Non-Dependant Deductions

We normally have to reduce your Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction for every non-dependant who lives in your home. We call this a 'non-dependant deduction'. Non-dependants are normally adult children or relatives, but they can also be friends or anyone else who lives with you.

We make a weekly deduction for each non-dependant. The amount of deduction depends on their income and circumstances.

You must tell us about changes in the circumstances of your non-dependants.

When deductions do not apply

We will not make a deduction if you or your partner:

  • is registered blind, or
  • gets Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance (care component), Personal Independence Payment (Daily Living component) or an Armed Forces Independence Payment.

We will not make a deduction if the non-dependant:

  • is under 18 years old
  • is in prison
  • normally lives elsewhere
  • is a full-time student
  • gets Pension Credit
  • is aged under 25 and gets Income Support (IS) or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA(IB))
  • is aged under 25 and gets assessment phase income-related Employment Support Allowance (ESA(IR))

There are other circumstances where a deduction may not apply that cannot be listed above due to differences in the rules for HB and CTR and the rules that apply to pensioners and non-pensioners. We only make a deduction where none of these circumstances apply.


People aged 65 or over

If you or your partner are aged 65 or over, non-dependant deductions can be delayed for 26 weeks if:

  • a non-dependant moves in with you; or,
  • a non-dependant who lives with you has a change in circumstances which leads to an increase in the amount of deduction.

However, the 26 week delay does not apply if:

  • a dependant who lives with you becomes a non-dependant; or,
  • a non-dependant ceases to be a student.

Non-Dependant deductions in Council Tax Reduction from April 2023

Non-dependant deductions in Council Tax Reduction increase from 1 April 2023 for pensioners and people who are not pensioners.

The following tables show the weekly deductions and income bands for 2022 and 2023.

Table: weekly deductions and income bands in 2022 and 2023

Non-dependant Deductions in Council Tax Reduction

April 2022 (£)April 2023 (£)
Non-dependant gets Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or income-related Employment and Support AllowanceNilNil
Non-dependant is entitled to Universal Credit and is not working (pensioner Council Tax Reduction)NilNil
Non-dependant is entitled to Universal Credit and is not working (non-pensioner Council Tax Reduction)4.204.60
Non-dependant is 18 or over and is not working or works less than 16 hours a week4.204.60

Non-dependant is 18 or over and works at least 16 hours a week or is entitled to Universal Credit and is working

  
- gross weekly income greater than £484 (2022) / £511 (2023)12.8514.15
- gross weekly income of £389 to £483.99 (2022) / £410 to £510.99 (2023)10.7011.80
- gross weekly income of £224 to £388.99 (2022) / £236 to £409.998.559.40
- gross weekly income no more than £223.99 (2022) / £235.99 (2023)4.204.60

You must tell us about changes in the circumstances of your non-dependants.

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Non-Dependant deductions in Housing Benefit from April 2023

Non-dependant deduction rates in Housing Benefit increase from 1 April 2023 for pensioners and people who are not pensioners.

The following table shows the weekly deduction rates and income bands for 2022 and 2023.

Table: weekly deductions and income bands in 2022 and 2023

ND Deductions in Housing Benefit

April 2022 (£)

April 2023 (£)
Non-dependant is 25 or over and gets Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance16.4518.10
Non-dependant is 25 or over and is entitled to Universal Credit16.4518.10
Non-dependant is 18 or over and is not working or works less than 16 hours a week16.4518.10
Non-dependant is 18 - 24 and gets main phase income-related Employment and Support Allowance16.4518.10
Non-dependant is 18 - 24 and does not get main phase income-related Employment and Support AllowanceNilNil
Non-dependant is 18 - 24 and is entitled to Universal Credit and is not workingNilNil
Non-dependant gets Pension CreditNilNil

Non-dependant is 18 or over and works at least 16 hours a week or is entitled to Universal Credit and is working

  
- gross weekly income not less than £484 (2022) / £511 (2023)106.05116.75
- gross weekly income of £389 to £483.99 (2022) / £410 to £510.99 (2023)96.60106.35
- gross weekly income of £292 to £388.99 (2022) / £308 to £409.99 (2023)84.8593.40
- gross weekly income of £244 to £291.99 (2022) / £236 to £307.99 (2023)51.8557.10
- gross weekly income of £154 to £223.99 (2022) / £162 to £235.99 (2023)37.8041.60
- gross weekly income no more than £153.99 (2022) / £161.99 (2023)16.4518.10

You must tell us about changes in the circumstances of your non-dependants.

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Page last updated:

March 1, 2023