Young woman takes on care of her sister’s children

Our agents contacted us urgently about a young woman, who is 24 years old.  She has two very young children of her own, but has now taken on the responsibility for caring for her sisters two children as well.  Her sister has been sectioned under the mental health act.  As the sister was sectioned voluntarily, it means that there is no financial help for the sister now caring for the four children, instead of just her two.  She is able to claim child tax credits and child benefit while they are with her, but that is going to take some time to get sorted out and put into place.  In the meantime, she needs money for clothes, shoes and food, as her own money cannot stretch far enough to cover them all.  We agreed to send her £150, to pay for what she needs.