What if others live with me?

If other people live with you, it may affect the amount of benefit you can get. It is important you tell us immediately about any changes to your household. People who live with you could be: your partner, any dependant children, a non dependant, boarder or sub-tenant.

Who is a non-dependant?

  • A grown up son or daughter, aged 18 or over 
  • Any other relative aged 18 or over 
  • A friend aged 18 or over

Who isn't a non-dependant?

  • Your partner, if you have one 
  • A child that you get child benefit for 
  • A person under 18 
  • A person in full time education 
  • A person on a youth training scheme 
  • A person who normally lives somewhere else

Non-dependant deductions

A deduction based on any resident non dependant's income will be made from the amount of Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Reduction you get.

Please note

HMRC have now allowed the Benefit Service to directly access earnings details for any non-dependant on your Housing Benefit claim. If you have a non-dependant on your Housing Benefit claim, please tell them we can check their details directly with HMRC.

Housing Benefit deductions if non-dependant is working:

Weekly gross income Weekly Housing Benefit deduction
Less than £176 £19.30
£176 to £255.99 £44.40
£256 to £333.99 £60.95
£334 to £444.99 £99.65
£445 to £553.99 £113.50
£554 and above £124.55

Council Tax Reduction deductions if non-dependant is working:

Weekly gross income Weekly Council Tax Reduction deductions
Less than £256 £4.90
£256 to £445 £10.05
£445 to £554 £12.60
Over £554 £15.10

Deductions if non-dependant is not working:

Age and work status Weekly Housing Benefit deductions Weekly Council Tax Reduction deductions
Age 18 or over and not in remunerative work £19.30 £4.90

Deductions if non-dependant gets a Passport Benefit:

Age Weekly Housing Benefit deductions Weekly Council Tax Reduction deductions
Age 25 and over £19.30 NIL
Aged 18-25 NIL NIL
Aged 18-25 and in receipt of Main Phase Employment Support Allowance £19.30 NIL

Deductions if non-dependant gets Universal Credit:

Age and Universal Credit status Weekly Housing Benefit deductions Weekly Council Tax Reduction deductions
Age under 25 and gets Universal Credit with no earned income NIL NIL
Aged 25 or over and gets Universal Credit with no earned income NIL NIL
Universal Credit with earned income, working less than 16 hours per week £19.30 £4.90
Universal Credit with earned income, working more than 16 hours per week Deduction based on gross income Deduction based on gross income

Deductions if non-dependant gets Pension Credit

Status Weekly Housing Benefit deductions Weekly Council Tax Reduction deductions
Gets Guaranteed Credit NIL NIL
Gets Savings Credit NIL NIL

A non-dependant deduction will not apply when

  • The non-dependant is aged under 18 
  • You or your partner receive Disability Living Allowance Care Component or Personal Independence Payment Daily Living Component 
  • You or your partner receive Attendance Allowance 
  • You or your partner are blind or have recently regained your sight