Your Non-dependants

What is a Non-dependant?

A non-dependant is usually a person over 18 years old who normally lives with you but who is not:

Your partner
Someone for whom you receive Child Benefit
Still in full or part time education
A joint tenant or joint owner
A sub-tenant
A boarder (a person who pays rent to you and who receives meals)

Non-dependants will usually be your adult children, relatives or friends, but can also include foster children, 16 to 18 year olds who aren’t in further education and children of non-dependants.

The Government assumes that the non-dependant should make a contribution to the household expenses. Therefore, we must make a deduction from any Housing and/or Council Tax Benefit we may award you to take this contribution into account. This is known as a Non-dependant Deduction.

I have a Non-dependant who pays me money for their keep, is this counted as my income for Housing and Council Tax Benefit purposes?

No, we do not treat money paid by a non-dependant for their keep as your income. Instead we make a fixed deduction from Housing and Council Tax Benefit based on the Non-dependant’s weekly income before any deductions such as Income Tax, National Insurance, etc. The amount of the deduction depends upon the Non-dependant’s circumstances, for example their age and income. The income of Non-dependant couples in a household is added together to establish what Non-dependant Deduction is applied.

My Non-dependant does not pay me anything towards their keep, does the Non-dependant Deduction still apply?

Yes, Housing and Council Tax Benefit rules, set by Central Government, say that we must make this deduction even if the non-dependant does not pay you anything for living in your home.

Do I have to provide you with details of my Non-dependant's income?

We must have all the non-dependant’s income details so we can work out the correct amount of benefit we can award to you. If you cannot get all the information we need, please contact us straight away and explain the problem, as we may take the highest Non-dependant Deduction to avoid paying you too much benefit.

Are there any circumstances where a Non-dependant Deduction doesn't apply?

There are certain circumstances where we will not reduce your benefit even though you have non-dependants living with you. These are;-

If you or your partner:

Receive Attendance Allowance
Get the care component of Disability Living Allowance
Are registered blind

If you or your partner are 65 or over and a member of your household becomes a Non-dependant, a Non-dependant moves in with you, or an existing Non–dependant has a change in income which means you will get less benefit, we will not alter your benefit for 26 weeks following these type of changes.

Please note, however, if you or your partner are 65 or over and a young person already living with you become 18, the Law says that we have to alter your benefit from the Monday after their 18th birthday.

In addition, we will not make a deduction if the Non-dependant:

Is under 18
Is under 25 and on Income Support (IS) or Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) (Income Based)
Is a full time student, during their period of study
Is in legal custody
Has been in hospital for 52 weeks or more
Receives a training allowance paid in connection with a Youth Training scheme
Normally lives elsewhere

All the Non-dependants we know about in your household are listed on the notification letter, along with the amounts we have taken off your benefit for each one.

I think that the Non-dependant deduction is wrong, what should I do?

If you believe that the Non-dependant deduction being made from your benefit is wrong, contact the Council's Benefit Service straight away.

For information about how to contact us, please go to Points of Contact for Benefits Help.

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