For those who are looking to apply for Nursing
Home Support under the scheme of Fair Deal in Ireland, here are some of the
basic rules to follow to have a holistic settlement. Steer clear of
controversies, concepts and the main focus of the scheme. It is pivotal that
applicants take a step with full knowledge, confidence and consciousness about
what the scheme entails for the person seeking care, the family members and the
property. There is no room for general concepts here.
Fair Deal Scheme And Farming Families
As of 2020, there is still no change in the
Fair Deal policy for Nursing Home Support about putting the 3-year cap on
Family Farms, as was proposed in 2018. Farming families would still have to
choose between the farm and nursing home support for a loved one since they
would have to make the annual payment of 7.5% against the property - for as
long as their loved one receives care. The 3-year cap currently applies to only
residences that have family dwellings.
So how is a family supposed to pay against a
land? Families would have to either sell or mortgage the farm to a third-party
mortgage provider and pay the 7.5% through the interest or mortgage/sell the
farm to the HSE under the Ancilliary State Support or Nursing Home Loan Scheme. This scheme entails that you can delay the payment
against your property and run the farm is it is for as long as the loved one
stays under care. But after their lifetime, you would either have to pay for
the entire amount or surrender the property.
The moral of the system is that it is most
functional for individuals who have a farm, but is not part of a farming
family, and who have no successors as such to pass on the property. Whereas,
for Farming Families this scheme entails to take more, the more you have.
When You Need Nursing Home Care
And Have A Good Deal Of Assets
The Fair Deal Scheme is most beneficial for
cash poor and asset rich individuals who need long term care.
But in some instances, you can keep your home
while receiving Nursing Home Care. Here’s how.
It leaves broad scopes of savings, through
many exemptions which include a €36,000 savings exemption which is increased to
€72,000 for couples. Then you will get Tax Exemptions, Exemptions for Critical
Medical Care, important bills, cost of childcare or of a family member,
repayment of loans and many others.
Ideally, this scheme works for individuals who
hare single, have limited assets and live on rent, or those who are already
living in Nursing Home Care and looking for a more affordable alternate.
However, for those who have a decent pension and a home that they wish to pass
on to their children, they might be at a loss of having to decide this or that.
The scheme guarantees that no one would have
to pay more than their care needs. And whilst there are plenty of controversies
regarding the “unfair” policies, there are many aspects of this scheme that
make it a truly fair settlement for the financially weak. So have a broader
spectrum about the situation and take the advice of Fair Deal Counsellors to
make a conscious decision.
