Non-dependants - people living with you who affect your Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit

A non-dependant is someone over 18, living with you, who affects the amount of benefit you get because the government expects them to pay something towards your housing costs and Council Tax. They could be:

• relatives;
• friends; or
• children who have left school or college and who you no longer get Child Benefit for.

When we work out your Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit we take set amounts off your benefit for your non-dependants.

The government tell us how much to take off. The amounts are based on your non-dependant's income.

Even if your non-dependant doesn't give you anything for housing costs, or you don't want to take anything, the law says that we still have to take the set amounts off your benefit.

There are some exceptions when we don't take any deductions for non-dependants.

When you claim benefit, or if you are already claiming and a non-dependant comes to live with you, you have to tell us what your non-dependant's income is and provide evidence of their income.

If you can't tell us your non-dependant's income (perhaps because they won't tell you how much they earn) and provide the evidence we need, the law says we must make the highest deduction from your benefit.

You must tell us straightaway if there are any changes affecting your non-dependant, for example if they move out or their income changes, or if somebody new comes to live with you.