$5K Escaping Violence Payment Available for Domestic Violence Victims

The Government has announced the two year trial of a new $5000 one-off welfare payment to women escaping domestic violence situations.

The Minister for Women’s Safety, Anne Ruston said that the one-off payment will help address the financial barriers that may stop women from leaving violent relationships.

“We know that financial hardship as well as economic abuse, which may involve interfering with work or controlling or withholding money, reduces women’s ability to acquire and use money and makes it difficult to leave violent relationships.” Minister Ruston said.

“The new Escaping Violence Payment aims to help address those issues so women have more security when making that brave decision to leave any form of intimate partner violence – including physical violence, coercive control and financial abuse.

“The payments will assist people who need financial support to leave. We know the size of the house a woman is fleeing doesn’t matter – often she bundles the kids into the car, maybe the dog too and they leave with nothing more than the clothes on their backs.”

How Does the Escaping Violence Payment Program Work?

If you have left your relationship and you are struggling with finances to life your life in safety – you could be eligible for:

• Up to $1500 in financial assistance such as vouchers for essential items.
• Goods and services such as removalists, bonds or basics for a new home.
• Wrap-around support including casework from the EVP Provider

To be eligible for the payment, you must be over the age of 18, be an Australian citizen and have just left a violent intimate partner.

The service provided are totally confidential.

How to Apply for the Escaping Violence Payment

Women can apply for the Escaping Violence Payment through the UnitingCare Network from the 19th of October 2021.