Non-dependants

Non-dependants

Non-dependants are adults who normally share your accommodation with you but are not dependent on you for financial support.

Examples of non-dependants could be:

• Grown up children who still live with you.
• Other adult relatives who live with you.
• Adult friends who live with you.

People not treated as non-dependants because they are not counted as part of your household include:

• Carers employed by a charity that charges for the service.
• Joint tenants.
• Sub-tenants, or tenants of people who own their house.
• Boarders.
• Landlords or landladies and their families.

Why non-dependants are important in Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit

The law says that we must reduce your Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit by a set amount for each non-dependant who lives with you. 

Non-dependants are expected to contribute towards the cost of rent and Council Tax and therefore a deduction is made from your Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit to allow for this.

When non-dependant deductions are not made

Non-dependant deductions are not made where:

• You or your partner are registered blind or treated as blind.
• You or your partner are getting the care component of Disability Living.
• Allowance or Attendance Allowance.
• The non-dependant is under 18.
• The non-dependant's normal home is somewhere else.
• The non-dependant is a full-time student, however deductions may be made from Housing Benefit during the summer vacation.
• The non-dependant is a prisoner.
• The non-dependant has been a patient in hospital for 52 weeks or more.
• Receiving Pension Credit.
• In Council Tax Benefit the non-dependant is on Income Support or Income Based Jobseeker's Allowance.
• In Housing Benefit the non-dependant is under 25 and on Income Support or Income Based Jobseeker's Allowance.

Non-dependant deduction rates

Housing Benefit – Non dependant deductions

Council Tax – Non dependant deductions