To help victims of domestic violence leave their homes, a law has just created emergency financial aid. Recent initiatives also facilitate their access to an individual bank account, such as that launched by the Caisse d’Epargne Bretagne Pays de Loire.
In 2022, at least 104 women were killed by their spouse or ex-spouse, according to a count made by Ouest-France (1). Two times out of three, they were at home, in their homes. Victims of domestic violence number in the hundreds of thousands.
Succeeding in leaving one’s home to protect oneself from the blows of a spouse comes up against many obstacles. Among them, the ability to access money. The numbers are a bit dated. But, according to a Crdoc study published in 2015 (3), nearly two-thirds of French couples pool their income in a joint account. What can be considered practical and economical when all goes well, constitutes a real brake in case of separationparticularly in the emergency context created by the existence of violence.
An individual right to the account
In recent years, regulations have evolved to facilitate access the financial autonomy of the victims. Since the end of 2021, there is a right to individual account. Clearly, a person activating the procedure for the right to an account can no longer be opposed to the fact that he is already co-holder of a joint account.
More recently, the law of February 28, 2023, known as the Ltard law (3)created a emergency aid for victims of violence, in the form of an interest-free loan or an unrequited donation, paid in three to five working days. A decree has yet to come to fix the precise date of application of this aid. It will be accessible, at the latest, by the end of 2023, from the family allowance funds (CAF) and the funds of the Mutualité sociale agricole (MSA).
Domestic violence: towards a Caf loan to help victims leave their homes?
Discover the best free bank cards thanks our comparison
A free account for 2 years with the Caisse d’Epargne Bretagne Pays de Loire
One bank, at least, is already mobilizing to help the people concerned to quickly access this money: the Caisse d’Epargne Brittany Pays de Loirewho has just communicated on the subject.
Since March 1, it has opened, in the two regions it covers, a direct telephone line (02.22.93.20.22) dedicated. By calling this number, victims can open an individual bank account, which will allow them to receive emergency aid, but also, in a second step, to direct their income and the social benefits to which they are entitled.
This bank account is completely free for the first two years and, contrary to the specific offer intended for fragile customers, allows you to benefit from an overdraft authorization.
(1) Source: West France. (2) Rgis Bigot, Sandra Hoibian, How are decisions made within couples?, Research Center for the Study and Observation of Living Conditions, March 2015. (3) Law no. 2023-140 of February 28, 2023 creating universal emergency aid for victims of domestic violence