The time limit: 40 working days
The HSE says decisions can be appealed within 40 working days of the date the decision was given to you. Citizens Information says the decision letter outlines the appeals process and gives the details of your local Appeals Office. Mark the deadline in your diary the day the letter arrives.
Which decisions can be appealed
The HSE booklet lists decisions that can be appealed, including:
- the result of the care needs assessment
- a decision not to carry out a financial assessment
- the result of the application for State support, including the contribution
- the result of the application for the nursing home loan
- the result of a review
Who decides an appeal
Appeals are considered by people appointed by the HSE with the consent of the Minister. If the appeal does not succeed, the outcome can be appealed further to the High Court on a point of law. You can also take your case to the Office of the Ombudsman.
What to put in the letter
- The applicant’s name and the reference on the decision letter.
- Exactly which decision you are appealing, and which figure, if it is a financial decision.
- Why you say it is wrong, in plain words, with the figure you say is right.
- Copies of anything that supports it: a valuation, a bank letter, a medical report, a letter from an accountant.
- Your own name and contact details.
Keep a copy of everything, and send it in a way you can prove, such as registered post.
If the care needs decision was a refusal
The HSE says that a person found not to need long-term nursing home care must wait 6 months before applying again, unless there is a change in their health or circumstances. A change in health can mean a fresh application sooner, alongside or instead of an appeal.
When the HSE has only asked for more information
A request for more information is not a refusal. Sending what was asked for, quickly, is usually faster than an appeal. If you are not sure what the letter means, ring the Nursing Homes Support Office named on it.
Questions families ask
How long do we have to appeal a Fair Deal decision?
The HSE says decisions can be appealed within 40 working days of the date the decision was given to you.
Which decisions can be appealed?
Decisions including the result of the care needs assessment, a decision not to carry out a financial assessment, the result of the application for State support, the result of the nursing home loan application, and the result of a review.
What if the appeal does not succeed?
The outcome can be appealed to the High Court on a point of law, and you can take your case to the Office of the Ombudsman.
Guidance reviewed on 30 October 2026 against the sources below. fairdeal.ie is independent. The HSE decides every application.