Non-dependant deductions

A non-dependant is normally any adult who lives with you and is not your partner. In some cases we make a deduction from your housing benefit to represent the contribution the government expects them to make to your household. This is called a non-dependant deduction.

The non-dependant deduction is taken from the maximum housing benefit before we work out how much help we can give you with the remaining amount.

Non-dependant deductions 2020/21

The table below shows the housing benefit non-dependant deduction amounts for April 2020 to March 2021.

Non-dependant income	Deduction per week (£)
Aged under 25 and on Income support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Universal Credit (without earnings) or income-related Employment and Support Allowance which does not include an amount for the support component or work related activity component	Nil (0)
Aged 25 or over and on Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance (income-based), Universal Credit (without earnings) or aged 18 or over and not working or working less than 16 hours per week	£15.85
In receipt of main phase Employment and Support Allowance (income-related	£15.85
In receipt of Pension Credit	Nil (0)
Aged 18 or over and working an average of 16 hours each week or on Universal Credit with earnings (the income from Universal Credit and earnings will be combined)
Gross income less than £139.00	£15.85
Gross income between £139.00 and £203.99	£36.45
Gross income between £204.00 and £264.99	£50.05
Gross income between £265.00 and £353.99	£81.90
Gross income between £354.00 and £438.99	£93.25
Gross income £439.00 or more	£102.35

Council Tax Support

Non-dependant deductions 2020/21

The table below shows the Council Tax support non-dependant deduction amounts for April 2020 to March 2021.

Non-dependant income	Deduction per week (£)
Aged under 25 and on Income support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Universal Credit (without earnings) or income-related Employment and Support Allowance which does not include an amount for the support component or work related activity component	Nil (0)
Aged 25 or over and on Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance (income-based), or aged 18 or over and not working or working less than 16 hours per week	Nil (0)
In receipt of main phase Employment and Support Allowance (income-related	Nil (0)
In receipt of Pension Credit	Nil (0)
Aged 18 or over and working an average of 16 hours each week or on Universal Credit with earnings (the income from Universal Credit and earnings will be combined)	£4.05
Aged 25 or over and on Universal Credit (without earnings)	£4.05
Gross income less than £202.85	£4.05
Gross income between £202.85 and £351.64	£8.25
Gross income between £351.65 and £436.89	£10.35
Gross income between £436.90 or more	£12.40

Exceptions - when we don't take any deductions for non-dependants

We do not make a deduction for any non-dependant if you or your partner are:

registered blind
receiving Attendance Allowance
receiving Constant Attendance Allowance
receiving the care component of Disability Living Allowance
receiving the standard or enhanced rate of the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment; or
receiving Armed Forces Independence Payment

We do not make a deduction from either Housing Benefit or from Council Tax Support if the non-dependant is:

under 18
under 25 and on Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or income-related Employment Support Allowance (assessment phase)
under 25, has no earned income and is receiving Universal Credit
on work-based training for young people (formerly Youth Training) and getting a training allowance
a full-time student or student nurse
has been in hospital for more than 52 weeks
in legal custody (on remand or after being sentenced)
usually lives elsewhere - please tell us the persons permanent address or we will make the deduction
receiving Pension Credit (either the guaranteed part, the savings part, or both).
your (or your partner's) son, daughter, step-son or step-daughter in the armed forces, during the time when they are deployed on operations. 'Operations' includes those within the UK as well as abroad. We will still make the deduction while they are living at home with you.

We do not make a deduction from Council Tax Support if the non-dependent:

is in one of the groups above
is 25 or over and on Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or income-related Employment Support Allowance (main phase or assessment phase)
is an apprentice - see below what an apprentice is
is a student who is working during the summer holidays
is severely mentally disabled

An apprentice is in employment to learn a trade, profession, business or similar and studying for an accredited qualification and paid no more than £195 per week before deductions for tax and insurance.

If your non-dependants are a couple

We only take one deduction, we take the higher of the deductions which apply and don't count the other partner. If both partners are working we add their incomes together and base the deduction on their joint income.

Special rules for over 65's

If you or your partner are aged 65 or over and neither is getting Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or income-related Employment Support Allowance, we delay making a non-dependant deduction from Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support.

If a new non-dependant moves in (and the rules say we must make a deduction for them), we don't make the deduction until 26 weeks have passed; or

If your non-dependant has a change that means we must start making a deduction, or make a bigger deduction, we don't make the deduction until 26 weeks have passed.

However, if your non-dependant has a change that means we should make a smaller deduction, so that you get more benefit, we do this straightaway, as long as you tell us promptly.

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