Name changed to protect her identity.
I lived in what was essentially a prison.
My husband controlled everything. I wasn’t allowed to leave the house most days, and I had no access to money.
The abuse was constant. He was physically violent, emotionally abusive, and raped me regularly.
Before the relationship, I received the Disability Support Pension. When we became partnered, my DSP was cut off because of his income. The government counted his income as mine, but I had no access to that money. He controlled every dollar.
Losing my pension meant losing my financial independence. I had no way to save, no way to make plans, and no way to leave.
The situation became so severe that my sister grew concerned and called the police to request a welfare check. That was the only reason I was able to escape.
Partner Income Testing assumes income is shared fairly within relationships. In abusive relationships, that assumption is dangerously wrong.
Policies like this can trap people in violent and controlling situations by taking away the only independent income they have.
Campaign Statement
Unfortunately, stories like Emily’s are all too common.
The Partner Income Test creates the perfect environment for domestic and family violence to thrive by trapping already vulnerable people in situations where they don’t have the financial resources or independence to leave.
Taking away a person’s only source of independent income isn’t just dangerous, it’s dehumanising.
Relying on the assumption that couples automatically share their income fairly does not guarantee that people, particularly disabled people, have free access to that money. For many victim-survivors, that assumption can have devastating consequences.
No one should have to choose between their safety and their financial survival.