People who live with you (non-dependants)
Find out how non-dependants affect your housing benefit and council tax support.
What is a non-dependant?
People who normally share your accommodation but are not dependent on you for financial support are known as non-dependants. Others who live with you as a family and any children you have fostered do not count as non-dependants.
The following do not count as non-dependants:
- carers employed by a charity that charges for the service
- joint tenants
- subtenants
- boarders
- tenants of owner occupiers
- landlords/ladies and their partners
They do not count as part of your household.
Non-dependants are people like grown-up sons or daughters and elderly relatives. If you have a non-dependant living with you, your housing benefit and council tax support may be affected.
Non-dependant deductions
Housing benefit and council tax support are normally reduced for each non-dependant living in your home.
If the non-dependant is working less than 16 hours a week, the lowest deduction will apply.
If the non-dependant is doing paid work for 16 hours or more a week, the level of deduction will depend on the non-dependant's gross income. We will ask to see evidence of this.
Housing Benefit
| Non-dependant deductions | 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022 weekly deduction | 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 weekly deduction |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 25 or over and on Income Support or income-based Job Seeker's Allowance, or aged 18 or over and not in paid work | £15.95 | £16.45 |
| In receipt of main phase income-related Employment and Support Allowance | £15.95 | £16.45 |
| Aged over 18 and in paid work with: | ||
| - gross weekly income of less than £154 | £15.95 | £16.45 |
| - gross weekly income of £154 - £223.99 | £36.65 | £37.80 |
| - gross weekly income of £224 - £291.99 | £50.30 | £51.85 |
| - gross weekly income of £292 - £388.99 | £82.30 | £84.85 |
| - gross weekly income of £389 - £483.99 | £93.70 | £96.60 |
| - gross weekly income of £484 or more | £102.85 | £106.05 |
Council Tax Support
| Non-dependant deductions | 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022 weekly deduction | 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 weekly deduction |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 18 or over and not in paid work | £4.05 | £4.20 |
| Aged or 18 over and in paid work with: | ||
| - gross weekly income of less than £224 | £4.05 | £4.20 |
| - gross weekly income of £224 - £388.99 | £8.30 | £8.55 |
| - gross weekly income of £389 - £483.99 | £10.40 | £10.70 |
| - gross weekly income of £484 or more | £12.45 | £12.85 |
When are deductions not taken?
A deduction will not be made if you or your partner are:
- registered blind
- receiving Attendance Allowance
- receiving the care component of Disability Living Allowance
- receiving the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment
No deductions are made if the non-dependant is:
- receiving Pension Credit
- aged under 18
- a full time student (there is a deduction for summer vacation if the non-dependant works 16 hours a week or more)
- receiving a youth training allowance
- a prisoner
- has been in hospital for 52 week or more
- under 25 and receiving Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance (income based) (any age for Council Tax Support)
- 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 (any age for Council Tax Support)
- receiving Employment Support Allowance assessment phase only
A deduction may be delayed for 26 weeks if you or your partner are aged 65 or more and a non-dependant moves into your home or the non-dependant's circumstances change to increase the deduction.
Tell us about a change of circumstances which could affect your benefits.