Policymakers and stakeholders call for better protections for in-debt survivors of abuse

MPs, Government Department Officials and supporting organisation in Parliament have joined a call for urgent changes that would support a fresh financial start for in-debt survivors of domestic, economic and digital abuse so they are better protected.

The roundtable, hosted and chaired by Emily Darlington MP, focused on the Persons At Risk of Violence (PARV) order process – the current procedure that a survivor must go through once securing a debt solution, like a Debt Relief Order (DRO), to have their personal details protected.

Currently, once a debt solution is approved, an individual’s personal details, their name, date of birth and, most concerning, their home address is published on the easily accessible Individual Insolvency Register. This gives the abuser a chance to find out where the victim survivor is currently living and potentially inflict further harm.

While the Government scrapped the standard £90 DRO application fee last April (2024), those who need to apply for a PARV order still face a fee of £308. Even when survivors have no money of their own – and often more outgoings than income – they are expected to pay this fee upfront to ensure their protection, sometimes before they can even move forward with a debt solution. This results in many survivors being put in the difficult position of choosing whether fall further into debt in order to secure a PARV order or save the £308 but be vulnerable to their abuser finding them due to their address being made public.
This is a position that Money Wellness and supporting individuals and organisations believe survivors should be put in; choosing between their safety or a fresh financial start.

The Government is currently reviewing the PARV order fee and the wider personal insolvency framework, including whether the public Individual Insolvency Register should be made private. But Money Wellness, which is spearheading the campaign, says action is needed urgently to support survivors who are being forced to delay seeking help or risk being found by their abuser.

Adam Rolfe, Public Affairs Manager at Money Wellness said “We’re really pleased the government is now looking at this, but survivors can’t wait. Abolishing the PARV order fee while the review takes place would make a huge difference to people already in crisis, ensuring they do not have to choose between their safety or a fresh financial start. This roundtable brought together relevant stakeholders and policymakers to focus on finding solutions, and I am pleased with the direction we are driving this campaign.”

Real-life stories shared at the event brought the impact of having new addresses made public into focus for all attendees. Recently, Money Wellness and Surviving Economic Abuse supported women who had fled an abusive relationship and was living in a refuge. Her ex-partner had taken out debts in her name. Even though she qualified for a DRO, she couldn’t afford the £308 PARV order fee to protect her anonymity, leaving her trapped in debt she did not create.

Emily Darlington MP said “We must lower the barriers for those fleeing domestic abuse, especially when it comes to achieving financial independence and safety from their abuser.

“Victim-survivors are often at their most vulnerable once they have made the decision to leave, and we absolutely need to make sure we are supporting practical reforms that prioritise their wellbeing.”