Advice and support
Financial support
Advice and resources for people trying to become financially independent from their abuser.
Bank accounts
If you've left your abuser and you have a joint bank account, withdraw any money that's yours. Then deposit it into a new bank account that's only in your name.
Then tell your bank that you've separated from your partner. You can ask them to remove your name from the account. It will also prevent you from being responsible for any bills or overdrafts that belong to your partner.
Housing advice
Find out how to get housing information and advice in Cherwell for people suffering domestic abuse.
Housing Benefit
You may be able to claim Housing Benefit to help with rent, if you’re on a low income.
You can apply for Housing Benefit, or continue to claim Housing Benefit, if one of the following applies to you:
- you live in supported accommodation
- you live in temporary accommodation provided by a Council
- you have more than two children
- you are of Pension Credit age
- you are a severely disabled person
Council Tax reduction
If you're living with someone or are married, you're jointly responsible for your partner's Council Tax. If you split up or maintain separate lives within the same household, contact us to let us know.
Your Council Tax bill may be reduced, depending on your circumstances. Read our Council Tax discounts page for more details.
Sure Start Maternity Grant
The Sure Start Maternity Grant is a one-off payment to help towards the cost of having a baby. You should qualify if it's your first child (or you're expecting twins or triplets) and you already claim benefits.
Find out more about the Sure Start Maternity Grant on the GOV.UK website.
Child maintenance
It may be possible for changes to be made to the way in which child maintenance payments are made. Child maintenance is financial support that goes towards your child’s every-day living costs when you’re separated from the other parent.
You can arrange for child maintenance payments with your ex-partner, if they're agreeable. This is called a ‘family-based arrangement’. A family-based arrangement is a way of arranging child maintenance privately. Both parents arrange everything themselves and no-one else has to be involved.
If you can't come to an agreement, you can apply for child maintenance with the child maintenance service.
Find out more about child maintenance on the GOV.UK website.
Pension Credit
If you're of pension age you may able to claim Pension Credit. Visit the GOV.UK website for details.
How we are working to improve our domestic abuse support
As a council, we are in a unique position to support those who are experiencing domestic abuse. We're currently working to improve our services so that those working at the council can better recognise and respond to domestic abuse situations, by embedding a set of standards set by the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA).
The standards will improve our housing service, as well as other services across the organisation, to help us better support those affected by domestic abuse. By becoming DAHA accredited, we're working to end domestic abuse and ensure that those who experience it receive safe and effective support.
Help and resources
Directory
We have created a useful directory of local and national resources for help in Cherwell.