What is a Residential Support Services Maintenance and Accommodation Contribution (long stay contribution)?
A long-stay contribution is an affordable contribution towards your maintenance and accommodation costs in certain HSE, or HSE-funded, residential settings. These include nursing and non-nursing settings where accommodation is provided or where upkeep costs (for example, food and utility bills) are funded by or on behalf of the HSE.
What settings do long-stay contributions apply to?
The settings where long-stay contributions apply include:
- residential accommodation in the mental health or disability sectors, and, to a lesser extent,
- convalescent homes, hospitals (while not receiving acute care) and nursing homes (including older people’s units but excluding nursing home services supported under the Fair Deal Scheme).
I have a medical card. Do I have to make a long stay contribution?
Yes. Long-stay contributions apply to people with or without a medical card.
Your contribution does not go towards the care you require.
Who does the long-stay contribution not apply to?
You do not have to make a long-stay contribution if you are receiving acute in-patient care or long term residential care services supported by the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Fair Deal).
You do not have to make a long-stay contribution for a day when you do not stay in the accommodation.
What does your contribution go towards?
Your contribution goes towards your maintenance and accommodation costs.
It might cover costs such as those for:
- your room or a room you share
- cooking facilities
- heat, light or waste disposal
- groceries or meals depending on your needs.
What factors are considered when deciding my contribution?
The amount you must contribute will vary based on three factors:
- Your income – including any payments you receive from the Department of Social Protection.
- Your essential outgoings (expenses) – making sure that what you contribute will be within your means and takes account of your and your dependants' needs.
- Where you live – Category A, B or C accommodation.
- Category A accommodation (24 hour medical or nursing care).
- Category B accommodation (weekly medical or nursing care on a less than 24 hour basis).
- Category C accommodation (all other accommodation such as independent living settings).
How will I know what I have to contribute?
Your service provider will help you figure out how much you have to contribute based on your weekly income and outgoings. You will have an individual assessment to make sure that the amount you have to contribute is correct.
If you wish to be considered for a waiver (reduction or setting aside of your standard contribution), you will need to provide details of:
- relevant income (such as disability allowance, pension, salary, and so on), and
- essential outgoings (such as mortgage payments or other essential expenses).
After your assessment, your service provider will write to tell you what you must contribute and how you can pay the contribution. Your service provider will support you in this process. You should contact them if your circumstances change.
How can I afford the contribution? If my only income is from the Disability Allowance, how much will I have to contribute?
To make sure that your contribution is affordable, the maximum you can be required to contribute each week (from 7 January 2022) is:
- €179 – if you are in Category A accommodation (24 hour medical or nursing care) and your weekly income is €228 or more;
- €134 – if you are in Category B accommodation (weekly medical or nursing care on a less than 24 hour basis) and your weekly income is €214 or more; or
- €74 – if you are in Category C accommodation (all other accommodation such as independent living) and your income is €208 or more.
If your income is lower, the contribution you must pay will also be lower.
If your only income is the Disability Allowance of €208 a week (rate from January 2022), the most you will contribute each week is:
- €159 (in Category A accommodation),
- €124 (Category B) or,
- €74 (Category C).
Will I have any money left each week for my own use?
Yes, you will always be able to keep some money from your weekly income for your personal use.
You will be able to keep at least:
- €49 – if you live in Category A accommodation,
- €84 – if you live in Category B accommodation, or
- €134 – if you live in Category C accommodation.
What can I do if I am unhappy with the amount I have to contribute?
If you are unhappy with the level of your contribution, you can:
- ask for the decision to be corrected if a mistake has been made in your assessment,
- ask for a the decision to be updated if your circumstances have changed,
- appeal in writing to the HSE National Appeals Office, An Clochar, Ballyshannon Health Campus, College Street, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal F94 TPX4, or
- write to the Office of the Ombudsman if you are still unhappy – Office of the Ombudsman, 6 Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2, D02 W773.
Financial assessment form 2022 (Excel, 779.5 KB)
National RSSMACs General Implementation Guidelines 2022 (PDF, 991.6 KB, 49 pages)
RSSMAC easy to read leaflet January 2022 (PDF, 632.6 KB, 6 pages)
RSSMAC outcome letter January 2022 (PDF, 173.4 KB, 2 pages)
RSSMAC Invitation to assessment document January 2022 (PDF, 119.2 KB, 1 page)
RSSMAC waiver guidelines January 2022 (PDF, 973.5 KB, 26 pages)
RSSMAC short guide to long stay contributions January 2022 (PDF, 251.3 KB, 4 pages)
Worked examples relating to waivers January 2022 (PDF, 526.9 KB, 12 pages)
Frequently Asked Questions about Waivers January 2022 (PDF, 204.9 KB, 5 pages)
Long Stay Contribution Frequently Asked Questions January 2022 (PDF, 274.7 KB, 13 pages)
