Non-dependant deductions explained
A non-dependant is someone over 18 who normally lives with you on a non commercial basis such as an adult son, daughter, relative or friend.
On this page:
Who is not treated as a non-dependant?
- partners
- boarders
- sub tenants
- joint tenants
- children for whom you still receive child benefit
- carers who are employed by a charity or voluntary organisation
How does a non-dependant affect my benefit?
We take fixed amounts from your housing benefit and council tax reduction based on the gross weekly income (before deductions for tax and national insurance) of your non-dependants.
We take deductions regardless of whether the non-dependant contributes to your household or not.
What level of deductions will we take?
Housing benefit
From April 2023, we take the following amount from your housing benefit.
| Gross weekly income of non-dependant | Deduction from Housing Benefit |
| 18 or over, in remunerative work with a gross weekly income
of: |
|
| £511 and above | £116.75 |
| £410 to £510.99 | £106.35 |
| £308 to £409.99 | £93.40 |
| £236 to £307.99 | £57.10 |
| £162 to £235.99 | £41.60 |
| Under £154.00 | £18.10 |
| 18 or over and not in remunerative work
(a person is classed as being in remunerative work if they are working for at least 16 hours per week) |
£18.10 |
| Receiving Pension Credit | £0 |
| Aged under 25 and receiving any of the following:
• Income Support • Income-based Jobseekers Allowance • Assessment phase of Income-related Employment and Support Allowance • Universal Credit, (where the Universal Credit is calculated on the basis that the person does not have any earned income) |
£0 |
Council Tax reduction
From April 2023 we take the following amount from your Council Tax reduction.
| Gross weekly income of non-dependant | Deduction from Council Tax reduction |
| £511 or more | £14.15 |
| £410 to £510.99 | £11.80 |
| £236 to £409.99 | £9.40 |
| Less than £236 | £4.60 |
| Not in remunerative work or working less than 16 hours | £4.60 |
When are deductions not taken for non-dependants?
We do not take deductions if you (the claimant) or your partner:
- are registered blind
- receive DLA (care component)
- receive attendance allowance
- receive the daily living component of personal independence payment
And we will not make a deduction if your non-dependant is:
- under 18
- under 25 and receiving income support, job seekers allowance (income based) or employment and support allowance (income related) assessment phase only
- under 25 and entitled to an award of universal credit where the award is calculated on the basis that the non-dependant does not have any earned income
- receiving pension credit
- receiving a youth training allowance
- a full time student (but we will take deduction if they work in the holidays, and when they are between courses)
- in prison
- usually living elsewhere
For council tax reduction we also will not take an amount if your non-dependant is:
- receiving income support, job seekers allowance (income based) or employment and support allowance (income related), or entitled to Universal Credit where the award is
calculated on the basis that the person does not have any earned income.
What if I am over 65?
If you or your partner are over 65 and a non dependant moves in with you, we will not make deductions for the first 26 weeks. However you must still tell us that they have moved in.
If you already have a non dependant living with you and their income increases we will not increase the deduction for 26 weeks. The new deductions will be based on the non dependant’s income at the end of the 26 weeks period.
What happens if I do not provide you with my non dependant’s income?
If you do not give us the proof which we ask for, we may take the maximum non-dependant deductions from your benefit.
Benefits
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- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday – 9am to 5pm (telephone)
- Wednesday – 9am to 4pm (telephone)