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Non-dependant deductions

Your benefit may be affected if you have non-dependants living in your household.

A non-dependant is someone who lives with you on a non-commercial basis, such as an adult child, a relative, or a friend.

Non-dependants do not include:

  • dependant members of your family, i.e. a partner or child for whom you receive child benefit
  • lodgers or boarders who live with you on a commercial basis
  • tenants or sub-tenants
  • people who own part or all of your home, i.e. a joint owner
  • professional carers.

How we calculate non-dependant deductions

If you are a non-dependant you are expected to contribute towards the running expenses of the household, including rent and bills.

If a non-dependent living with you experiences a change in their income you must notify us.

Even if a non-dependant only pays a little amount, or nothing, towards your household costs, we will still make a fixed-sum deduction from your Housing Benefit.

The amount we deduct is calculated on the non-dependent’s gross income. If their income increases or decreases, this may affect the deduction.

Weekly amount deducted from Non-Dependant Housing Benefit (as of April 2024):

  • 18 & over in full-time work earning over £554.00 per week – £124.55
  • 18 & over in full-time work earning over £445.00 to £553.99 per week – £113.50
  • 18 & over in full-time work earning over £334.00 to £444.99 per week – £99.65
  • 18 & over in full-time work earning over £256.00 to £333.99 per week – £60.95
  • 18 & over in full-time work earning over £176.00 to £255.99 per week – £44.40
  • 18 & over in full-time work earning less than £176.00 per week – £19.30
  • 25 & over & in receipt of Income Support, Job Seeker’s Allowance (IB), Employment and Support Allowance (IR) main phase  or not in remunerative work – £19.30
  • Under 25 and on Income Support, Job Seeker’s Allowance (IB), Employment and Support Allowance (IB) which does not include an amount for the support component or work-related activity component or Universal Credit where the award is calculated on the basis that there is no earned income – Nil
  • Students, prisoners and people in receipt of Pension Credit – Nil

No deductions are made for non-dependants living with you if you and/or your partner receive Attendance Allowance, the care component of Disability Living Allowance, the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment, Armed Forces Independence Payment or are registered blind.

When non-dependant deductions are not made

We will not apply a non-dependant deduction if you or your partner:

  • are registered blind, or
  • receive Attendance Allowance, the care component of Disability Living Allowance, the Standard or Enhanced rate of the daily living component of the Personal Independence Payment, or an Armed Forces Independence Payment.

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