What is a non-dependant?
This is someone, usually 18 or older, who normally lives in your home. They are often:
- An adult son or daughter
- Another relative
- Any adult who does not pay rent or Council Tax at the property
Non-dependants are not:
- Dependant family members for whom benefit is paid, for example, a partner, young son or daughter
- People who own all or part of your home
- A joint tenant or sub tenant
- Professional carers
- Someone who lives in the property on a commercial basis.
How is Housing Benefit affected?
If you have a non-dependant living in your household the amount of benefit that can be paid may be reduced. This is because it is reasonable to expect the non-dependant to make a contribution towards the household expenses.
The amount of deduction is set each year by the government and depends on the income of the non-dependant. For April 2025 to March 2026 the amount of weekly deduction is:
| Income Type | Gross Income | Deduction |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 18 or over and in paid work | £577.00 and above | £126.65 |
| Aged 18 or over and in paid work | £463.00- £576.99 | £115.45 |
| Aged 18 or over and in paid work | £348.00 – £462.99 | £101.35 |
| Aged 18 or over and in paid work | £266.00 – £347.99 | £62.00 |
| Aged 18 or over and in paid work | £183.00 – £265.99 | £45.15 |
| Aged 18 or over and in paid work | Less than £183.00 | £19.65 |
| Non-dependants not in remunerative work | N/A | £19.65 |
| In receipt of Pension Credit | N/A | NIL |
| Aged 25 or over and on IS or JSA (IB) | N/A | £19.65 |
| Under 25 and on IS or JSA ( IB) | N/A | NIL |
| Main Phase ESA (IR) | N/A | £19.65 |
| Non Main Phase ESA (IR) | N/A | NIL |
| In receipt of Universal Credit, under 25, without any earnings | N/A | NIL |
| Over 25, and in receipt of Universal Credit, without any earnings | N/A | £19.65 |
When is a non-dependant deduction not made?
No deduction is made where:
- A claimant or partner is registered blind
- A claimant or partner is in receipt of Attendance Allowance or a care component of Disability Living Allowance
- A non-dependant is a student or receives a youth training allowance
- A non-dependant has been an hospital in-patient for more than six weeks
What if there is more than one non-dependant?
A separate deduction is made for each non-dependant in the household. If two non-dependants are married to each other or are treated as a couple, only one deduction will be made for them. The amount of the deduction is based on their joint income.
