Other adults and benefit claims

When we work out claims for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support (Council Tax Reduction), we take into account everyone age 18 or over who is considered a member of your household. How we treat them will depend on their age and relationship to you.

Partners

If you live with a partner, we take your partner’s income and capital into account when looking at your claim.

Lodgers and sub-tenants

If other people who live with you are counted as lodgers or sub-tenants, some of the rent they pay you is included in your income amount that we use to calculate your benefit.  

Joint tenants

Where you share a tenancy with one or more other people, you can each make your own claim for your share of the rent or Council Tax.

Non-dependants

You might get less Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support if you have any non-dependants. This is because non-dependants are expected to pay towards the rent and household costs.

Non-dependants are people aged 18 or over who normally live with you and are not:

• your partner
• children you still get child benefit for
• lodgers
• subtenants
• joint tenants
• carers employed by a charity or voluntary organisation

A close relative who normally lives with you counts as a non-dependant even if they pay you rent.

A close relative is a: parent, parent-in-law, son, son-in-law, daughter, daughter-in-law, step-parent, step-son, step-daughter, brother, sister or the spouse or unmarried partner of any of these people.

People can still count as non-dependants even if they are temporarily living away from home.

For Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support, the reduction in benefit if you have non-dependants is called a non-dependant deduction. For Universal Credit, it is called a housing cost contribution.

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support non-dependant deduction rules

These non-dependant deduction rules apply to both Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support claims.

Non–dependant deductions if you or your partner are blind or disabled

We don’t make any non-dependant deductions where you or your partner are registered blind, treated as blind, or get:

• the care component of Disability Living Allowance
• Attendance Allowance
• the daily living component of Personal Independence Payments
• Armed Forces Independence Payments

Non-dependant deductions if you or your partner are 65 or over

If you or your partner are 65 or over and the income of a non-dependant increases to a level at which a higher deduction rate applies, we won’t apply the new rate for the first 26 weeks. If a new non-dependant moves in, we won’t apply a non-dependant deduction in respect of them for the first 26 weeks.

Non-dependant deductions when your child finishes school

When your child finishes school and child benefit ends, they automatically become a non-dependant. You need to tell us what they are doing before this happens, otherwise we will apply the maximum non-dependant deduction.

Rates of non-dependant deductions 

The amounts of non-dependant deductions are different for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support claims.

Non-dependant deductions for  Council Tax Support vary depending on whether the claimant is of working age or state pension age.

Non-dependant deductions for Housing Benefit

Non-dependent deductions for Housing Benefit

Non-dependant’s circumstances (income figures are for income before tax and NI)	Amount we deduct from your Housing Benefit each week in £
Full time student (except during summer vacation if they are earning)	0.00
On pension credit	0.00
Under 25 and getting Income Support, income-based Job Seekers Allowance, income related Employment Support Allowance which does not include an amount for the support component or work-related activity component or receiving Universal Credit and not working	0.00
25 or over and receiving Income Support, income-based Job Seekers Allowance or over 18 years and not working	19.30
In receipt of main-phase income-related Employment Support Allowance	19.30
Not getting Income Support, income-based Job Seekers Allowance, or Pension Credit, not in paid work, not a full time student	19.30
Gross Income less than £176	19.30
Gross Income between £176 and £255.99	44.40
Gross Income between £256 and £333.99	60.95
Gross Income between £334 and £444.99	99.65
Gross Income between £445 and £553.99	113.50
Gross Income £554 or more	124.55

Non-dependant deductions for working age Council Tax Support claimants

For claimants who are of working age we only make deductions for full time students if they work during the summer vacation.

For all other non-dependants, we deduct £10.57 per week.

Non-dependent deductions for state pension age Council Tax Support claimants

Non-dependant deductions for state pension age Council Tax Support claimants

Non-dependant’s circumstances (income figures are for income before tax and NI)	Amount we deduct from your Council Tax Support each week
Full time student (except during summer vacation if they are earning)	0.00
On pension credit	0.00
Getting Income Support, income-based Job Seekers Allowance, income-related Employment Support Allowance or Universal Credit and not working	0.00
Not getting Income Support, income-based Job Seekers Allowance, or Pension Credit, not in paid work, not a full time student	4.90
Gross Income less than £256	4.90
Gross Income between £256 and £444.99	10.05
Gross Income between £445 and £553.99	12.60
Gross Income £554 or more	15.10

Further information, help and support

For details of organisations who can give you advice about money matters and help you apply for benefits, see Live Well applying for welfare benefits

If you require any further information – contact the benefits team.

Page last reviewed: 23 February 2024