Hello
my friend is from Scandinavia and has loved and worked in the UK for at least 10 years, including NHS in admin roles.
Now she is almost 60, since being made redundant she has not found work. She is a little doddery, has high blood pressure issues, I think perhaps social anxiety, and lives alone with many cats so does not realise she can smell of cat quite strongly.
She cannot have a lodger because I think she is a recluse and possibly a hoarder too, plus she has said herself the house is not clean because of the cats.
She understands English perfectly well, and works hard, but is just finding it impossible to get work.
She is studying part time at uni, and is now about to lose her house because she cannot pay the mortgage. She has already been given extra time by the bank and has had a uni hardship grant.
As far as I know I’m her only friend here and the only family left is one person back home and they do not speak.
Does anyone know if she can have un employment and housing benefit? She says no because of uni.
She has tried every work avenue - temping, care work, warehouse, cleaning, McDonald’s, nobody will give her work.
I think she just needs to give up now and claim benefits. She is in too poor health and demeanour that interviews fall at the first hurdle.
I am going to take her for coffee later today and would love to have some positive ideas.
I have helped with lifts to interviews, food shop, rang temp agencies asking for work for her, always check-in on her wellbeing, exhausted my own knowledge of financial assistance and work ideas. I’m just teaching a dead end now!
Please, can anyone on here help with advice so that I can help her mental health from sliding? I am VERY worried about her, but I also work and have children and it is a worry I need to resolve because it is taking over my life a bit.
Thankyou for any help I would be so grateful. Been on mumsnet since firstborn 2009 but using a different a/c for anonymous reasons for this post. On Chat board for traffic because post is urgent.