Other adults living with you
If you have any adults living with you other than your partner it will normally affect the amount of Housing Benefit and or Council Tax Benefit you receive.
In most cases other adults will be treated as non-dependants, however if they are not related to you and you rent out your property on a commercial basis they may be treated as either ‘lodgers’ or 'sub-tenants' or joint tenants.
What is a non-dependant?
A non-dependant is someone aged 18 years or over who lives with you. Examples of a non-dependant would be a son, a daughter or elderly relative.
How does a non-dependant affect my benefit payment?
If you have a non-dependant living in your home, we may have to reduce your benefit by a fixed amount. This is called a non-dependant deduction.
How much are non-dependant deductions?
The amount of deduction made depends on how much gross income your non-dependant has and whether they are working over 16 hours a week. By gross income we mean all the money they get including earnings (before tax and National Insurance is deducted), social security benefits and interest paid on savings. We will need to see original proof of the non-dependant’s income and capital, for example pay slips and savings pass books.
If they fail to provide proof of income we will make the appropriate deduction based on the available evidence. In some cases the highest deduction may be applied.
Further information is available in the other people living with you leaflet|.
Changes to Housing and Council Tax Benefits - April 2011
Increase in Non-Dependant deductions from April 2011
The rates of deduction have not increased since 2001. However from April 2011 the Government has announced that there will be a phased increase in the amount of non-dependant deductions to match the level had they not been frozen. There will therefore be a significant increase in the amount of non-dependant deduction from April 2011 and as a result your Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit entitlement may reduce.
Non dependant deductions rates for 2010 and 2011
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Non dependant deductions 2010
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Non-Dependant Deductions 2011
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In remunerative work (over 16 hours)
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In remunerative work (over 16 hours)
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Gross income
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HB
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CTB
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Gross income
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HB
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CTB
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Greater than £382
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£47.75
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£6.95
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Greater than £387
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£60.60
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£8.60
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£306.00-£381.99
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£43.50
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£5.80
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£310.00-£387.00
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£55.20
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£7.20
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£231.00-£305.99
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£38.20
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£4.60
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£234.00-£310.00
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£48.45
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£5.70
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£178.00-£230.99
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£23.35
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£4.60
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£180.00-£234.00
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£29.60
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£5.70
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£120.00-177.99
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£17.00
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£2.30
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£122.00-180.00
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£21.55
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£2.85
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Less than £120
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£7.40
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£2.30
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Less than £122.00
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£ 9.40
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£2.85
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Others
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Others
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Aged 25 or over and on IS/JSA(IB), or
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£7.40
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Nil
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Aged 25 or over and on IS/JSA(IB), or
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£9.40
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Nil
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Others-Aged 18 or over not in remunerative work
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£7.40
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£2.30
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Others-Aged 18 or over not in remunerative work
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£9.40
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£2.85
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Under 25 in receipt of IS/JSA (IB)/ ESA(IR) assessment phase
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Nil
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Nil
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Under 25 in receipt of IS/JSA (IB)
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Nil
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Nil
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In receipt of ESA (IR)-
Main phase
In all cases including under 25s
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£7.40
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Nil
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In receipt of ESA (IR)-
Main phase
In all cases including under 25s
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£9.40
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Nil
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In receipt of pension credit
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Nil
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Nil
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In receipt of pension credit
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Nil
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Nil
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Other pensioners
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£7.40
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£2.30
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Other pensioners
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£9.40
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£2.85
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