Your benefit may be affected if you have non-dependants living in your household.

Non-dependant deductions for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction

The Government expects non-dependants to contribute towards the running expenses of the household, which includes rent and/or council tax. Many householders receive money from their non-dependants to cover housekeeping costs.

Even if the non-dependant only pays a small amount or nothing towards the household costs, fixed sum deductions will still be made from the householder's Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Reduction.

These deductions are calculated on the non-dependant's gross income. If the non-dependant's income increases or decreases, this may affect the deduction.

It is important to notify us of any changes in the non-dependant's income.

What is a non-dependant

A non-dependant is someone who lives with you on a non-commercial basis. This might be :

  • an adult son/daughter
  • a relative
  • a friend

Renting a room to a close relative is always considered non-commercial.

Non-dependants do not include:

  • dependant members of your family, for example, a partner or child for whom you get child benefit
  • lodgers or boarders who live with you on a commercial basis
  • tenants or sub-tenants
  • people who own part or all of your home, i.e. a joint owner
  • professional carers

Non-dependant deduction amount

The amount of the deduction depends on the level of gross income the non-dependant receives.  

Table showing Non-dependant deductions for Housing Benefit (as of April 2023)
Category Amount
Under 25 and on IS  or  JSA (IB) or ESA (IR) which does not include an amount for the support component or work-related activity component or UC where  the award is calculated on the basis that the non-dependant does not have any earned income Nil
Aged 25 or over and on IS/JSA(IB) and UC, or aged 18 or over and not in remunerative work £18.10
In receipt of the main phase ESA (IR) £18.10
In receipt of Pension Credit Nil
Aged 18 or over and works more than 16 hours a week, earning:
Gross weekly income less than £162 18.10
Gross weekly income not less than £162 but less than £235.99 £41.60
Gross weekly income not less than £236 but less than £307.99 £57.10
Gross weekly income not less than £308 but less than £409.99 £93.40
Gross weekly income not less than £410 but less than £510.99 £106.35
Gross weekly income not less than £511 £116.75
Table showing Non-dependant deductions for Council Tax Reduction (as of April 2023)
Category Amount
Under 25 and on IS  or  JSA (IB) or ESA (IR) which does not include an amount for the support component or work-related activity component or UC where  the award is calculated on the basis that the non-dependant does not have any earned income

Nil

Aged 25 or over and on IS/JSA(IB) and UC, or aged 18 or over and not in remunerative work 4.60
In receipt of main phase ESA (IR) 4.60
In receipt of Pension Credit Nil

Aged 18 or over and works more than 16 hours a week, including those in receipt of universal credit whose award includes earnings, earning:
Gross income less than £236

Gross weekly income not less than £236.00 but less than £409.99

Gross weekly income not less than £410 but less than £510.99

Gross weekly income not less than £511 
 

 

£4.60

£9.40

£11.80

£14.15

Others aged 18 or over £4.60

 

Table showing Non-dependant deductions for Housing Benefit (as of April 2024)

Category Amount
Under 25 and on IS  or  JSA (IB) or ESA (IR) which does not include an amount for the support component or work-related activity component or UC where  the award is calculated on the basis that the non-dependant does not have any earned income Nil
Aged 25 or over and on IS/JSA(IB) and UC, or aged 18 or over and not in remunerative work £19.30
In receipt of the main phase ESA (IR) £19.30
In receipt of Pension Credit Nil
Aged 18 or over and works more than 16 hours a week, earning:
Gross weekly income less than £175.99 19.30
Gross weekly income not less than £176 but less than £255.99 £44.40
Gross weekly income not less than £256 but less than £333.99 £60.95
Gross weekly income not less than £334 but less than £449.99 £99.65
Gross weekly income not less than £445 but less than £553.99 £113.50
Gross weekly income not less than £554 £124.55
Table showing Non-dependant deductions for Council Tax Reduction (as of April 2024)
Category Amount
Under 25 and on IS  or  JSA (IB) or ESA (IR) which does not include an amount for the support component or work-related activity component or UC where  the award is calculated on the basis that the non-dependant does not have any earned income

Nil

Aged 25 or over and on IS/JSA(IB) and UC, or aged 18 or over and not in remunerative work 4.90
In receipt of main phase ESA (IR) 4.90
In receipt of Pension Credit Nil

Aged 18 or over and works more than 16 hours a week, including those in receipt of universal credit whose award includes earnings, earning:
Gross income less than £255.99

Gross weekly income not less than £256.00 but less than £444.99

Gross weekly income not less than £445 but less than £553.99

Gross weekly income not less than £554 
 

 

£4.90

£10.05

£12.60

£15.10

Others aged 18 or over £4.90

When we won't deduct for non-dependants

We will not apply a non-dependant deduction if you or your partner are:

  • registered blind
  • In receipt of attendance Allowance
  • In receipt of the care component of the Disability Living Allowance
  • In receipt of the standard or enhanced rate of the daily living component of the Personal Independence Payment

No deduction is made if the non-dependant:

  • gets a work-based training allowance
  • usually lives somewhere else
  • has been a hospital inpatient for more than 52 weeks
  • is a prisoner or otherwise detained
  • is a full-time student during the period of study
  • is under 18

Deductions are not made when the non-dependant is under 25 and in receipt of:

  • Income Support
  • Income-Based Jobseekers Allowance
  • Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance Assessment Phase
  • Universal Credit with no earned income
  • Pension Credit

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