Childminding & State Pension

My mother looks after my youngest for a few hours every week while I work, approximately 10 hours. I pay her €75. My GP renewal form arrived last week and I asked my mother would she mind me putting her down as minding my son, how much I paid her etc.

My father rang this morning in a tizzy worrying that I'll get them into trouble because his pension is jointly assessed with my mom. He is an OAP but my mother isn't. She has no other source of income . Is he right?

It shouldn't make any difference if it's the contributory pension, but may do for non contributory.

Also, although the income is tax exempt, she should be making a tax return and paying a stamp.

HSE may or may not share the information with DSP or Revenue.

He has a state pension & a private pension. I'll ask him to ring Citizens Advice tomorrow. I don't want to affect his pension but at the same time I have to put it down on my GP renewal form. It's an outgoing (substantial to me) and it could be the deciding factor on whether my family get our GP visit card renewed.

So let me understand this correctly. Your mum minds your child for less than the minimum wage, really what looks like as a bit of a favour though money appreciated no doubt.

To hold your GP card you are prepared to have your parents pension entitlements reduced? Are you actually serious? If I was your mum I would gently suggest that I couldn't mind your child anymore, hard and all that might be incl emotional impact. That might make you think about your choices and what are your real priorities.

With respect.......... and empathy for your situation if you really need your GP card, but not by taking advantage of the good nature of your mum!

If your mum is a dependent of your dad's Contributory State pension her portion is means tested. Therefore any income she earns could have the effect of reducing her portion of the pension.

However the first €100 of her earnings is disregarded. So if she has no other income from any other source (including income from savings or investments of her own) the €75 she receives/earns should NOT affect her pension.

Do they have fuel allowance, if so that may or may not be affected.

Ease up there Gerard123, Qantas never said they were prepared to have their parents pension reduced, they were just looking for clarity on the situation.....what this site is all about

Looks like helpful advice there from blacksheep

Get off your high horse there Gerard and stop making assumptions.

My mom would prefer not to take any money off me but I insist on paying her because it is the right thing to do.

My mom minds my child because I cannot afford full crèche/childminder fees. I really appreciate her help.

I am asking for help on here to make sure I have all bases covered. It is a forum to advice people who ask for help not a bash the newbie from my ivory tower forum.

All other posters, thank you so much x

No high horse intended, I simply made comments in light of your initial posts that you needed to put the money down and how substantial the cost was. After all you did say "I don't want to affect his pension BUT at the same time I have to put it down on my GP renewal form. It's an outgoing (substantial to me) and it could be the deciding factor on whether my family get our GP visit card renewed. "

The bolded words suggested to me on my reading that you might contemplate impacting the pension, how else can one interpret the “BUT” in your post?

Your most recent post gives a completely different sense and perspective stating "My mom would prefer not to take any money off me but I insist on paying her because it is the right thing to do." That puts a completely different flavour on it and suggests a much more voluntary nature, and your choice to remunerate your mum, which of course I admire as the right thing to do. Your earlier post inferred that you needed to put the cost down and the use of the words substantial and deciding factor did not bring the true meaning of your position across.

If I offended I apologise, it was certainly not the intention, but it did appear to me that you were prepared to contemplate impacting the pension because of the key need to have your GP card, etc. With your additional posting it is clear that this was never on your mind.