Fair Deal guides for families in Ireland — in plain English.
Plain-English guides to the HSE Fair Deal Scheme — formally the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) — for families navigating long-term care in Ireland. Updated for 2026 and written for the families and carers actually filling in the 40-page HSE application, not lawyers or accountants.
You'll find clear answers on how Fair Deal works, how the financial assessment is calculated (80% of income, 7.5% of assets, the €36,000 disregard), the 3-year cap on your home, the Nursing Home Loan (Ancillary State Support), the documents the HSE asks for, and how the rules apply to married couples and civil partners. Read what's relevant — then let the wizard turn the form-filling into a streamlined online questionnaire.
- 6 min read
What is the Fair Deal Scheme?
A plain-English overview of the HSE Nursing Homes Support Scheme — what it is, who can apply, and what it pays for.
Read the guide - 8 min read
How much does Fair Deal cost?
How the financial assessment works: 80% of income, 7.5% of assets, the €36,000 disregard, allowable deductions, and a worked example.
Read the guide - 5 min read
The 3-year cap on your home
How the cap protects your principal residence after three years in care, what counts as your home, and what happens to second properties.
Read the guide - 7 min read
The Nursing Home Loan
How the optional Ancillary State Support loan defers the property-based part of your contribution, when it has to be repaid, and how connected-person deferrals work.
Read the guide - 6 min read
Documents you need for Fair Deal
A practical checklist of every document the HSE asks for — IDs, PPS proof, valuations, statements, and the supporting evidence that speeds up your decision.
Read the guide - 6 min read
Fair Deal for couples and joint applications
How income, assets, and the asset disregard are split between spouses and partners — and what each person has to sign on the printed form.
Read the guide
Read enough — ready to apply?
The wizard turns the 40-page HSE form into a guided online questionnaire. €49 once-off (incl. VAT), with an AI-powered Health Check that catches missing answers before you post.
General information only. These guides aren't legal or financial advice. For your specific circumstances, talk to your local HSE Nursing Homes Support Office or a qualified adviser before making decisions about long-term care.