Benefits and / or support affected by Non-Dependants
A non-dependant is someone who normally lives with the housing benefit and / or local council tax reduction scheme claimant such as an adult son, daughter, relative or friend.
Boarders, sub-tenants and joint tenants are not non-dependants because they have a legally binding and commercial agreement to pay rent.
Housing Benefit and / or Local Council Tax Reduction
Non-dependants cannot claim housing benefit and / or local council tax reduction because they do not have a legally binding agreement to pay rent or council tax. An amount that a non dependant may pay for their keep is not considered to be "legally binding".
Money paid by non-dependants for their keep does not count as income for the claimant. Instead a fixed deduction is made from the claimant's entitlement to housing benefit and / or local council tax reduction. The amount of this deduction is dependant upon the non-dependant's circumstances. Generally the more income a non-dependant receives the higher the deduction.
The amount of any deduction is based upon the non-dependant's circumstances not on the amount paid. If the non-dependant pays nothing, a deduction based upon their circumstances will still apply.
Levels of Deduction
The levels of deduction are shown below.
No deduction applies for any non-dependant if the housing benefit and / or local council tax reduction claimant or any partner is:
- registered Blind
- in receipt of Severe Disablement Allowance
- in receipt of the care component of Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance
- in receipt of Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance
or if the non-dependant:
- is under 18
- is under 25 and on Income Support / Job Seekers Allowance (Income Based)
- is on a Youth Training Scheme
- is a full time student
- normally lives elsewhere