Nursing Home Support Scheme
The Nursing Homes Support Scheme or “Fair Deal Scheme” provides financial support towards the cost of nursing home care. The scheme is managed by the Health Service Executive (HSE). Under the Scheme, you pay a certain amount towards the cost of your care and the HSE pays the rest.
WHO CAN APPLY
Anyone who needs long term nursing home care can apply. You must be ordinarily a resident in the state i.e.: living here for at least 1 year.
HOW TO APPLY
Step 1- Application Form.
You can request the application form your local HSE Nursing Home Support Office- the local office for Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary is St Joseph’s Hospital, Mulgrave Street, Limerick. Tel: 061 461499 Email: nursinghomesupport@hse.ie. The application form can also be downloaded from the HSE website. An application form must be completed and signed by the person applying for the nursing home care. If the person is unable to apply themselves, then certain people may apply on their behalf, e.g. a person appointed as a care representative, a committee for Ward of Court or a holder of a registered Enduring Power of Attorney.
Step 2 -Care Assessment
The HSE will contact you once your application is reviewed. They will arrange a care assessment by a health care professional e.g. public health nurse. Essentially the care assessment helps the HSE determine if long-term nursing home care is the best option for you. When carrying out the assessment the health care professional will look at your ability to do everyday tasks (e.g. dressing, shopping), your mental ability (memory), the support you are currently receiving (family, home help).
Step 3 -Financial Assessment
Your financial situation is also assessed by the HSE to determine how much you can pay towards the cost of your nursing home care, the HSE then pays the balance. The amount you pay depends on your financial circumstances i.e. your assets, such as savings and property. The more income/assets you have the more you pay towards your care. The assessment will look at assets that you have transferred to another person (such as any property or money) since applying for State support or in the 5 years before the application.
NURSING HOME LOAN
This loan is an optional part of the scheme . You can choose to delay paying for your care until after your death by using your assets (property) as security for the loan. Effectively you are consenting to a mortgage being registered against your property in favour of the HSE. This optional support is to protect people from having to sell their home during their lifetime to pay for nursing home care.
3-YEAR CAP ON HOME, FARMS, AND BUSINESSES
Some assets are only included in the financial assessment for the first 3 years you are in care. After 3 years, you will not give any further payment based on these assets. The result being the amount you pay towards your care reduces. These assets can include, your home, the proceeds of the sale of your home and your farm or business.
Farms and business
If you want your farm or business included in the 3 year cap, you must apply for this by completing Part 7 of the application form, and the following conditions must be met:
- You must appoint a family successor who will commit to running the farm or business for at least 6 years. Your successor must be aged 18 or older and must be either your partner or a a relative of yours or of your partner.
- Your farm or business must have been actively run by you or your partner or a proposed family successor for at least 3 of the last 5 years.
- You must consent to a charge being registered against the farm/business property which will be removed after 6 years and once all the condition of the 3 year cap are followed.
You will need to provide supporting documents, including signed statutory declarations (affidavits) by you and your successor that the above criteria are satisfied.
For more detailed advice and/or assistance on the Nursing Home Support Scheme, contact us on 065 6840060 or email enquiries@cashinclancy.ie
