Written answers

Tuesday, 28 June 2005

Department of Health and Children

Nursing Home Subventions

10:00 pm

Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 214: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, further to Parliamentary Question No. 140 of 24 May 2005, if the HSE is correct in its decision to impute to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 an annual income equivalent to 5% of the estimated market value of a jointly owned principal residence; if a similar decision would be determined if the relationship of joint owners were that of husband and wife; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22247/05]

Photo of Seán PowerSeán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputies will be aware, the Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990 and the nursing homes regulations 1993 provide for the payment of subvention for private nursing home care for applicants who qualify on both medical and means grounds. Under the regulations, the Health Service Executive when considering an application for subvention carries out a means test which takes into account the means of the applicant and his or her spouse-cohabiting partner, where appropriate, and the assets of the applicant. The means test is usually carried out by the local community welfare officer and involves looking at the applicant's income for the previous 12 months. Income from all sources is taken into account, including wages, salary, pension, allowances, payments for part-time and seasonal work, income from rentals, investments and savings and all contributions from all sources. Income is assessed net of PRSI, income tax and the health contribution and the income of a married or cohabiting person is taken to be half the total income of the couple. In assessing an applicant's assets the first €7,618 of such assets is disregarded.

If the value of the applicant's principal residence is in excess of €95,230 and the residence is not occupied by a spouse, a son or daughter aged less than 21 or in full-time education or a relative in receipt of the disabled person's maintenance allowance, blind person's pension, disability benefit, invalidity pension or old age non-contributory pension, then the HSE imputes an annual income equivalent to 5% of the estimated market value of the principal residence. If an applicant's spouse is still resident in their home at the time of application, then that house may not be assessed for subvention purposes.

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