Thats not a bad idea about putting it all into the house.. Im just worried that if/when she does need some money, she then wont have it. She will want to buy some furniture. All of her stuff is either very old or second hand, so I have no doubt some will go towards that.
Im going to have to talk to centrelink to find out how it would affect payments. Im on parenting payment and ftb a and b. Df is hoping to get an appreniceship so he would be on whatever the equivilent of austudy is these days.

I do care about our inheritence, but no where near as much as I care about her security. To not have to worry if she is making her rent each week or has enough to eat, would be a huge weight lifted for us and Im sure her as well.

DF is the one really pushing me to do this. I have (shamefully) burried my head in the sand.

Nickle- i think Thats a really good idea. the problem is she doesnt think logically. I can say Im worried because if things she has done in the past, list examples to her, but she just tells me she wont make that mistake again. Then she does. OR I tell her my concerns and she agrees with everything I say and does something completely different.
She just doesnt get it.

Im not sure how I would approach putting it in a bank account with me (at this point not my brother, he is not behaving like a mature adult. Im not talking about witholding his inheritance, just not access to my mothers money at least until he mans up.). It is easy to explain I want to be able to help her down the track.

My parents divorced when I was very young but have an amicable relationship.

Teeki - I have been thinking about that too- why are my decisions right and hers wrong- I really dont have any right to the money, it is hers. And it is not my responsibility to make sure she manages it wisely. BUT there is no-one else to keep it in check. It WILL all be thrown away. How can I let that happen and her fall back into poverty again?

I was thinking of seeing a financial planner- myself and her as well.. I need to find out some costs.
I think first step is to speak to centrelink and see what they say, then find out how much it will be to speak to a solicitor and financial planner. I really need advice from every angle.

Thanks MD- you are right, and I dont want her to feel bullied either. I am concerned about our inheritance, but the biggest thing is her welbeing. We will survive without inheritance, if she is stupid with this money she will miss her only opportunity for a better, happier life.

I honestly dont know if she is worried or not. I get the impression she thinks it will solve all her problems. It will certainly help if she makes good decisions, it has the potential to turn her life around. But if she makes the wrong ones she will have some nice stuff for a while but after a couple of years shell be back exactly where she is now.