Non dependant deductions
Who is a non dependant?
A non dependant is someone over 18 who normally lives with you on a non commercial basis such as an adult son, daughter, relative or friend.
Who is not treated as a non dependant?
We do not treat the following as non dependants:
- Partners
- Boarders
- Sub Tennants
- Joint Tennants
- Children for whom you still receive Child Benefit
- Carers who are employed by a charity or voluntary organisation.
How does a non dependant affect my benefit?
We take fixed amounts from your Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit based on the gross weekly income (before deductions for tax and National Insurance) of your non dependants.
We take deductions regardless of whether the non dependant contributes to your household or not.
What level of deductions will we take?
We take the following amount from your Housing Benefit if your non dependant is in full time work (over 16 hours).
| Housing Benefit Aged 18 or over and in remunerative work: |
Apr' 2011 £ |
| Gross income: £387 or more | 60.60 |
| Gross income: £310 to £386.99 | 55.20 |
| Gross income: £234.00 to £309.99 | 48.45 |
| Gross income: £180.00 to £233.99 | 29.60 |
| Gross income: £122 to £179.99 | 21.55 |
| Gross income: below £122.00 | 9.40 |
We take the following amount from your Council Tax Benefit if your non dependant is in full time work (over 16 hours)
| Council Tax Benefit Aged 18 or over and in remunerative work: |
Apr' 2011 |
| Gross income: £387 or more | 8.60 |
| Gross income: £310 to £386.99 | 7.20 |
| Gross income: £180 to £309.99 | 5.70 |
| Gross income: less than £179.99 | 2.85 |
From 1 April 2012 the rate of deductions will be increasing. The new rate of deductions from 1 April 2012 will be as follows:
| Housing Benefit Aged 18 or over and in remunerative work: |
Apr' 2012 £ |
| Gross income: £394.00 or more | 73.85 |
| Gross income: £316 to £393.99 | 67.25 |
| Gross income: £238.00 to £315.99 | 59.05 |
| Gross income: £183.00 to £237.99 | 36.10 |
| Gross income: £124 to £182.99 | 26.25 |
| Gross income: below £124.00 | 11.45 |
We take the following amount from your Council Tax Benefit if your non dependant is in full time work (over 16 hours)
| Council Tax Benefit Aged 18 or over and in remunerative work: |
Apr' 2012 |
| Gross income: £394 or more | 9.90 |
| Gross income: £316 to £393.99 | 8.25 |
| Gross income: £183 to £315.99 | 6.55 |
| Gross income: less than £182.99 | 3.30 |
What happens if my non dependant works less than 16 hours?
If your non dependant works less that 16 hours a week, we will take £9.40 from your Housing Benefit and £2.85 a week from your Council Tax Benefit.
If your non dependant has no income we will still take £9.40 from your Housing Benefit and £2.85 from your Council Tax Benefit.
From 1 April 2012 these deductions will be increasing to £11.45 from your Housing Benefit and £3.30 from your Council Tax Benefit.
When are deductions not taken for non dependants?
We do not take deductions if you (the claimant) or your partner, are:
- Registered blind
- Receive DLA (care component)
- Receive Attendance Allowance
And we will not make a deduction if your non dependant is:
- Under 18
- Under 25 and receiving Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance (Income Based) or Employment and Support Allowance (Income Related) assessment phase only
- Receiving Pension Credit
- Receiving a Youth Training Allowance
- A full time Student (but we will take deduction if they work in the holidays, and when they are between courses)
- In prision
- Usually living elsewhere
For Council Tax Benefit we also will not take an amount if your non dependant is:
- Receiving Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance (income based) or Employment and Support Allowance (income related).
What if I am over 65?
If you or your partner are over 65 and a non dependant moves in with you, we will not make deductions for the first 26 weeks. However you must still tell us that they have moved in.
If you already have a non dependant living with you and their income increases we will not increase the deduction for 26 weeks. The new deductions will be based on the non dependant's income at the end of the 26 weeks period.
What happens if I do not provide you with my non dependant's income?
If you do not give us the proof which we ask for, we may take the maximum non dependant deductions from your benefit.
Page updated: 20 Jan 2012
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