Many questions have come up on AAM about funding nursing home care. From my lay person’s experience, here’s some basic information which I hope will be of help. It does not cover every aspect of Fair Deal just the basics as a starting point.
If I have omitted something that should be included, please let me know.
The Nursing Home Support Scheme, “Fair Deal” is a HSE administered scheme of financial support for people who need long term nursing home care. Under Fair Deal, people contribute towards the cost of their care and the State pays the balance.
Fair Deal is available to all who have been assessed as needing long term nursing home care, subject to availability of funding.
The amount payable is calculated by looking at the applicant’s income and assets to work out their contribution to care. The contribution will be 80% of annual income and 7.5% of the value of assets per annum.
The applicant’s principal residence will only be included in the financial assessment for the first 3 years of their time in care; all other assets will be taken into account for as long as they remain in care.
The contribution based on the principal residence can be deferred and collected from the applicant’s estate; this element of the scheme is optional and is known as "Ancillary State Support" or ‘’The Nursing Home Loan’’.
In the case of a couple, where one person needs nursing home care, the financial assessment is based on half their combined income and assets.
With nursing home costs typically €900 - €1,200 weekly, Fair Deal is usually very beneficial to most.
If considering long term nursing home care, the public health nurse in the applicant’s local HSE health centre is usually a good starting point for advice, or if the person is in hospital, it’s the hospital social worker who will advise.
Application forms and contact details for all Nursing Home Support Offices and a step by step guide to Fair Deal can be found here;
http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/4/olderpeople/nhss/
The Department of Health have a very informative Frequently Asked Questions on Fair Deal, which include examples of financial assessments on pages 16 – 18.
http://health.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Frequently-Asked-Questions.pdf
A Calculator thast enables you to carry out a simulated Financial Assessment yourself before completing the official Application Form is here; http://myfairdeal.ie/?page_id=64
Some points to note;
· Any asset disposed of in the past 5 years will be included in the financial assessment.
· The first €36,000, or €72,000 for a couple will be disregarded in the financial assessment.
· Fair Deal includes provisions for what to do if the person who needs care does not have capacity to make decisions / process the application by themselves.
· There is no financial benefit in choosing a cheaper nursing home; the assessed contribution is based on the applicant’s income and assets and not the cost of the nursing home.
· The Nursing Homes Support Office should be able to help in filling in the application form or answer questions about an application. In my experience, they only take calls in the mornings but were always very helpful.
· It can be very beneficial to get the applicant’s financial contribution reassessed by the Nursing Homes Support Office on an annual basis, particularly if using savings to pay the assessed amount on the principal residence. This is because the balance of savings is probably reducing significantly. (A reassessment is generally by request only.)
· Some nursing homes charge an additional flat fee for activities etc., these are not covered under Fair Deal at present.
· Nursing Homes Ireland have produced a guide to assist in choosing a nursing home;
http://www.nhi.ie/index.php?p=NHI_guide
· Most nursing homes, though not all are approved for the scheme. Here is the approved list of nursing homes, both public and private;
http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/4/olderpeople/nhss/costs.html
· It’s a good idea to have a name down in at least 3 of your chosen nursing homes as most do have waiting lists. Those who want a single room might have to take a sharing room initially until a single becomes available.
· Tax relief is available at the higher rate for nursing home costs (or for carers in the family home), details here;
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/e...ng_home_fees_and_for_dependent_relatives.html
If I have omitted something that should be included, please let me know.
The Nursing Home Support Scheme, “Fair Deal” is a HSE administered scheme of financial support for people who need long term nursing home care. Under Fair Deal, people contribute towards the cost of their care and the State pays the balance.
Fair Deal is available to all who have been assessed as needing long term nursing home care, subject to availability of funding.
The amount payable is calculated by looking at the applicant’s income and assets to work out their contribution to care. The contribution will be 80% of annual income and 7.5% of the value of assets per annum.
The applicant’s principal residence will only be included in the financial assessment for the first 3 years of their time in care; all other assets will be taken into account for as long as they remain in care.
The contribution based on the principal residence can be deferred and collected from the applicant’s estate; this element of the scheme is optional and is known as "Ancillary State Support" or ‘’The Nursing Home Loan’’.
In the case of a couple, where one person needs nursing home care, the financial assessment is based on half their combined income and assets.
With nursing home costs typically €900 - €1,200 weekly, Fair Deal is usually very beneficial to most.
If considering long term nursing home care, the public health nurse in the applicant’s local HSE health centre is usually a good starting point for advice, or if the person is in hospital, it’s the hospital social worker who will advise.
Application forms and contact details for all Nursing Home Support Offices and a step by step guide to Fair Deal can be found here;
http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/4/olderpeople/nhss/
The Department of Health have a very informative Frequently Asked Questions on Fair Deal, which include examples of financial assessments on pages 16 – 18.
http://health.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Frequently-Asked-Questions.pdf
A Calculator thast enables you to carry out a simulated Financial Assessment yourself before completing the official Application Form is here; http://myfairdeal.ie/?page_id=64
Some points to note;
· Any asset disposed of in the past 5 years will be included in the financial assessment.
· The first €36,000, or €72,000 for a couple will be disregarded in the financial assessment.
· Fair Deal includes provisions for what to do if the person who needs care does not have capacity to make decisions / process the application by themselves.
· There is no financial benefit in choosing a cheaper nursing home; the assessed contribution is based on the applicant’s income and assets and not the cost of the nursing home.
· The Nursing Homes Support Office should be able to help in filling in the application form or answer questions about an application. In my experience, they only take calls in the mornings but were always very helpful.
· It can be very beneficial to get the applicant’s financial contribution reassessed by the Nursing Homes Support Office on an annual basis, particularly if using savings to pay the assessed amount on the principal residence. This is because the balance of savings is probably reducing significantly. (A reassessment is generally by request only.)
· Some nursing homes charge an additional flat fee for activities etc., these are not covered under Fair Deal at present.
· Nursing Homes Ireland have produced a guide to assist in choosing a nursing home;
http://www.nhi.ie/index.php?p=NHI_guide
· Most nursing homes, though not all are approved for the scheme. Here is the approved list of nursing homes, both public and private;
http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/4/olderpeople/nhss/costs.html
· It’s a good idea to have a name down in at least 3 of your chosen nursing homes as most do have waiting lists. Those who want a single room might have to take a sharing room initially until a single becomes available.
· Tax relief is available at the higher rate for nursing home costs (or for carers in the family home), details here;
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/e...ng_home_fees_and_for_dependent_relatives.html
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