Non-Dependant Deductions
- When deductions do not apply
- People aged 65 or over
- Non-Dependant Deductions in Council Tax Reduction
- Non-Dependant Deductions in Housing Benefit
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.
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 Allowance | Nil | Nil |
| Non-dependant is entitled to Universal Credit and is not working (pensioner Council Tax Reduction) | Nil | Nil |
| Non-dependant is entitled to Universal Credit and is not working (non-pensioner Council Tax Reduction) | 4.20 | 4.60 |
| Non-dependant is 18 or over and is not working or works less than 16 hours a week | 4.20 | 4.60 |
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) | 12.85 | 14.15 |
| - gross weekly income of £389 to £483.99 (2022) / £410 to £510.99 (2023) | 10.70 | 11.80 |
| - gross weekly income of £224 to £388.99 (2022) / £236 to £409.99 | 8.55 | 9.40 |
| - gross weekly income no more than £223.99 (2022) / £235.99 (2023) | 4.20 | 4.60 |
You must tell us about changes in the circumstances of your non-dependants.
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.
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 Allowance | 16.45 | 18.10 |
| Non-dependant is 25 or over and is entitled to Universal Credit | 16.45 | 18.10 |
| Non-dependant is 18 or over and is not working or works less than 16 hours a week | 16.45 | 18.10 |
| Non-dependant is 18 - 24 and gets main phase income-related Employment and Support Allowance | 16.45 | 18.10 |
| Non-dependant is 18 - 24 and does not get main phase income-related Employment and Support Allowance | Nil | Nil |
| Non-dependant is 18 - 24 and is entitled to Universal Credit and is not working | Nil | Nil |
| Non-dependant gets Pension Credit | Nil | Nil |
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) | 106.05 | 116.75 |
| - gross weekly income of £389 to £483.99 (2022) / £410 to £510.99 (2023) | 96.60 | 106.35 |
| - gross weekly income of £292 to £388.99 (2022) / £308 to £409.99 (2023) | 84.85 | 93.40 |
| - gross weekly income of £244 to £291.99 (2022) / £236 to £307.99 (2023) | 51.85 | 57.10 |
| - gross weekly income of £154 to £223.99 (2022) / £162 to £235.99 (2023) | 37.80 | 41.60 |
| - gross weekly income no more than £153.99 (2022) / £161.99 (2023) | 16.45 | 18.10 |
You must tell us about changes in the circumstances of your non-dependants.