The Fair Deal scheme is a state-funded scheme that helps with the cost of long-term nursing home care. You may be able to apply for this scheme if you are eligible and need long-term nursing home care.
The Fair Deal scheme, also known as the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, helps people to pay for long-term nursing home care who otherwise would not be able to do so.
The Fair Deal scheme, also known as the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, helps people to pay for long-term nursing home care who otherwise would not be able to do so.
The Fair Deal scheme is not available to those who are being cared for in hospital or respite care. It is funded by the state but you have to pay a contribution. You can apply if you:
- Are over 65 years old and currently living in Ireland
- Have paid PRSI contributions
- Have not reached your state pension age (currently 66 years old)
What is the Fair Deal scheme?
The Fair Deal scheme is a government initiative that provides financial support to people who need nursing home care. It also goes by the name Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS). The scheme was introduced in 2009 and has been expanded since then, with more conditions now covered by it.
The aim of the scheme is to ensure that people don’t have to sell their homes or claim social welfare benefits in order to pay for long-term nursing home care. The money comes from an assessment of assets, meaning you’ll only get help if you’re able to contribute some funds towards your own care costs.
Who is eligible for Fair Deal?
You will be eligible for Fair Deal if you are aged 65 or over, have lived in Ireland for the last 3 years and receive one of the following payments:
- State Pension (Contributory)
- Widow’s/Widower’s Contributory Pension
How does the scheme work?
You can apply for the Fair Deal Scheme if you are over 65 years old and have a medical condition that means you need to receive long-term nursing home care. The scheme will pay all or part of your nursing home fees, depending on your income and savings.
The amount of money you get depends on how much money is in your estate when you die—that includes cash, property, investments and other assets such as pensions. If these assets are worth less than €144,000 (as of October 2018), then any remaining costs after all other sources of funding have been taken into account will be covered by the scheme.
But if they’re worth more than this amount then only 20% will be covered by the scheme with 80% coming from private funds in your estate such as life insurance policies or investments
What does the scheme cover?
Who is eligible for the Fair Deal Scheme?
You are eligible for the scheme if you are:
- a person with a severe disability; and
- financially dependent on others.
What is the new weekly cap on contributions for long term nursing home care?
The maximum contribution you can make per week is €300. This cap applies to all payments made in the preceding seven days, with no limit on the overall cost of your care. The cap covers everything from accommodation and meals to nursing care and personal items such as toiletries or clothing.
The way it works is that if you are paying for long term nursing home care through your Fair Deal scheme, you will have a weekly cap of €300 on any contributions made towards your costs. This means that if you wish to contribute more than this amount each week – for example because your loved one’s needs require more assistance – then they must be covered by their own funds (or their family members). In addition, if someone is receiving respite care in addition to their full time residential care package from the HSE, there will be a separate weekly budget set aside for these services as well as an additional ‘daily-rate allowance’ payment covering food during this time period
What is the maximum contribution you will pay per week?
The maximum contribution you will pay per week depends on your income. If you earn less than €15,000 per year, then the minimum amount that you must pay is €712.50. If you are over 65 years of age and have a weekly income of up to €3,500 (or in receipt of a medical card), then your weekly premium payments will be capped at €1,100 per week.
What happens if I am no longer in a nursing home? For example, if I go into respite or hospital care. Will I still have to pay my contribution?
If you are no longer in a nursing home, you will no longer be required to pay your contribution.
However, if you are in hospital or respite care, you will not be required to pay your contribution.
If I am already in a nursing home, should I apply for this scheme immediately?
If you are already in a nursing home, the answer is yes. If you have already been assessed and accepted into the scheme, then again, yes. Even if you haven’t been assessed yet but believe that it might be right for your situation, we would urge you to apply as soon as possible. As we stated before, this scheme can help those who are not eligible for free State-funded nursing home care because they do not meet income limits or asset limits which apply under the Fair Deal Scheme (FDS).
The Fair Deal Scheme in Ireland helps people with their nursing home costs.
The Fair Deal scheme in Ireland helps people with their nursing home costs. The scheme is available to people who get a nursing allowance from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP).
In order to qualify for the scheme you must be over 66 or under 66 years old and get one of the following:
- A State Pension (Contributory or Non-Contributory)
- Blind Pension
- Disability Allowance
If you have a spouse/partner, they must also be getting one of these benefits and live at home with you. You can also qualify if your partner gets any other means tested social welfare payment but this will not affect how much money they get under the Fair Deal Scheme as long as they continue to live with you at home.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article has given you a clearer idea of how the Fair Deal scheme works in Ireland. If you are looking for more information on long-term care or want to talk about your options for funding your care, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We would be happy to help!