A non-dependant is someone aged 18 and over who normally lives with you such as an adult daughter, son, relative or friend.
A non-dependant deduction is an amount taken from your Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support entitlement because you have a non-dependant living with you.
The following people are not non-dependants:
- your partner
- children you get child benefit for
- joint owners
- tenants
- someone who lives with you to care for you or your partner if they are employed by a charity or voluntary organisation that charges for this service.
Deductions
The amount of money taken from your Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support depends on the income of the non-dependant. If you have a couple living with you, one deduction is made based on their joint income.
The amount deducted each week is listed below:
See the deductions for:
- Housing Benefit non-dependant deductions from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026
- Council Tax Support non-dependant deductions from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026
When you are exempt from non-dependant deductions
No deduction will be taken if you or your partner are registered blind or receive one of the following benefits:
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA) - Care Component
- Attendance Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) - Daily Living Component
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
You will need to provide proof of your circumstances.
Circumstances when we will not make a deduction
No deduction will be taken if the non-dependant is:
- aged under 18
- receiving Pension Credit (savings credit or guarantee credit) - a rate of £4.50 per week applies under the working-age Council Tax Support scheme
- under 25 and receiving Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance (IB), Employment and Support Allowance (IR) assessment phase or Universal Credit with no earned income - a rate of £4.50 per week applies under the working-age Council Tax Support scheme
- receiving a training allowance or a Youth Training Scheme
- a patient in hospital for 52 weeks or more
- a full-time student (but deductions may be made during the summer vacation if the student does any paid work in this period)
- detained in prison
Housing Benefit Deductions from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026
- Non-dependant gross income less than £183, deduction from housing benefit: £19.65
- Non-dependant gross income £183 to £265.99, deduction from housing benefit: £45.15
- Non-dependant gross income £266 to £347.99, deduction from housing benefit: £62.00
- Non-dependant gross income £348 to £462.99, deduction from housing benefit: £101.35
- Non-dependant gross income £463 to £576.99, deduction from housing benefit: £115.45
- Gross income £577 and above, deduction from housing benefit: £126.65
- State Pension Credit, deduction from housing benefit: NIL
- Employment Support Allowance (IR), deduction from housing benefit: £19.65 Income Support / Job Seekers Allowance (aged 18 or over), deduction from housing benefit: £19.65
- Income Support / Job Seekers Allowance (aged 25 or over), deduction from housing benefit: £19.65
- No deduction is charged for non-dependants who are aged under 25 and get one of the following benefits:
- Income Support (IS)
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA(IB))
- ESA(IR) which does not include an amount for the support component or work-related activity component
- UC where the award is calculated on the basis that the non-dependant does not have any earned income
The amount taken from your Council Tax Support will depend on the non-dependant's income and whether you are a pensioner or working age claimant getting Universal Credit(UC).
Council Tax Support Deductions From 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026
- Non-dependant gross income less than £144
- Pensioner claimant deduction: £5.00
- Working age claimant not receiving UC deduction: £9.00
- Working age claimant receiving UC deduction: £4.50
- Non-dependant gross income £144 to £259.99
- Pensioner claimant deduction: £5.00
- Working age claimant not receiving UC deduction: £9.00
- Working age claimant receiving UC deduction: £17.75
- Non-dependant gross income £266 to £462.99
- Pensioner claimant deduction: £10.20
- Working age claimant not receiving UC deduction: £17.75
- Working age claimant receiving UC deduction: £17.75
- Non-dependant gross income £463 to £576.99
- Pensioner claimant deduction: £12.80
- Working age claimant not receiving UC deduction: £22.25
- Working age claimant receiving UC deduction: £17.75
- Non-dependant gross income £577 and above
- Pensioner claimant deduction: £15.35
- Working age claimant not receiving UC deduction: £26.50
- Working age claimant receiving UC deduction: £17.75
- Pension Credit
- Pensioner claimant deduction: NIL
- Working age claimant not receiving UC deduction: £3.30
- Working age claimant receiving UC deduction: £3.30
- Employment Support Allowance (IR)
- Pensioner claimant deduction: NIL
- Working age claimant not receiving UC deduction: £4.50
- Working age claimant receiving UC deduction: £4.50
- Employment Support Allowance (C)
- Pensioner claimant deduction: £5.00
- Working age claimant not receiving UC deduction: £4.50
- Working age claimant receiving UC deduction: £4.50
- Job Seekers Allowance (C)
- Pensioner claimant deduction: £5.00
- Working age claimant not receiving UC deduction: £9.00
- Working age claimant receiving UC deduction: £4.50
- Income Support / Job Seekers Allowance / Employment Support Allowance assessment phase/ Maximum UC (aged 25 and under)
- Pensioner claimant deduction: NIL
- Working age claimant not receiving UC deduction: £4.50
- Working age claimant receiving UC deduction: £4.50
- Income Support / Job Seekers Allowance / Maximum UC (aged 25 and over)
- Pensioner claimant deduction: NIL
- Working age claimant not receiving UC deduction: £4.50
- Working age claimant receiving UC deduction: £4.50
- Aged 18 and over (not employed)
- Pensioner claimant deduction: £5.00
- Working age claimant not receiving UC deduction: £9.00
- Working age claimant receiving UC deduction: £4.50