Fair Deal Scheme

You can apply for financial support to help pay for the cost of care in a nursing home through the Fair Deal scheme.

You can choose to pay privately for care while you wait for funding. Fair Deal funding can't be backdated and will only be paid from the date of approval.

There are 4 steps to the Fair Deal application process:

Complete the application form

Fill out the application form and include documents you need to send.

When you have completed this form, send it and the required documents to the Nursing Homes Support Office for your area (listed under Contacts below). We will let you know when we have received your application.

Undergo a care needs assessment

After receiving your application, you will be contacted to arrange a care needs assessment.

A public health nurse or medical professional will assess your:

• ability to perform daily tasks such as dressing and washing
• level of independence
• cognitive functioning - levels of attention, memory, learning, and language

You will receive a decision in writing after the assessment.

Financial assessment

A financial assessment will calculate how much you will pay towards the cost of nursing home care.

This amount depends on your income and assets.

If you have little income and assets, you pay less. If you have more income and assets, you pay more.

The amount your nursing home charges does not affect the amount you will pay.

For example: if the amount is calculated at €200 per week this will be the same whether the nursing home charges €770 per week or €1050 per week. We will pay the balance.

Your contribution is based on all of the following. You will pay:

• 80% (40% if you are part of a couple) based on your income
• 7.5% (3.75% if you are part of a couple) of your cash assets such as savings, stocks, shares
• 7.5% (3.75% if you are part of a couple) of your assets such as land or property

The first €36,000 (€72,000 if you are part of a couple) is excluded from the assessment. This is excluded firstly from your cash assets and then any remainder from your non-cash assets.

Your home will only be included in the financial assessment for a period of 3 years. You will not pay more than 22.5% (11.25% if you have a part of a couple) of the value of your home. This cap can also extend to your farm or business.

You will receive a letter to confirm the amount you will pay, followed by a letter to confirm your funding approval.

Nursing home loan

Optionally, you can choose to apply for a nursing home loan.

You can apply for a nursing home loan if you own property in Ireland. This can be a house, land, business property or any other property in the State.

Applying for a nursing home loan can take several months. You should apply for the loan when you apply for Fair Deal funding. You do not need to accept the nursing home loan if you are approved.

You can choose to pay the loan back at any time. You do not have to pay the amount during your lifetime but it will be collected from your estate upon death.

If your partner is still living in your home after your death, they can apply for a deferral. This means the loan amount based on the home can be collected from their estate after their death.

If you want to apply for it, you should complete this section in the Fair Deal application form.

If a person is unable to apply themselves, a specified person may apply on their behalf. A specified person can be a:

• care representative (a person appointed by Circuit Court)
• ward of court (a person appointed by Office of Ward of Courts)
• holder of a registered enduring power of attorney (chosen to act on behalf of another person)
• spouse or partner
• relative over 18 years of age
• legal representative
• registered medical professional, nurse or social worker

If you receive Fair Deal funding, you can request a review of your financial assessment. You also need to tell us of any change in circumstances.

You can request another financial review 12 months after your last review. But we can review a financial assessment at any stage.

If your care needs assessment finds you do not need long-term care, you can apply for a review. You can do this 6 months after the assessment, or earlier if:

• we feel that there has been a material change in your health or circumstances
• there has been a change in a person's health or circumstance after the care needs assessment

You must tell us if you or your partner’s circumstances change.

Contact your local Nursing Homes Support Office if you have any questions about your application.

When you have completed the application form, send it to the nursing homes support office in your area.

If you need help completing the form or have any questions you can call the HSELive team from 8am - 8pm Monday to Friday and 10am - 5pm on Saturdays.

Callsave: 1850 24 1850

Phone: 041 6850 300

Carlow and Kilkenny

HSE Nursing Homes Support Office

Community Services

James's Green

Kilkenny

Phone: 056 778 4761 and 056 778 4763 and 056 778 4769

Cavan and Monaghan

HSE Nursing Homes Support Scheme

HSE Offices

Town Hall Street

Cavan

Phone: 049 4377119

049 4377115

049 4377114

049 4377113

Cork and Kerry

Cork and Kerry

HSE Nursing Homes Support Office

Floor 1

Áras Sláinte

Wilton Road

Cork

Phone: 021 492 3536

021 492 3537

021 492 3538

021 492 3539

021 492 3540

021 492 3541

021 492 3542

Donegal

HSE Nursing Home Support Office

Donegal PCCC HQ

St Joseph's Hospital, Stranorlar

Lifford

Co Donegal

Phone: 074 919 1734 / 074 919 1740 / 074 919 1737

Dublin South, Wicklow and Kildare

HSE Nursing Home Support Office

2nd Floor Beech House

101-102 Naas Business Park

Naas

Co Kildare.

W91RC85

Phone: 045 920 000

Dublin North City and County

HSE Nursing Homes Support Office

Civic Office

Main Street

Ballymun

Dublin 9

Phone: 01 846 7148

Galway

HSE Nursing Homes Support Office

Lá Nua

Ballybane Neighbourhood Village

Castlepark Road

Ballybane

Galway

Phone: 091 748 485

Laois and Offaly

HSE Nursing Homes Support Office

Bury Quay

Tullamore

Co. Offaly

Phone: 057 932 7834

057 932 7821

057 932 7830

Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary

HSE Nursing Homes Support Office

St Joseph's Hospital

Mulgrave Street

Limerick

Phone: 061 461 499

Longford and Westmeath

HSE Nursing Homes Support Office

Health Centre

Longford Road

Mullingar

Co Westmeath

Phone: 044 939 4995

Louth and Meath

HSE Nursing Homes Support Office

Unit 3 Ardee Business Park

Hale Street

Ardee

Co Louth

Phone: 041 687 1515

041 687 1525

Mayo

HSE Nursing Homes Support Office

St Mary's Headquarters

Castlebar

Phone: 094 904 9176

Roscommon

HSE Nursing Homes Support Office

Government Buildings

Convent Road

Roscommon

Phone: 090 663 7561

090 663 7546

Sligo and Leitrim

HSE Nursing Homes Support Office

Markievicz House

Barrack Street

Sligo

Phone: 071 915 5193

Tipperary South

HSE Nursing Homes Support Office

Community Care Centre

Western Road

Clonmel

Phone: 052 617 7283

Waterford

Nursing Homes Support Office

Waterford Community

Services

Cork Road

Waterford

Phone: 051 842 963

Wexford

HSE Nursing Homes Support Office

Wexford Community Service

Georges Street

Wexford

Phone: 053 911 4316

053 911 4315

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