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.
The FairPath calculator includes the published couple rates, while the HSE financial assessment remains the official decision on the contribution.