Woman in ‘iddah moving to her family’s house because she is afraid to stay alone
Question

                There is a woman whose husband died, and she lives in a rented house in the same area, but far away from her family. There is only one brother but he cannot leave his work and stay with her. She is afraid to stay alone and she cannot pay the rent on the house.
Praise be to Allah.It is obligatory for the 
    woman whose husband has died to stay in the house in which she was living 
    when he died, because the Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allaah be 
    upon him) commanded that. The authors of al-Sunan narrated that the 
    Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to Furay’ah 
    bint Maalik: “Stay in the house in which the news of your husband’s death 
    came to you, until your ‘iddah is over.” She said: So I observed ‘iddah 
    there for four months and ten (days). Narrated by Abu Dawood, 2300; 
    al-Tirmidhi, 1204; al-Nasaa’i, 200; Ibn Maajah, 2031, classed as saheeh by 
    al-Albaani in Saheeh Ibn Maajah. 
This is the view of the 
    majority of scholars, based on this hadeeth, except that they granted a 
    concession to a woman who fears for herself or who does not have anyone to 
    look after her, and she cannot take care of herself – such a woman may 
    observe ‘iddah elsewhere than in her house.  

    Ibn Qudaamah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: Among those 
    who regarded it as obligatory for a woman whose husband has died to observe 
    ‘iddah in her house were ‘Umar and ‘Uthmaan (may Allaah be pleased with them 
    both). That was also narrated from Ibn ‘Umar, Ibn Mas’ood and Umm Salamah, 
    and it was the view of Maalik, al-Thawri, al-Awzaa’i, Abu Haneefah, 
    al-Shaafa’i and Ishaaq. Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr said: This was the view of the 
    majority of fuqaha’ in the Hijaz, Syria and Iraq. 

    Then he said: If the woman fears destruction, drowning or an 
    enemy, etc, or if the landlord turns her out of the house because it is 
    rented and the lease has ended, or he does not allow her to live there or he 
    does not allow her to rent it, or he asks for more than the going rent, or 
    she cannot find enough to pay the rent, then she may move, because then 
    there is an excuse. If she cannot live where she is supposed to, the 
    requirement is waived, and she may live wherever she wants. End quote from
    al-Mughni, 8/127. 

    The scholars of the Standing Committee were asked about a 
    woman whose husband died, and there was no one in their city who could take 
    responsibility for her. Can she observe her ‘iddah in another city? 

    They replied: 
If the situation is as 
    described, and there is no one in the city where her husband died who take 
    responsibility for her affairs, and she cannot take care of her affairs 
    herself, it is prescribed for her to move to another city where she will be 
    safe, and she can find someone who can look after her affairs. End quote. 

    Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 
    20/463 

    It also says (20/473) 

    If your sister whose husband has died moved from the marital 
    home to another house during her ‘iddah for an essential reason – such as if 
    she fears for herself if she stays alone – there is nothing wrong with that, 
    and she may complete her ‘iddah in the house to which she has moved. End 
    quote. 

    Based on that, if this woman is afraid to stay alone or she 
    cannot pay the rent on the house, there is no sin on her if she moves to her 
    family’s house and completes her ‘iddah there. 

    And Allaah knows best.