What if others live with me?

If other people live with you, it may affect the amount of benefit you can get. It is important you tell us immediately about any changes to your household. People who live with you could be: your partner, any dependant children, a non dependant, boarder or sub-tenant.

Who is a non-dependant?

  • A grown up son or daughter, aged 18 or over
  • Any other relative aged 18 or over
  • A friend aged 18 or over

Who is not a non-dependant?

  • Your partner, if you have one
  • A child that you get child benefit for
  • A person under 18
  • A person in full time education
  • A person on a youth training scheme
  • A person who normally lives somewhere else

Non-dependant deductions

A deduction based on any resident non dependant's income will be made from the amount of Housing Benefit (HB) and/or Council Tax Reduction (CTR) you get.

Please note

HMRC have now allowed the Benefit Service to directly access earnings details for any non-dependant on your Housing Benefit claim. If you have a non-dependant on your Housing Benefit claim, please tell them we can check their details directly with HMRC.

The following weekly non-dependant deductions apply if you are:

Working age and getting CTR SHOW


State pension age and getting HB or CTR, or working age and getting HB SHOW