What if there are other adults living with you?

People that are considered as 'other' adults:

• include people aged 18 years or more who live in your home
• include grown-up children, other relatives or friends living with you 
• do not include your partner (if you have one)
• usually include people living in your home and paying rent, such as boarders or subtenants
• are expected to pay something towards the rent and the Council Tax of the home they live in

Your Housing Benefit may be reduced if any 'other' adult live in your home. This is sometimes called a non dependant deduction. This will depend on your and your households circumstances. In some cases we may not make any deductions.

The Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit is reduced by fixed amounts no matter what contribution of rent the other adult makes.

Second Adult Rebate

If you live with one or more 'other' adults but not your partner nor any joint tenants who are liable for Council Tax, you can also apply for benefit. This is called Second Adult Rebate (saving you up to 25% of the total bill or 100% if you are a student who is liable to pay the council tax)

You may get Second Adult Rebate if the other adult living in your home is:

• aged 18 years or over, and is
• not paying you rent, and is
• not paying Council Tax themselves, and is
• on a low income

You can apply for Second Adult Rebate on the same claim form below:

Even if your income and savings are too high to qualify for Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit. Only the other adults income is considered.

Page last reviewed 13 Feb 2008