‘Stay in Control of your money’ – that’s the message of a new awareness drive to increase understanding of financial abuse.
The initiative led by Safeguarding Ireland aims to highlight the many things which people can do to ‘stay in control’, even if they have reduced capacity to manage their own money.
Launching a suite of new comprehensive resources on ‘Staying in Control’, Safeguarding Ireland Chairperson, Patricia Rickard Clarke said: “If you don’t have control of your own money, you could be at risk of financial abuse. This is especially important for at-risk adults who have frailty, dementia, an acquired brain injury, a serious illness or a disability. The best way to keep your money safe is to stay in control of it.
“Steps which people can take to keep in control include: Talk with your bank who will provide help, get support from an Advocate, put in place a decision support arrangement, make an Enduring Power of Attorney.
“An important message is that no-one has the right to use our money without our permission. Family members, next-of-kin or carers have no automatic legal right to take charge of another person’s money.”
Today Safeguarding Ireland launched four new information resources on financial safeguarding including:
- A comprehensive Guide titled, Staying in Control of your Money, Benefits and Assets (for stakeholder organisations, professionals and families/supporters)
- A Summary titled Staying in Control, a Plain English guide (for stakeholder organisations, families/supporters and service users)
- An Issues Paper titled: Adults at Risk: Staying in Control of Their Money, Benefits and Assets (for policy makers and experts).
- A Video Animation of the key messages for online promotion.
The Guide goes into detail on all aspects of financial safeguarding including managing money, support arrangements for people who need help with their money, State backed schemes such as the Fair Deal and also taking account of recent developments such as the assisted decision-making legislation and the Consumer Protection Code 2025, which came into effect in 2026. It is accompanied by a Summary Plain English version.
There is also an Issues Paper which sets out challenges for policy and practice. It provides an analysis of these challenges, with 18 specific recommendations on what can be done to strengthen financial safeguarding in Ireland.
The Video Animation is just over one minute long, giving a visual summary for promotion online. Further video resources on financial safeguarding are to follow, as part of a dedicated public awareness campaign starting on June 2.
Financial abuse is when someone takes control of another person’s money or finances without their knowledge or consent. For example, it happens when someone:
- Spends a person’s money without permission
- Uses a bank card or online banking without permission
- Collects and keeps a person’s pension/benefit
- Forces a person to sign financial documents or loan guarantees
- Puts pressure change ownership of a property, or a Will.
More than 1,500 concerns of financial abuse are reported to the HSE every year. However, the actual level is believed to be much higher. For example a survey commissioned by Safeguarding Ireland found that 10% of adults in Ireland said they had personally experienced financial abuse, and 80% said the abuser was known to them or to the person abused.
Ten tips: how to stay in control of your money
- Your money should only be used for your needs
- Organise your financial information
- Get advice from your financial provider
- Explore online banking
- Adapt as your needs change
- Plan ahead: Make an Enduring Power of Attorney
- Plan ahead: Find out about decision support arrangements
- Plan ahead: Consider your future care
- Use a JAM card
- Get independent advice if you need it, such as an Advocate.
Further Information: Ronan Cavanagh, Cavanagh Communications: (086) 317 9731.
Safeguarding Ireland promotes safeguarding of adults to protect them from all forms of abuse by persons, organisations and institutions and to deliver a national plan for promoting their welfare. Safeguarding means putting measures in place to uphold our rights, to support our health and wellbeing, to reduce our risk of harm – and to empower us to protect ourselves.
Useful contacts for keeping money safe
Safeguarding Ireland
- The new financial safeguarding resources available at: www.safeguardingireland.org
Report financial abuse
- An urgent or serious concern (money has been stolen): the Gardaí: 999 or 112
- An ongoing concern, the HSE Safeguarding and Protection Teams: https://adultsafeguardingportal.hse.ie
Financial providers
- AIB: 0818 227 056
- Bank of Ireland: 1800 946 146
- PTSB: 0818 818 721
- An Post: 01 705 8000
- Credit unions: Contact your local branch or see: www.creditunion.ie/credit-union-locator/
Planning ahead
- The Decision Support Service: 01 211 9750, www.decisionsupportservice.ie
Advocacy support
- National Advocacy Service, for people with disabilities: 0818 07 3000.
- Sage Advocacy, for older people and survivors of institutional abuse: 01 536 7330
Free independent information
- MABS (Money Advice and Budgeting Service): 0818 07 2000
- Citizens Information: 0818 07 4000.
