The Financial Assessment for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme takes all of a person's income and assets into account. The person's contribution to care is then worked out based on 80% of the person's assessable income, which includes their pension, and 5% of the value of their assets per annum. The person retains the remaining 20% of their assessable income. The first €36,000 of the person's assets, or €72,000 in the case of a couple, is not included at all in the assessment. It should also be noted that a person will never pay more than the cost of their care.
Finally, if 80% of a person's pension per week exceeds the weekly cost of care, they will not qualify for State support under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme.