Abusers often control money to keep their partner trapped. This is called financial abuse. Financial abuse can look like:
- not letting you find or keep a job
- controlling how your spending
- hiding banking decisions
- not letting you have your own money or giving you an “allowance”
- taking on debt in your name
- refusing to pay their share of bills
- not letting you buy food or other things you need
Financial abuse can hurt your credit score or make it hard for you to rent an apartment or find a job.
You may be able to apply to Family Court for child support or spousal support. But even if you don’t want to go to court, you can get help.
You are not alone.
Read more about financial abuse here.
Use the STEAR (Support Tool for Economic Abuse Recovery) website and app to get info about safety, finances, and legal help.
Emergency help
If you need money right away, contact the Department of Opportunities and Social Development to ask for emergency financial help. An emergency could be:
- having no food
- losing your home
- needing medical or dental care now
- having no heat or power
If you live on reserve, call your Band Council. If you are Indigenous and you have children, call the Jordan’s Principle call centre at 1-833-652-0210.
Other emergency financial help:
- nonprofit organizations. Call 211 or search online for “emergency financial help.”
- your church, mosque, temple, synagogue, or other faith group
- your school, if you are a student
- your Military Family Resource Centre
- a hospital worker, if you or a family member is in hospital and you have extra costs
- Royal Canadian Legion, for veterans and families
Income Assistance
You can apply for Income Assistance through Community Services. Income Assistance is money for people who don’t make enough to pay for basic needs.
It can also help with special needs like:
- child care
- hearing aids and medical equipment
- school supplies
If you have a disability, you may be able to get more money to help with costs relating to your disability.
To apply, call or visit a Community Services office in your area.
Office hours: Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm.
They will ask you questions to understand your situation. You will need:
- your Social Insurance Number (SIN)
- driver’s licence or photo ID
- bank account statements
- income tax assessment forms
- a copy of your lease or mortgage agreement
Read more about Income Assistance.
Getting your tax credits or benefits
If someone else is getting tax credits or benefits you should be getting, like the Canada child benefit, contact the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). You don’t need to talk to the person abusing you to get information for the CRA or to apply for benefits.
If you care for a child who is under 18 and you don’t get child benefits for them, apply for the Canada child benefit (CCB) here. If you get the Canada child benefit (CCB), it's important to do your taxes on time to keep getting your payments.
When you do your taxes, the CRA lets you know if you will get the GST/HST credit.
If you need help doing your taxes, your local public library may offer free tax clinics.
Check for other tax credits or benefits here.
Short-term loan for housing or safety needs
You may be able to get a loan of up to $500 for housing or safety costs from the YWCA December 6th Fund. You can use the money for a damage deposit, rent, power payment, moving costs, and phone or internet payments. You repay the money when you can afford to.
You can apply if you are a trans or cis women, non-binary, or gender non-conforming and 18 years old or older. You must have wages, income assistance, or other government benefits so you can repay the loan.
Read more about the Fund here.
To apply, call, text or email. You will have a screening call, an intake appointment, and a follow-up appointment.
If you are outside of HRM, you must provide a referral letter from a local support agency. A support agency could be a community organization, a food bank, a church or faith centre, a social worker, or other people who work in the community.
Phone 782-414-5715
Email: [email protected]
Dealing with debt
If a collection agency is calling you, they must follow the law. Read about those rules.
The Nova Scotia Debtor Assistance Program can help you plan and negotiate to repay your debts. Call 1-800-670-4357.
A Licensed Insolvency Trustee can tell you about your options for dealing with debt. These might include a bankruptcy or consumer proposal.
Search for “trustee in bankruptcy” online. You can also get a list of local trustees from the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy or you can call 1-877-376-9902.
Taking time off work - domestic violence leave
If you have been with your employer for at least 3 months, you can ask to take time off for
- medical help or counselling
- moving
- getting legal help.
You don’t have to talk to police or go to court.
You can take up to 5 days of paid domestic violence leave each year.
You can also take unpaid time off. You can take:
- a short leave up to 10 days, at once or spread out
- a long leave up to 16 weeks per year. You must take the 16 weeks all at once.
Your employer may want a form called “Notification to Employer–Domestic Violence Leave.” They must keep this information private. You don’t have to answer questions about the abuse.
If your employer doesn’t follow the rules, call Nova Scotia Labour Standards at 1-888-315-0110.
Read more about domestic violence leave here.
Finding a job and your rights at work
An employer can’t treat you differently or refuse to hire you because of your
- family status
- race
- gender or gender identity
- age
- health status or disability
If someone at work or in a job interview doesn’t treat you fairly, you may be able to file a human rights complaint. Learn about discrimination and your options.
It can be harder to find a job if you have been charged with a crime. The Elizabeth Fry Society can help with employment and education.
People leaving abuse may be more likely to face bullying or harassment at work. It is against the law for your boss or coworker to harass you, or to allow it to happen. This includes making sure clients or customers don’t harass you.
People who work as cleaners, caregivers, and in other jobs that take place in someone’s home can be at higher risk for sexual harassment. Your employer must provide a workplace free from harassment, even if you work in someone else’s home or if your housing is part of how you are paid.
If someone sexually harasses you at work, you can get free legal advice from the Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia. Email [email protected].
You have a right to a respectful workplace.
Get help finding work or starting a business
If you get Income Assistance, Employment Support Services can help.
The Aboriginal Peoples Training & Employment Commission (APTEC)
Services for off-reserve Mi'kmaq / Aboriginal Peoples of Nova Scotia.
- Help for people living with mental illness or mental health challenges
- One-on-one peer support
- Resume and interview help
- Job placement
- Mental health support
- Training
Employment Solutions Society
Help in Kings and Hants Counties
Hants–Kings CBDC
(Annapolis Valley)
Financial and technical help for entrepreneurs
Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS)
- Services for newcomers
- Help finding a job
- Funding for education
- Mentorship
Nova Scotia Works Centres
Bilingual job supports
- Support and funding for people with disabilities
- Job fairs
- Self-employment services
- Computer basics
- Resume help
YREACH
(Annapolis Valley)
Help for immigrants, temporary foreign workers, and their families
Help with housing costs
The Survivors of Gender-Based Violence Housing Benefit helps with rent if you are leaving your home because of violence. You can get help with rent for 1 to 2 years. To apply, you need to have support from a transition house or referral agency and spend more than 30% of your pre-tax income on rent. Read more and apply here.
The Canada-Nova Scotia Targeted Housing Benefit also helps with the cost of rent. You may be eligible if
- you pay more than 40% of income on rent AND
- you don’t live in public housing.
If you’re over 65 and have a low income, you could get a Seniors Care Grant. This is up to $750 to help with costs like
- snow removal
- grocery delivery
- transportation
- phone service
- healthcare services
- home heating
If you live on reserve, the person who applies must have their name on the property title, Land Titles Initiative Certificate of Claim, lease, or a Band administrative letter.