A woman who left her husband after suffering domestic and financial abuse has spoken of her hopes of becoming debt-free soon.

Linda (not her real name) had left her ex-husband when she began receiving letters stating he had accumulated debts in her name and she had to pay them.

After living in a Women’s Aid refuge with her daughter for six months, Linda was given a Housing Executive house.

“We moved in with no furniture, curtains or bedding,” she recalled. “We both got no support, because my daughter was at university during the week, and I was working. My wages were not enough. Charity gave us beds to sleep in.”

Although receiving working tax credits, Linda was unable to get other benefits. It was around this time the debt letters started arriving.

“I began to get letters gradually through the post, stating that my ex-husband had accumulated debts in my name, and I had to pay them.

“Then my health deteriorated, meaning I had to go on to sickness benefits, which took a while to come through.”

Linda suffers from several health conditions, including migraines, obstructive sleep apnea, and depression.

She has flashbacks and nightmares due to domestic violence and previous child abuse. “I try to not think of the past,” said Linda who takes tablets and goes to counselling to help with this.

Linda felt her health problems were affected by her financial situation. She had to give up work and move on to benefits, at one stage having just £28 a week to live on. Linda had no control over her finances, with her wages having to be transferred into her ex-husband’s bank account.

“I had no control over my money. At work, when people were looking for donations for gifts for people or members of staff, I felt embarrassed as I had to go home and ask my husband’s permission for money to give because I didn’t actually have any.”

To try and get a handle on her financial situation, Linda turned to Christians Against Poverty (CAP) after leaving her ex-husband.

She had her first appointment in October, 2017, and has one year and five months left with them. They helped her organise a payment plan so she could live on her income and have enough money left to pay her creditors.

And with the cost of living crisis, Linda, has also seen the positives of having CAP to help her.

“Through CAP I have a future needs account that I pay into every month. I needed a new pair of glasses. I was able to ring CAP and ask them to transfer money into my bank account to help me pay for my glasses. This future needs account has come to my rescue many times.

“When CAP said that they wanted me to pay money every month for future needs, I didn’t want to do that, but I’m glad I did.

“It means I can then ring them and asked them to transfer money over to my bank account when I have an emergency.

“I also have had a CAP adviser chat with me over the phone and email to go over a new budget plan for the year, taking into account the increase of food and petrol and electricity etc, which I have felt is incredibly helpful.”

Although she admits it may all sound “overwhelming”, Linda is determined to not let it stop her from finding a way forward to pay her debts and help others who through no fault of their own find themselves in similar circumstances.

And Linda knows that CAP has been a real help to her: “A big thank you to CAP for helping me this far in paying what I can. It’s been a long journey so far, but I’m looking forward to becoming debt free in the near future.”

If you are struggling with debt and need help, get in contact with CAP at 0800 328 0006, or see capuk.org.