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.
A couple's means are assessed on half the combined figures, which is why the couple percentages are half the single ones. The €72,000 disregard is double the single €36,000.
The safeguards matter here: the contribution can never exceed the actual cost of care, and the spouse-at-home floor ensures the partner keeps at least half of the couple's income.
FairPath's v1 covers single/widowed applicants first. If you're one of a couple, leave your email and we'll tell you the week we cover the couple branch.
Sources: HSE Fair Deal application form (v4, Dec 2025)
The price is only half the number.
What your family actually pays is set by the Fair Deal means test — often far less than the sticker price. Work it out in two minutes, free.