To not know how to help my dsis?

[Merrykegs]

My sister is 45 and has a dd. She is divorced and has lived alone with dd for many years. She left her job a few years ago because she had what seemed like a breakdown. Earlier this year she was evicted from her flat for not paying the rent. She's currently living with my aged parents in her old room with her dd. My niece is 13.

I spoke to my mum yesterday who is finding it really hard. Apparently dn hasn't spoken to her since they've been there. My parents house is about 40 mins drive from dn school and my parents are giving my dsis money for petrol and not charging rent so she can get back on her feet.

I live on the other side of the country and my relationship with my sister is strained.

Would she be entitled to any benefits or financial help? Or a house even? My mum has tried to ask but apparently it just descends into a row.

I feel so sorry for dn not having her own room. They spend three nights a week with dsis bf so it's quite a lot of moving around. When dsis stays at her boyfriends, dn sleeps in his dds room, the dd is only there at weekends.

The whole situation is miserable and not getting any better a d I'd really like some advice.

She isn't getting Universal Credit? She should be...it's the new Jobseeker's Allowance...even living at your parent's she would get something.

As for a house...unlikely as she's adequately housed already.

When she was evicted, she would have needed to go into temporary council accomodation to qualify for a council flat or something but she may not be allowed that help as in not paying her rent, she's made herself intentionally homeless.

It sounds very hard.

I assume that them moving in with her partner is out of the question?

Thanks that's really informative.

Boyfriend doesn't seem in a hurry to ask her to move in!

What county or city does she live in? Just trying to get an idea as in some areas, a housing association or council flat would be completely impossible to get but in others, not so bad.

The only way she'd get one is if your parents threw her out. Then she could turn up at housing and get some temp accommodation....but again, if she's not even in receipt of any benefits at all, that will look pretty bad and she may be found incapable of raising her child.

if she's not even in receipt of any benefits at all, that will look pretty bad and she may be found incapable of raising her child

This is what I was wondering. She seems to be happy that she's not claiming any benefits (she has a very low paid part time job) but surely it looks as though she's not taking adequate steps to look after herself and child?