’s ability to attend work, perform their duties, or even face harassment in the workplace. It encourages employers to build supportive environments where employees feel safe to seek assistance and access necessary resources. The guides were launched in Parliament and are part of wider efforts to improve support for vulnerable customers and align with the UK government’s Financial Inclusion Strategy. Surviving Economic Abuse estimates that approximately one in six women in the UK has faced economic abuse from a current or former partner. ABI director general Hannah Gurga said the guides will help insurance and pension firms recognize abuse and respond with care. Other experts, including Lucy Rigby from the Treasury and Susan Bright from EIDA, praised the initiative, emphasizing the need for financial services to be alert to abuse and act consistently and fairly. Helen Bellamy of Quilter highlighted the severe impact of such abuse on financial wellbeing and the importance of the ABI’s guidance in helping firms support those affected.