Written answers

Tuesday, 16 April 2019

Department of Health

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Data

Photo of Clare DalyClare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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400. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the house of a person in a nursing home under the fair deal scheme cannot be sold while the person is alive in the context of assisting families whose children may want to buy out, for example, grandparents’ homes, generating new mortgages, stamp duties and giving the HSE a revenue earlier than it would otherwise receive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17730/19]

Photo of Jim DalyJim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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The Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS), commonly referred to as Fair Deal, is a system of financial support for people who require long-term residential care. Participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost. The Scheme aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone and that people are cared for in the most appropriate settings.

Participants in the Scheme contribute up to 80% of their assessable income, such as their pension and a maximum of 7.5% per annum of the value of assets held, such as their principal private residence or cash assets. The first €36,000 of an individual’s assets is not counted at all in the financial assessment. The capital value of an individual’s principal private residence is only included in the financial assessment for the first three years of their time in care. This is known as the three year cap. 

The Scheme has no restrictions in place in relation to the sale of a home. However, if a participant in the Scheme were to sell an asset, such as a home, after their first financial assessment the proceeds of the sale would therefore become a cash asset. The three-year cap will then no longer apply and the participant must pay a contribution of 7.5% based on this cash asset.

A participant in the scheme can request a financial review if 12 months have passed since their initial review. However, the HSE may review a financial assessment at any stage.

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