EU national Maternity Allowance and become Homeless

[chippy]

Hi there my wife is a Czech national and Im a South African national. My wife came to the UK in May 2011. She started working self employed as a nanny and also for an employer. She became pregnant and gave the correct notice to her employer to go on maternity pay and is currently getting maternity allowance.

The property that we live in is build without planing permission and Ealing council want us to move out. We went to see a homeless prevention advisor and he told us that we are not eligible for any Homeless help from the council.

The reason is that my wife is not currently working but on Maternity Allowance. She is 9 months pregnant and is due on the 22 July. Is it correct that a EU national don't retain their rights as a worker when they are off work because of pregnancy and getting Maternity Allowance?

Thank You

[SoHopeful]

I think it is because she has not been employed for 2 years. As far as I am aware, an EU citizen has to be working for 2 years prior to receiving assistance or housing from the local authority.

Can you rent privately with the help of housing benefit?