Discretionary leave for parent of British child

Hi, I have discretionary leave to remain 10 year route as patent of a British child. I am my daughter carer because she has special needs. I recently went to citizens advice for something different and the case worker talked about my immigration status and she advised that I can switch to 5 year route. My question is that can someone switch from 5 years route if the person is in receipt of carers allowance? If yes, does that mean the person will stop having recourse to public funds? Because no recourse to public funds will affect all my daughter entitlements which includes her EHCP