A “non-dependent” is a person who is over 18 and:

• resides with the claimant, and
• is not a partner or a dependent child of the claimant or partner.

They include adult son or daughter, a relative or friend who lives with you (but not a partner). A lodger lives with you, but this is on a commercial basis and they are not regarded as non-dependents.  Joint owners, tenants and professional carers are also not considered to be non-dependents.

If you do have non-dependents living with you, your benefit will be reduced by a specific amount relevant to their income/savings (if they are a “couple”, only one deduction will be made based on their combined income).

There is no deduction made if the claimant is blind or in receipt of Attendance Allowance or the care component of Disability Living Allowance, full time student.

The amount of deduction varies between Council Tax Benefit and Housing Benefit and in some cases there is no reduction e.g. in Council Tax benefit cases where the non-dependant is on income support. A table of deductions is set out overleaf.

If you do not provide evidence of your non-dependent's income, the Council will presume the highest deduction is appropriate. You must remember to advise the Council of any changes of income of your non-dependents, or if they move away or go into hospital.

The responsibility to advise the Council of any changes is the claimant’s and not the nondependent’s.

TABLE OF NON DEPENDENT DEDUCTIONS (2010/2011)

From Housing Benefit

for non-dependents aged 18 and over

		Deduction from Housing Benefit
Income gross	Less than £120.00	£7.40
Income gross	£121 - £177.99	£17.00
Income gross	£178 - £230.99	£23.35
Income gross	£231 - £305.99	£38.20
Income gross	£306 - £381.99	£43.50
Income gross	£382 +	£47.75
for non-dependents aged 18-24 and not in remunerative work		Nil
for non-dependents in receipt of pension credit		Nil
for non-dependents aged 25 and over in receipt of Income Support or JSA.		Nil

In cases where non-dependant is under 25 and in receipt of JSA. There is NIL deduction.

From Council Tax Benefit

for non-dependents aged 18 and over

		Deduction from Housing Benefit
Income gross	Less than £178.00	£2.30
Income gross	£178 - £305.99	£4.60
Income gross	£306 - £381.99	£5.80
Income gross	£382 +	£6.95
for non-dependents aged 18 and over in receipt of Income Support or JSA.		Nil

Helpline numbers
01784 446457
01784 446374