What is a Non-dependant?
People who normally live in your property but who are not dependent on you for financial support are known as non-dependants. These can include:
- adult sons or daughters
- other relatives living in your household
- anyone else who lives in your household who is not related to you
For housing benefit and council tax benefit purposes, some people don't count as non-dependants, such as:
- carers (employed by a charity that makes charges)
- joint tenants
- sub-tenants
- boarders
- tenants of owner-occupiers
- landlords and their partners
Any non-dependants that live with you can affect the amount of housing benefit and council tax benefit you can get.
Deductions are usually made from your benefit for non-dependants over the age of 18.
You will have to pay any difference between your rent, council tax and your benefit entitlement after these non-dependant deductions have been applied.
For example (all figures in this example are weekly):
The rent you are being charged is £50
Your Housing Benefit is £40 but the non-dependant deduction is £29.60. This will reduce the Housing Benefit to £10.40.
Rent of £50.00 less Benefit of £10.40 would mean you pay rent of £39.60.
Your council tax is £12
Your council tax benefit is £10 but the non-dependant deduction is £2.85. This will reduce the council tax benefit to £7.15.
Council tax of £12 less council tax benefit of £7.15 would mean you pay council tax of £4.85.
How much will the deduction be?
The amount we deduct from your benefit depends on the income of your non-dependant(s), whether they are working and how many hours they work each week.
If the non-dependant is working less than 16 hours a week, the lowest deduction applies. If they are doing paid work for 16 or more hours a week, the level of the deduction will depend on their gross income (this means income before stoppages like tax and national insurance contributions).
In cases where you have a non-dependant couple living with you, their gross income will be added together, and one deduction will be made from your benefit (i.e. we will not make a deduction for each member of the non-dependant couple, we will make only one deduction for the two of them).
Please note that the non-dependant deduction rates have significantly increased from April 2011. If you have any queries about this change, please contact the Benefits Service on 0345 678 9001.
Are deductions always made?
No deductions will be made from your benefit for non-dependants living with you if any of the following conditions apply:
- You or your partner are registered blind
- You or your partner receive the care component of disability living allowance or attendance allowance in respect of you or your partner
- The non-dependant is aged 16-17
- The non-dependant is a full time student (but deductions may be made during the summer holiday if they are working)
- The non-dependant is a prisoner
- The non-dependant normally lives elsewhere
- The non-dependant has been a patient in hospital for 52 weeks or more
- The non-dependant is in receipt of pension credit
For more information on non-dependants, please contact the Benefits Service.