Frequently Asked Questions
While working with customers, we’re constantly learning about their needs and managing enquiries that arise. As a result, we’ve included a list of frequently asked questions along with answers in order to provide additional support. If your question isn’t addressed below, get in touch with us and we’ll provide the information you need.
What is the Fair Deal scheme?
The Fair Deal scheme is operated by the Health Service Executive (HSE) in Ireland to provide financial support for those in long-term nursing home care. You pay part of the nursing home care cost and the HSE pays the balance.
How does the Fair Deal scheme work?
The scheme operates whereby the cost of nursing home care is managed through the HSE who pay either the full or part of the cost and by allowing those charged with paying the resident's portion of the cost to defer the charge (including following death).
Does the Fair Deal recipient pay more than just part of their income?
Are my contributions of income and assets capped?
Yes. The recipient never pays more than the actual cost of the nursing home care for the period of time they are in the nursing home. The amount actually paid could be less than the overall cost and will depend on a combination of the person’s annual income and their assets and will depend on whether they are single or married.
Who determines which nursing home I go to?
Does the Fair Deal scheme only cover public nursing homes?
The scheme covers approved private nursing homes, voluntary nursing homes and public nursing homes.
What does the recipient pay towards the nursing home care?
In the case of a single person, 80% of their income which goes towards the overall cost of the nursing home care and includes all types of income including State Pension. For a married person or a person in a civil partnership, the person pays 40% of the combined income.
What are the components of the Fair Deal scheme?
What happens if I transfer my assets to other people?
If availing of the optional Fair Deal loan, repayment of this loan is to Revenue and must be repaid within 12 months of death of the resident. For the purposes of calculating the amount due to Revenue, any assets transferred in the 5-year period prior to approval of the Fair Deal application will be included for the purposes of this calculation.
Is the Fair Deal scheme always funded?
There are two sections: (1) the health assessment of the person seeking nursing home care. This is carried out by the medical nurses attached to the Fair Deal scheme who assess whether the person requires nursing home care; and (2) the financial assessment side of the scheme. There are two parts to this. In simple terms, the first assesses if based on the person’s means, they qualify for State subsidy towards the cost of their nursing home care; the second is an optional Fair Deal loan which funds the shortfall between the cost of the nursing home care for as long as the recipient is in care and what they have contributed towards the overall cost. This is typically paid from part of the proceeds of the recipient’s estate on death.
If availing of the Fair Deal loan and assuming there is a shortfall between the actual cost of the nursing home care and what they have paid towards it, on death, to fund that shortfall, the single person will pay 7.5% of the value of their private home for each year they were in the home (capped at 3 years) and on all other assets 7.5% for each year in the home (no cap applies) subject to an initial €36,000 being excluded (for a married person, the equivalent percentages are 3.75% of the value of the family home (same 3 year cap applies) and 3.75% on all other assets (no cap) subject to exclusion of initial €72,000.
No. There are times when the Fair Deal runs out of funds to admit new applicants which can result in a delay but people can take up a place in a nursing home and pay for it privately until the scheme is funded again and avail of the scheme funding then.
You do subject to the nursing home (whether public or private) being on the Fair Deal approved list and subject to availability. It may be possible that you may have to wait for a place or that you have to take up a place in one home and move subsequently.