If she is willing to work, I don't think they can turn her down because of age. That would be discrimination. there is no age limit as far as I know to stop you from working. If she has paid into it she should try to get some of it back.
Actually, the age discrimination laws (at least at the federal level) only protect workers between 45-70 years of age.
Even then, it's pretty much unspoken/unwritten that once you hit 50 (as I am) you're pretty much stuck wherever you are until you retire, and God help you if you lose your job.
I've had many contacts hit me up on LinkedIn asking me if I want to work for so-and-so company, but when they find out I'm over 50, I invariably get the, "Gee, thanks for that information, we'll be in touch," comment, never to hear from them again.