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Frequently Asked
Questions 

The Nursing Homes Support Scheme (‘Fair Deal’) is a scheme of financial support for people who need long-term nursing home care. Under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, you will make a contribution towards the cost of your care, and the state will pay the balance. There are important safeguards built in to the scheme which are worth noting.

  • You will keep a personal allowance of 20% of your income or 20% of the maximum rate of the state pension (non-contributory), whichever is the greater.
  • If you have a spouse/partner remaining at home, he/she will be left with 50% of the couple’s income or the maximum rate of the state pension (non-contributory), whichever is the greater.
  • If both members of a couple enter nursing home care, they each retain at least 20% of their income, or 20% of the maximum rate of the state pension (non-contributory), whichever is the greater.

The scheme covers bed and board, along with nursing, personal care and laundry.

Approval generally takes up to 12 weeks.

There are two key eligibility criteria:

  • You must have lived in the state for at least one year and intend to live here for at least a year.
  • You must be assessed as requiring long-term nursing home care

  1. A Care Needs Assessment
    Identifies whether or not you need long-term nursing home care
  2. Financial Assessment
    Determines your contribution to your care and your corresponding level of financial assistance (‘State Support’)
  3. Application for the Nursing Home Loan (recommended) – It is recommended you apply for the Nursing Home Loan on your Fair Deal application form. Complete if you wish to apply for the Nursing Home Loan (‘Ancillary State Support’)

Tax relief at the standard income tax rate of 20% may also be claimed in respect of the costs incurred on the supply, maintenance or repair of appliances where they are used on the advice of a practitioner such as

  • Hearing aids
  • Orthopaedic bed or chair where the resident is suffering from a specific illness or disability
  • Wheelchair or wheelchair lift for a disabled person

Further examples of qualifying appliances are set out in Revenue’s information leaflet IT 6 Medical Expenses Relief.

Please click here to download our Paying For Care booklet.

Please visit the Citizens Information website citizensinformation.ie