The ruling on one who broke his fast for several Ramadans and does not know the exact amount he broke

Question:
The first message in this episode is one that reached the program from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, sent by one of the brothers from there. He gives his name as al-Shafi'i. Our brother says in his question: My mother is approximately seventy years old, and praise be to Allah in all circumstances. Allah has afflicted her with a chronic illness that compelled her to break her fast in Ramadan every year. We do not know the exact date she was afflicted with the illness. Unfortunately, she did not feed a poor person for the days she fasted for two reasons:
The first: she does not have sufficient religious awareness regarding this matter.
The second reason: there are no poor people in the village who are eligible to receive the fidyah.
Now that Allah has guided me and shown me the right path, I want to give fidyah to the poor for the months she fasted in the past years, but I do not know the exact number of them, and she does not know it either. I also do not know the amount of fidyah that must be given for these past months. What is your opinion, Your Eminence, on this matter?
If I have a married sister who has small children and is poor, is it preferable for me to give her the value of this fidyah, knowing that her husband is alive? Please inform us about these issues. May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow his guidance. As for what follows:
If the mother you asked about was unable and poor when she broke her fast, and did not have the means to give the fidyah, then she owes nothing; because of the saying of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) : [Surat al-Taghabun: 16]. But if she was able but left it off due to ignorance, then you give it on her behalf, or she gives it herself, for each day half a sa' of the local staple food, such as rice, wheat, or other local staple foods. The amount of that is approximately one and a half kilograms for each day. You collect it and give it to some of the poor, even if they are in another village other than her village. It is not necessary that they be in her village; rather, even if they are in another village, you transport this kaffarah to them. It is not permissible to give money; rather, they must be given food.
If your sister is poor and her husband is poor, there is no harm in paying this kaffarah to her husband; the husband gives it to her, because he is the one who provides and is responsible for the wife and children. If he is poor, then it is paid to him. But if he is wealthy, then he is the one who provides for the wife and children, and the kaffarah mentioned is not given to him for maintenance. Rather, you seek out poor people other than your sister's husband, whether they are in the town or in another town.
If you do not know the number of months, then you are content with estimation. The mother and you both exert effort in investigating the days the mother fasted, whether in two, three, or four years, according to the predominant estimate. Then you give this kaffarah based on the predominant estimate from you, from her, or from both of you together [Surat al-Baqarah: 286]. Yes.