Carer's allowance and pension credit

Acquinas

I'm in my early 60s and my mother is in her mid-80s and receiving pension credit and attendance allowance. I do some caring for her now, but am thinking about stopping work next year and will probably do a bit more. I understand that I would then be able to claim carer's allowance for her and, since I would be living on an occupational pension rather than state pension, there would be no means test. I would be taxed on it of course. But would there be anything to stop me just giving the money to my mother (after tax) without it affecting her pension credit or attendance allowance?

Rubyroobs

If your mum currently lives alone then she is likely getting a severe disability premium added to her Pension credit. If you claim carers allowance then she will lose that severe disability premium so really you would be just causing her to lose pension credit only to give money back  to her??  
To claim carers allowance you need to be providing 35 hours of care per week, not that anyone ever checks.

Northern_Wanderer

Rubyroobs said:

If your mum currently lives alone then she is likely getting a severe disability premium added to her Pension credit. If you claim carers allowance then she will lose that severe disability premium so really you would be just causing her to lose pension credit only to give money back  to her??  
To claim carers allowance you need to be providing 35 hours of care per week, not that anyone ever checks.

which in turn may affect any housing benefit or council tax reduction she gets as well. Also, pension credit is a passport benefit, so things like winter heating payments,Free NHS charges, TV licence can be affected too.