Advice needed please

My sons partner had a stroke at the end of October. She is slowly recovering but will not be able to work for a long time yet and my son is now effectively her carer so he will probably not be able to work either. As she is still on the deeds of a property she left 16 years ago, and which her ex partner and two grown up children live in, they have had their Universal Credit Claim denied. She is currently receiving SSP from her employer of £109.40 per week and that is their only income. I applied for PIP on her behalf, when she was still in hospital in November, but we have not received anything through the post yet. Does anyone have any knowledge of what benefits they could claim which are contributions based? Or can we appeal the UC decision as there is no way she can realise any income from her share of the property ( her ex partner who lives there is seriously ill and is on benefits I believe ). They have a 12 year old son and live in a privately rented house.