Your Guide To Paying for Care and the Fair Deal

Fair Deal Guide 

The Fair Deal Scheme is a new scheme to replace nursing home subvention which was introduced in October 2009 by the Government.  Under the Fair Deal Scheme every person will make a contribution to the cost of their care, based on their means.  The State will pay the balance.  

All of Trinity Care’s homes are registered as partaking in the Fair Deal Scheme.  For more information on Fair Deal visit this section of the Department of Health website or contact the Department of Health. 

Please see the following excerpt from the Nursing Home Support Scheme Information Booklet published by the Department of Health & Children and the HSE.  

Nursing Homes Support / Fair Deal Scheme DOHC / HSE Information Booklet

1. Introduction

The Nursing Homes Support Scheme is a new scheme of financial support for people who need long-term nursing home care. It replaces the Subvention Scheme which has been in existence since 1993.  Under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, you will make a contribution towards the cost of your care and the State will pay the balance. This applies whether the approved nursing home is public, private or voluntary.  The scheme has a number of steps and these are set out in the rest of this booklet.

Please note that if you are resident in a nursing home before the new scheme starts, you should read section 10 of the information booklet carefully.

2. Applying for the Scheme

In order to apply for the scheme you must be ordinarily resident in the State.  Ordinarily resident means that you have been living in the State for at least a year or that you intend to live in Ireland for at least a year.  Applications are made to your local Nursing Home Support Office on the standard application form. There are three steps to the application process.

• Step 1 is an application for a Care Needs Assessment. The Care Needs Assessment identifies whether or not you need long-term nursing home care. 
• Step 2 is an application for State Support. This will be used to complete the Financial Assessment which determines your contribution to your care and your corresponding level of financial assistance (“State support”).

Steps 1 and 2 must be completed by all applicants (if you are resident in a nursing home before the scheme starts please see section 10 of this guide for further information).

• Step 3 is an optional step that should be completed if you wish to apply for the Nursing Home Loan (this is termed “Ancillary State support” in the legislation). The loan is explained in section 5 of this booklet.  The application form should be completed and signed by the person applying for nursing home care. However, in certain cases, another person may apply on their behalf as explained below.

Please view the Nursing Home Support Scheme – Information Booklet from the Department of Health.  A list of the HSE Nursing Home Support Offices where you can get further information is listed in the booklet in section 11. 

Please click the following link to Nursing Home Ireland’s Information Pamphlet regarding the Fair Deal NHI Fair Deal Guide

Disability Residents – Current and future residents funded under HSE and other Disability Services will continue to be funded under these services and will not come under the Fair Deal Scheme.

Subventions – prior to October 2009

Nursing Home Subvention is a payment made by the HSE to help eligible people to pay for residential care in a registered nursing home prior to October 2009. The subvention scheme was based on an assessment of the applicant’s means or income, and an assessment of their dependency or illness.  For those on nursing home subvention prior to October 2009 you are now entitled to apply for the Fair Deal Scheme.

For further information please contact your local HSE office.

Tax Relief on Nursing Home Fees and for Dependent Relatives

If you have to pay nursing home fees in Ireland, you may get tax relief on those payments. This is of use only for people who have an income above the tax exemption limit. 

Tax relief for nursing home expenses is claimed under the general scheme for tax relief on certain medical expenses. Maintenance in approved nursing homes qualifies for relief. All Trinity Care nursing homes are approved for tax relief.

A long-term patient in a nursing home who pays tax under PAYE can apply to have the expenses allowed in his or her tax credit certificate. 

In cases of hardship, PAYE taxpayers may be given the relief through the PAYE system on a weekly or fortnightly basis, to help meet the cost, rather than waiting until the end of the tax year.

If part of the costs of the nursing home are shared with other family members or relatives, an individual may claim in respect of the portion paid by him/her. 

In some cases, the person residing in the nursing home may pay some of the costs from his/her own income and this can affect a claim.

Under the New Fair Deal Scheme it is unclear as to whether tax relief will still be allowable under this scheme.  Please contact the HSE for more information.

For additional information see Revenues information leaflet IT 6 Medical Expenses Relief.  Please contact your local HSE office or Revenue Commissioners office for more details.

Weekly Service Charge

All our homes charge a Weekly Service Charge (WSC).  This charge covers various items that are not covered under the Fair Deal.  This weekly service charge covers provision of activities including staffing and specialist providers (artists, musicians etc.), phlebotomy and similar services (where required), and transport of samples to laboratory, toiletries, the cost of religious services as we charged by these Providers, newspapers, and numerous other small scale services. More information is available from the nursing home. 

Additional services

The Resident may also avail of additional services such as specialist therapies, transport, hairdressing, specialist equipment, escort to appointments etc. An additional charge/fee may apply for any of the above services/goods. More information is available from the nursing home