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 assistance for victims of domestic abuse
There are special Housing Benefit rules to help you if you are the victim of, or in fear of abuse. Violence does not have to occur; the rules apply if you are in 'reasonable fear' of abuse.
Temporary Absence
- You can still get benefit if you are temporarily absent from your home and the absence is unlikely to substantially exceed 12 months - providing you intend to return to the property and the property has not been let or sublet
- If the perpetrator is a family member or former family member then it does not matter where the abuse or fear of abuse occurs
- If the perpetrator is not a family member the fear of abuse or actual attack must be in your home
Benefit on two homes
We can pay Housing Benefit on two homes for up to 52 weeks provided that you intend to return and you have not let or sublet the property you are fleeing from. This might help you if you need to move to, and pay rent at, another property.
Evidence for your claim
We usually ask for proof of your income, savings and identity. We understand that in an emergency you might not be able to provide this evidence, and we can waive the requirement to provide your income and savings.
If you are moved to a hostel, you will not have to prove your identity to us for the first 13 weeks of any stay.
If you have not been moved to a hostel, or the stay has been longer than 13 weeks and you do not have the required proof of identity and National Insurance number, we will accept a letter from a social worker as proof of your identity - or we can ask the Department for Work and Pensions to help us verify your identify.
If you are a victim of abuse or in fear of abuse please contact us for help with your benefit claim.
Benefits Service
You can also contact the Department for Work and Pensions to talk to a work coach at a jobcentre about domestic abuse and any additional support from DWP.
Help available from the Department for Work and Pensions
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 let us know as your Council Tax bill may be reduced, depending on your circumstances.
More information is available on our Council Tax discounts webpage.
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.