Housing and Council Tax Benefits

Non-dependants

A non-dependant is someone who lives with the person claiming benefit and is usually an adult son, daughter, other relative, friend or other person.

They are not treated as being responsible to make payments in respect of the property but they are expected to contribute to the household and so a deduction is made from the claimants benefit entitlement.

The non-dependant will be aged 18 or over and they cannot claim housing or council tax benefit for any payments they may make for their keep.

The amount we deduct depends on the non-dependants gross income. We take all their income into account and arrive at a weekly figure (see below).

There are certain non-dependants who we do not make a deduction for. No deduction applies for the following non-dependants:

Anyone on income support or income-based job seekers allowance. However, for housing benefit there is a deduction if they are aged 25 or more
Anyone under 18
Non-dependants who are full-time students. However for housing benefit there is a deduction in the summer holidays if they take up work
Anyone receiving a work based training allowance
Anyone in prison or otherwise detained
Anyone who has been in hospital for more than 6 weeks
Anyone who normally lives elsewhere
Non-dependants who fall within any of the groups who are 'disregards persons' for council tax discount purposes. However this applies in main council tax benefit only. In housing benefit there is a deduction
Anyone in receipt of disability living allowance or attendance allowance, or if you are blind will not make any non-dependant deductions

Summary of weekly deductions for non-dependants from April 2004

Non-dependants in remunerative work with gross income of:

£308 or over

£47.75 (Housing benefit), £6.18 (Council tax benefit)

£247 - £307.99

£43.50 (Housing benefit), £5.80 (Council tax benefit)

£186 - £249.66

£38.20 (Housing benefit), £4.60 (Council tax benefit)

£144 - £185.99

£23.35 (Housing benefit), £4.60 (Council tax benefit)

£97 - £143.99

£17 (Housing benefit), £2.30 (Council tax benefit)

Under £97

£7.40 (Housing benefit), £2.30 (Council tax benefit)

18 - 24 on income support, income-based job seekers allowance or pension credit

Nil (Housing benefit), Nil (Council tax benefit)

25 or over and on income support or income-based job seekers allowance

£7.40 (Housing benefit), Nil (Council tax benefit)

18 or over and not in remunerative work this includes periods of sick leave and maternity leave

£7.40 (Housing benefit), Nil (Council tax benefit)

Contact

Housing and Council Tax Benefits

Revenues and Benefits

90 Stour Road

Dagenham

RM10 7JD

Tel: 020 8227 2970

Monday to Friday, 8.30am - 5pm

Fax: 020 8227 2574

Textphone: 020 8227 2413

Email: benefits@lbbd.gov.uk|

Reception hours:

Monday to Friday, 8.30am - 5pm