TranslateA non-dependant is a person aged 18 or over who lives in your home, or is using your home as their main residence on a non commercial basis. A non-dependant does not have to be a family member.
If you have a non-dependant living in your home, we may have to reduce your benefit. This is called a non-dependant deduction.
Your responsibilities
You must let us know if somebody has moved into or out of your home. This may affect your benefit. If you have a non-dependant who changes jobs or has an increase or decrease in their earnings or income, you must let us know. It may reduce or increase the deduction we take. If your non-dependant is receiving any state benefits, we will also have to take these into account.
Calculating a deduction
The Government sets a weekly deduction for non-dependants based on bands of income. The more income they have, the greater the deduction from your benefit. If your non-dependant is working, on benefit or receiving a private pension, the charge is based on their GROSS income. (Gross income is the amount before tax and national insurance are deducted).
The rates of the deductions from April 2025 are as follows:
Housing Benefit deductions
| Category | Weekly deduction |
|---|---|
| Aged under 25 and in receipt of IS, JSA, ESA(IR) (and doesn't include an amount for the support component or work related activity component) or UC (where no earned income is received) | £0 |
| Aged 25 or over and in receipt of Pension Credit | £0 |
| Aged 25 or over and in receipt of IS, JSA(IB) or main phase ESA(IR) | £19.65 |
| Aged 18 or over, not in remunerative work | £19.65 |
If you are aged 18 or over, and in remunerative work your Housing Benefit deduction will depend on your gross income:
| Gross income | Weekly deduction |
|---|---|
| Less than £183 | £19.65 |
| £183 to £265.99 | £45.15 |
| £266 to £347.99 | £62 |
| £348 to £462.99 | £101.35 |
| £463 to £576.99 | £115.45 |
| £577 or over | £126.65 |
Council Tax Reduction
| Category | Weekly deduction |
|---|---|
| Aged 18 or over, in receipt of IS, ESA, JSA or PC | £0 |
| Aged 18 or over, not in receipt of IS, ESA, JSA or PC | £5.35 |
| Aged 18 or over, not in remunerative work | £5.35 |
If you are aged 18 or over, and in remunerative work your Council Tax deduction will depend on your gross income:
| Gross income | Weekly deduction |
|---|---|
| Less than £273 | £5.35 |
| £273 and £473.99 | £10.55 |
| £474 and £585.99 | £13.40 |
| £586 or over | £15.95 |
Reasons for no deduction
There are instances where no deduction is made, the main areas are listed below:
- you are a pensioner, aged 65 or over, and a new non-dependant joins your household. There is no deduction for 6 months
- if you or your partner are receiving Pension Age Disability Payment
- if you or your partner are registered blind
- if you or your partner receive the care component of Scottish Adult Disability Living
- if you or your partner received daily living component of Adult Disability Payment
- if your non-dependant is a full-time student, or receives a work-based training allowance
- if your non-dependant is in hospital for 6 weeks or more
- if your non-dependant is in prison or normally living elsewhere
Information we need from you
You will need to provide us with proof of your non-dependant’s income. Until we receive proof, we will make the highest deduction from the benefit. Once we have all the information we need, we will work out the non-dependant’s income and adjust your claim accordingly.
The following are some examples of proof of income.
- wage slips
- a complete employer’s certificate of earnings
- award letter from the Jobcentre Plus or Inland Revenue
- student award letter
- accounts (if your non-dependant is self-employed)
We will write and let you know how this affects your benefit.