Fair Deal is the State scheme that helps people in Ireland pay for long-term nursing home care. It’s run by the HSE, and the formal name is the Nursing Home Support Scheme. Rivervale is approved under it.
In broad terms: residents who qualify pay a portion of the cost based on their income and assets, and the HSE pays the rest. The contribution is calibrated to a person’s means rather than to a fixed bar, which is why no one is excluded by a means test.
How the Contribution Works
A resident under Fair Deal pays:
- 80% of their assessable income each week (typically a pension)
- 7.5% of the value of their assets each year (savings, investments, property)
The asset contribution against your principal private residence is capped at three years. After that, no further contribution is taken from the value of the property, no matter how long the stay in care continues.
The HSE pays the difference between what you contribute and what the nursing home place costs.
Couples
If a couple is being assessed together, the contribution is based on half of their combined income and assets. A spouse who stays at home isn’t assessed against the full household.
Applying
Applications go to the HSE. The process has three steps:
- Care needs assessment by an HSE nurse, to confirm long-term nursing care is appropriate.
- Financial assessment, to work out what the contribution would be.
- Approval of funding and placement in an approved nursing home.
You can apply before moving into a nursing home or after admission. The full process usually takes a few weeks.
Nursing Home Loan
If you own a home and don’t want to fund the 7.5% asset contribution against it from current resources, the HSE can lend you that share. The loan is repaid from the estate after death. It’s sometimes called Ancillary State Support, or just the nursing home loan.
More Information
The HSE has full guidance, including current forms and assessment criteria, at hse.ie.
For Fair Deal questions specific to admission at Rivervale, contact us directly.