At 11pm, families ask
Fair Deal questions, answered straight.
Every answer opens with the direct answer and its HSE source. No sales spin, no scare tactics — just what the scheme actually says.
Do I have to sell the house for Fair Deal?
No — nothing in Fair Deal forces you to sell the family home. Your contribution from the home is capped: it is counted for a maximum of three years, and the optional Nursing Home Loan can defer that part entirely.
Is Fair Deal backdated?
No — Fair Deal funding is never backdated. It is paid from the funding-approval date (or the date of admission to care, if that is later), so any weeks before approval are paid at the full nursing-home rate by the family.
How long does a Fair Deal application take?
The HSE's assessment typically takes about 4–6 weeks from the point a complete application is received — but the clock only starts when the application is complete, and gathering the paperwork first commonly takes families up to three weeks.
How much will I pay under Fair Deal?
You contribute 80% of your assessed weekly income plus 7.5% of the value of your assets per year (40% of income and 3.75% of assets if you are one of a couple), after an asset disregard of €36,000 (€72,000 for a couple).
What is the three-year cap on the family home?
The three-year cap means your principal private residence is only counted in the Fair Deal assessment for the first three years in care — after that it is removed automatically and stops adding to your contribution.
Does my spouse have to pay for my Fair Deal care?
When one of a couple goes into care, the assessment uses the lower couple rates — 40% of income and 3.75% of assets per year, with a €72,000 disregard — and a spouse-at-home 50% floor protects the partner who remains at home.
What documents do I need for a Fair Deal application?
You need proof of the person's net weekly income, bank and other financial statements covering the last six months, and valuations of any property and significant assets — all in the name of the person going into care.
Is Fair Deal income assessed gross or net?
Net. The Fair Deal assessment uses your net weekly income — after tax, PRSI and other deductions — not your gross income.
What is the Nursing Home Loan (Ancillary State Support)?
The Nursing Home Loan is an optional State loan that lets you defer the portion of your Fair Deal contribution based on property — the HSE pays it now and recovers it later from the estate, so you don't have to sell the home during your lifetime.
Can I appeal a Fair Deal decision?
Yes — you have 40 working days from the date of a decision to appeal to the HSE National Appeals Service, in writing by email or post.
What happens if the care needs assessment is refused?
If the care needs assessment finds long-term residential care isn't required, there is a six-month wait before you can reapply — unless the person's health or circumstances change in the meantime.
Do I have to report changes after Fair Deal is approved?
Yes — you must report relevant changes to the HSE within 10 working days. That includes the death of a spouse, income or asset increases, sales, settlements, inheritances, a separation, or renting out the principal private residence.
What happens if I put wrong information on the Fair Deal form?
Knowingly giving false or misleading information is an offence carrying a fine of up to €5,000 and/or three months' imprisonment, and any resulting overpayment is recoverable from you as a contract debt.
Who can sign the Fair Deal form if the person can't consent?
If the person going into care can't sign for themselves, a 'specified person' can apply on their behalf — a spouse or partner, an adult child, certain registered professionals, or a court-appointed decision-maker — and in some cases a Circuit Court capacity order (a decision-making representative) is required.
Is the family home safe for my spouse under Fair Deal?
Yes — a spouse or partner remaining in the family home is protected: the home is only counted for three years, a 50% spouse-at-home income floor applies, and the contribution can never exceed the actual cost of care.
Now see what your family actually pays.
The questions above are the rules. The calculator turns them into your number in two minutes, free.