The Mark Cherrington Podcast Episode 7: A Young Mom Is Denied Income Support

By Kevin |

In this episode of The Mark Cherrington Podcast, we dive into a case that exposes just how badly the system fails victims of exploitation. A young mother, trapped in financial abuse, reached out to Income Support for help, only to be told she didn’t qualify.

Why? Because the money her trafficker ran through her bank account was counted as her income. Instead of giving her a way out, the system kept her trapped.

We break down how this happens, why Income Support policies desperately need a reality check, and what needs to change actually to help people escape these cycles of abuse.

Mark also shares how he connected her with CEASE, an organization working with victims of sexual exploitation, and why frontline social programs—not rigid government policies—are what really make a difference.

How the System Fails People Like Her

The way Income Support is set up, you have to give them access to your bank statements. That’s not unusual. But what is unusual—if not outright disturbing—is the way they interpret those numbers. Money goes in, and they don’t ask where it came from. They don’t ask if it was forced, coerced, or part of a larger pattern of exploitation. They just see deposits and call it “income.”

In this case, those deposits were not hers. She wasn’t keeping them. They were part of a system of control—one that made it harder for her to escape. And when she turned to the government for help, they reinforced that control by denying her the financial support that could have given her a way out.

This isn’t just a flaw in the system. This is a system that actively enables abusers to keep their victims dependent on them.

What Needs to Change

This is fixable. It doesn’t take a policy overhaul or a million-dollar study. It takes common sense.

Recognize coerced financial transactions for what they are. Not all deposits should count as income, especially in cases of exploitation.
Provide immediate financial support to victims who need to break free. A fresh start—housing, food security, access to mental health care—shouldn’t be conditional on escaping first. It should be part of the escape plan.
Train income support workers to identify financial abuse. Right now, the system treats every bank statement the same. That has to change.

Where Things Stand Now

After being denied income support, this young mother is still trapped. She still has a child to care for. And because she has no other financial means, she’s still being exploited.

I helped her connect with CEASE, an organization that supports people who have been sexually exploited. But CEASE alone can’t undo the damage caused by a government that refuses to acknowledge the reality of financial abuse.

If we want to fight exploitation, we need to stop enabling it. That means recognizing that rigid policies, when applied without nuance, don’t just fail victims—they empower abusers. And that has to change.

The government has the power to fix this. The question is, will they?

Please Support My Work

If you appreciate my work, and please subscribe to my FREE newsletter on Substack, please consider supporting my work helping vulnerable people. $5 per month would mean a lot, but one-time donations are certainly appreciated. You can also send immediate assistance for someone I mention via mark@coalition4jhr.org. Please refer to the person in your message. Thank you!