How we calculate Housing Benefit

Other adults who live with you

A ‘non-dependant’ is the term used to describe anyone who normally resides with you and is not:

  • a joint-tenant or sub-tenant
  • a resident landlord (or member of their family)
  • someone who lives with you to care for you or your partner, and is employed by a charitable or voluntary body which charges you for the care
  • your child (for whom Child Benefit is paid)
  • your partner

A non-dependant is someone who normally lives with you such as an adult child, relative or friend and is not liable to pay rent.

A non-dependant can be anyone over the age of 16 for whom Child Benefit is no longer in payment.

In most cases, a set amount for each non-dependant is deducted from your maximum Housing Benefit entitlement, such as your eligible rent.

This is to reflect the non-dependant’s assumed contribution to your housing costs. Any actual contribution made by the non-dependant towards the rent is ignored. The amount varies according to the age and income of the non-dependant.

Working out deductions

To work out how much will be deducted for your non-dependant, you can use the table below.

If you have more than one non-dependant, more than one deduction will be taken; deductions are for each non-dependant.

You should note that only one non-dependant applies for non-dependant couples, but this would be based on their combined income.

Non-dependent deductions for Housing Benefit
Non-dependant’s income Weekly amount to be deducted from your eligible rent
Non-dependant aged 18 or over, whose combined weekly gross income is:
Less than £149 £15.95
£149 to £216.99 £36.65
£217 to £282.99 £50.30
£283 to £376.99 £82.30
£377 to £468.99 £93.70
£469 or more £102.85
Non-dependant who is:
In receipt of Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit or Savings Credit) £0
Aged less than 25, and in receipt of Income Support, Employment Support Allowance Income Related (ESA IR) and Jobseekers Allowance Income Based (JSA IB) £0
Aged 25 or over, and in receipt of Income Support, ESA IR or JSA IB or Universal Credit £15.95
Aged 18 or over, and in receipt of ESA Contributions Based or JSA Contributions Based £15.95
Aged 18 or over and not economically active (not working, studying nor claiming benefits) £15.85
Non-dependant aged 16 or 17, regardless of their income     £0

Weekly income

A non-dependant’s combined weekly income is the total amount of money they have coming in.

Child Benefit, Child Tax Credit and any earnings will be added together to reach their combined weekly income.

When we are unable to establish the income of your non-dependant, we will apply the highest deduction.

This is an assumption that your non-dependant’s gross weekly income is £430 or more.

There are certain scenarios in which we do not take a non-dependant deduction. No deduction applies if the non-dependant:

  • has been in hospital for more than 52 weeks
  • is a full-time student; however we could take a deduction from your Housing Benefit in the summer holidays if the student takes up work, unless you or your partner are aged 65 or more
  • is under 18
  • normally lives elsewhere

There is also no non-dependant deduction if the claimant or their partner:

  • is registered blind or is treated as registered blind
  • receives Attendance Allowance
  • receives the care component of Disability Living Allowance
  • receives the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment