Faq

The Nursing Home Support Scheme (NHSS) is referred to as the Fair Deal Scheme. It is a state-funded financial support system administered by the Health Service Executive (HSE).

The Nursing Home Support Scheme Fair Deal is designed to support and help fund those in need of long-term nursing home care.

The Fair Deal makes nursing home care affordable for all when home care due to increasing care needs is no longer possible. The scheme is fair and is not designed to take your home and all your savings.

Under the Fair Deal Scheme, a person pays a contribution towards their nursing home cost of care based on their means. The state will pay the balance.
The application process includes an assessment of care needs and a financial evaluation conducted by the HSE to determine the care costs payable by the applicant and the amount of funding they will receive. The Fair Deal works for individuals regardless of means and for those with limited savings and property, offers further assistance through the Nursing Home loan.

For individuals with dementia or other conditions resulting in diminished decision-making capacity, an Enduring Power of Attorney If set up may be required if the Nursing Home loan is needed or if no EPOA is in place a Decision- Making Representative Order will need to be applied for.

The amount of the Nursing Home Support Scheme cost of care that you have to pay is based on your income and assets.  

• The standard payment for a single individual is 80% of your income paid weekly or monthly, and 7.5% of the value of your assets less an allowance of €36,000 is paid per year.  

• For couples, it is just half the amount: 40% of income paid and 3.75% of the value of your assets less an allowance of €72,000 paid yearly.  

Income includes all kinds of income, rental income, (rent of the home is exempt), pensions, dividends or interest. Assets include savings, investments. Prize bonds, the family home, land, other properties, farms, and businesses and any assets transferred within 5 years of making the application.  

The home is only chargeable for the first three years in care as are farms and businesses in certain circumstances if they qualify for the Successor. Managing your finances is a big part of the application process. Our Nursing Homes Support Scheme Guide can come in handy to supply you with vital know-how. 

The Fair Deal Scheme covers essential care needs, which include:  

• Bed and board 

• Food  

• Personal assistance and nursing  

• Laundry  

• Essential aids and equipment to assist you with daily living activities. 

• Products and services available under Drugs Payment Scheme and state medical cards  

The Fair Deal primarily covers basic care needs. Common requirements like hairdressing chiropody and physiotherapy services and other therapeutic services are charged as extras by the Nursing Home as well as a charge for entertainment and activities. Our advisory service is an excellent resource to help you plan and budget for your additional care costs that are not covered under the fair deal funding.  

If you are not able to pay the contribution based on your property assets you can avail of the option of the Nursing Home Loan, also called Ancillary State Support. This loan allows you to defer the annual payment of 7.5% on the property assets or 3.75% if part of a couple. The amount is loaned by the HSE by paying the property asset contribution on your behalf. The loaned amount is repayable 12 months after death of the applicant and their partner or after the sale of all or part of your asset.

The Revenue Commissioners collect Nursing Home Loan repayments within 12 months of the death of an applicant and their partner. Families can request a further deferment of the repayment if the house is inhabited by a child with special needs.

We offer professional unbiased advice on the nursing home support scheme/Fair Deal to applicants and their families. This is a fee-paying consulting service. Our service calculates how much you pay, how you can pay your contribution, nursing home selection, how to save money when in care, options for the home if empty. How to deal with capacity issues, taxation savings, short term funding that may be available and the application process. We are here to help you to navigate your way through the Fair Deal Scheme and will provide you with ongoing professional support at this often emotional and challenging time. 

If you sell your principal home within the 3-year period of entering the Fair Deal Nursing Home Scheme, the sale proceeds are counted as a cash asset and will be subject to the 7.5% contribution for a single person or 3.75% for a married person only until the person is in care for three years. After this the net proceeds are exempt.

Yes. You can apply for the Nursing Home Support Scheme while you are in hospital, in a rehabilitation setting, or even before a permanent nursing home placement is confirmed. In fact, applying early often helps avoid delays with funding once a nursing home placement becomes available. You can choose a nursing home later, once approval is in place.

In such circumstances, the Fair Deal contributions would stop with immediate effect. Any weekly contributions made before the person’s death are final. In case the nursing home loan scheme was used, the amount is repayable from the person’s estate. The loan is repayable within 18 months of the applicant’s death or when the property sells.

We can only help you in resolving issues on your end that might be causing the refusal or delay, such as incorrect documentation, a changing medical condition that complicates the assessment, or concerns regarding asset valuation. We cannot interfere with the HSE’s decisions or processes. A Professionally prepared application will get processed in a more timely basis as there will be less or no queries on the application by the HSE.

Yes, you can reapply for the Fair Deal Nursing Homes Support Scheme even if your first application is refused. No “cooling-off” or waiting period is required to apply again. You must understand the real reason behind your initial refusal, though. You can use our help and the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Guide for flawless reapplications.