Fair Deal helps pay for long-term nursing home care. This guide shows what you pay, what to send and how the two HSE assessments work.
The Nursing Homes Support Scheme, known as Fair Deal, means you pay a set amount towards nursing home care and the HSE (Health Service Executive) pays the rest. You apply on one paper form and post it to your local HSE Nursing Homes Support Office.
Who this is for
- You must be ordinarily resident in Ireland. That means you have lived here for at least 1 year or plan to.
- A Care Needs Assessment must show you need long-term nursing home care.
- Someone else can apply for you, such as your spouse or partner, an adult relative, a care representative, an enduring power of attorney or a doctor, nurse or social worker.
- Fair Deal does not cover respite, convalescent or day care, or extras such as hairdressing and activities.
What you need
- The Nursing Home Support Scheme Application Form and Support Information (Version 4, December 2025)
- Bank statements for the last 6 months for every account
- Proof of each income, such as a pension letter, payslip, Revenue Notice of Assessment or rental agreement
- Statements for shares, bonds and other investments
- A valuation of your home and of any other property or land, plus farm or business accounts
- Proof of deductions, such as health expenses, mortgage statements and rent receipts
- For the Nursing Home Loan: proof you own the property, such as the folio number or deeds
Step by step
- Download the form from the HSE Fair Deal application page, or ask your local Nursing Homes Support Office for one. An Irish-language version is available.
- Fill in the form. Signing it applies for both the Care Needs Assessment and financial support.
- Decide if you also want the Nursing Home Loan. Apply for it on the same form, because approval can take several months.
- Gather copies of the documents listed on page 11 of the form.
- Post the form and documents to the Nursing Homes Support Office for your area. The list of offices is on page 37 of the form.
- Wait for the HSE to arrange your Care Needs Assessment. A public health nurse or other professional checks how you manage daily tasks.
- Read your letters. The first tells you how much you will pay, and the second confirms your funding.
- Choose an approved nursing home. You pay your share and the HSE pays the balance.
How much it costs and how long it takes
| Item | Single person | Couple |
|---|---|---|
| Assessable income | 80% | 40% of combined income |
| Savings, shares and other cash assets | 7.5% | 3.75% |
| Other property and land | 7.5% | 3.75% |
| Your home | 7.5% for 3 years only, so 22.5% at most | 3.75% for 3 years only, so 11.25% at most |
| Assets not counted | First €36,000 | First €72,000 |
The HSE does not publish a processing time. Funding starts from the date it is approved and is not backdated. You can pay privately while you wait.
The Nursing Home Loan covers the part of your share based on property or land in Ireland. It is repaid to Revenue within 12 months of death, with a Consumer Price Index (CPI) adjustment. You do not have to accept it if approved.
To use the 3-year cap for a farm or business, you name a family successor aged 18 or over. They must agree to run it for at least 6 years. It must have been actively run for 3 of the 5 years before you went into care.
Common mistakes
- Moving in and expecting Fair Deal to pay from that day. It only pays from the approval date.
- Thinking a gift of money or property is ignored. Assets given away in the 5 years before you apply are counted.
- Not telling the office when you sell an asset. You must tell them within 10 working days.
- Leaving the loan application until later. It can take several months.
- Expecting a dearer nursing home to cost you more. Your share is the same in any approved home.
If something goes wrong
- Appeal within 40 working days of the decision to the HSE National Appeals Service, Ballyshannon Health Campus, An Clochar, College Street, Ballyshannon, Co Donegal, F94 TPX4.
- Appeals phone: 071 982 2124 or 071 982 2125, Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 1pm. Email nationalappeals@hse.ie.
- If you are found not to need long-term care, you can apply again after 6 months, or sooner if your health changes.
- HSE Live: 1800 700 700 (Freephone), or 00 353 1 240 8787 from abroad.
Related guides
- How to apply for HSE home support
- How to apply for Carer's Allowance
- How to apply for the State Pension (Contributory)
- How to apply for a medical card or GP visit card
- How to apply for probate without a solicitor
Budget 2027 adds €97 million to Fair Deal, to support 500 more people. No change to the rates you pay was announced.
The HSE updates its list of maximum nursing home prices during the year. The latest is dated 4 September 2026.
