Ireland - Nursing Home Support Scheme
Fair Deal Calculator
The Fair Deal Scheme sounds simple but most families are surprised by the numbers. Enter your details and see exactly what you will pay each week, what the HSE covers, and what the 3-year home cap means in practice.
Your weekly contribution
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How the Fair Deal Scheme works
The Nursing Home Support Scheme (Fair Deal) means you pay a fixed contribution towards your care and the HSE pays the rest. Your contribution is calculated from two sources: your income and your assets.
Income contribution
You pay 80% of your assessable income each week. Assessable income includes the State Pension, occupational pensions, rental income and most other regular income. Income from a spouse or partner who is not entering care is assessed at 40%.
Asset contribution
You pay 7.5% of the value of your assessable assets per year (worked out weekly). Assets include savings, investments and property. For a single person, the first EUR36,000 of assets is exempt. For a couple, the first EUR72,000 is exempt.
The 3-year home cap
If you own your home, it is assessed at 7.5% per year like other assets, but only for a maximum of 3 years. After that, no further contribution is taken from the home. The maximum the state can ever charge against your home is 22.5% of its value. The HSE places a charge on the property and this is repaid when the home is sold, not upfront.
Important note
This calculator gives an estimate based on the figures you enter. The actual Fair Deal assessment is carried out by the HSE and takes into account many additional factors. Always consult the HSE or a qualified financial advisor before making any decisions. More information is available at hse.ie.