A non-dependant is normally any adult (over 18 years) who lives with you and isn't your partner. This could be a son, daughter, relative or friend.
If you're claiming housing benefit or council tax support and are of pensionable age, and you have a non-dependant living with you, it may affect the amount of benefit you can claim.
We may make a deduction from your benefit to represent the contribution the government expects them to pay towards your housing costs and council tax.
This is called non-dependant deduction.
From April 2020 there is no non-dependant deduction from your council tax support if you're of working age.
How a non-dependant affects your benefit/support
We take a set weekly amount off your housing benefit and council tax support. This is based on the non-dependant’s income. The more they earn, the higher the deduction will be.
It’s important that you let us know if your non-dependant’s circumstances change. For instance if they change jobs or their earnings change, this will affect your deduction. Use our change of circumstances form to do this.
Non-dependant deductions for council tax support 2022 (pensionable age only)
Aged 18 or over and in remunerative work or in receipt of Universal Credit with earned income working 16+ hours |
Weekly deduction (£) |
Gross income £484 or more per week | 12.85 |
Gross income £389 to £484 | 10.70 |
Gross income £224 to £389 | 8.55 |
Gross income less than £224 | 4.20 |
Others aged 18 or over not in remunerative work | 4.20 |
Aged 18 or over in receipt of Pension Credit, Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance (income based) or Employment Support Allowance (income related) |
Nil |
In receipt of Universal Credit with no earned income | Nil |
In receipt of Universal Credit with earned income working less than 16 hours | 4.20 |
Non-dependant deductions for housing benefit 2022
Aged 18 or over and in remunerative work or in receipt of Universal Credit with earned income working 16+ hours |
Weekly deduction (£) |
Gross income £484 or more per week | 106.05 |
Gross income £389 to £483.99 | 96.60 |
Gross income £292 to £388.99 | 84.85 |
Gross income £224 to £291.99 | 51.85 |
Gross income £154 to £223.99 | 37.80 |
Gross income less than £154 | 16.45 |
Others aged 18 or over not in work | 16.45 |
Others aged 25 and over on Income Support of Jobseekers Allowance | 16.45 |
Aged 25 and under on Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance (income based) |
Nil |
In receipt of Pension Credit |
Nil |
In receipt of Universal Credit with no earned income | Nil |
Aged 25 and over with no earned income | 16.45 |
In receipt of Universal Credit with earned income working less than 16 hours | 16.45 |
Exceptions to non-dependant deductions
We don't take any deductions for non-dependants where:
- you or your partner are receiving Attendance Allowance
- you or your partner are registered blind
- you or your partner are receiving the care component of Disability Living Allowance
- you or your partner receive the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment
- in some circumstances, the non-dependant's on Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance (income based), Universal Credit, or Savings Credit
- the non-dependant's a full-time student, or on a youth training scheme
- the non-dependant's in hospital for 52 weeks or more