RR2 - A guide to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit
What you can claim for
People who live with you - non-dependants
People who normally share your accomodation but are not dependent on you for financial support are known as non-dependants. Others who live with you as a family and any children you have fostered do not count as non-dependants.
Non-dependant deductions
Any non-dependants who normally share your accommodation could affect the amount of HB and CTB you get whether or not you are also getting Income Support, income-based JSA or Pension Credit.
Shared accommodation does not include:
- a shared bathroom or lavatory; or
- a shared corridor or entrance; or
- communal areas in sheltered accommodation.
The following people do not count as non-dependants, whether they share accommodation or not:
- carers employed by a charity that charges for the service
- joint tenants
- subtenants
- boarders
- tenants of owner occupiers
- landlords/ladies and their partners.
They do not count as part of your household.
Non-dependants are people like grown-up sons or daughters and elderly relatives. If you have non-dependants living with you, your HB and CTB may be affected.
Non-dependant deductions from HB
Deductions are made from your HB for non-dependants aged over 18 who normally live with you. There are six levels of deduction. If the non-dependant is working less than 16 hours a week, the lowest deduction will apply. If the non-dependant is doing paid work for 16 hours or more a week, the level of deduction will depend on the non-dependant’s gross income. A deduction will not be made from your HB if:
- the non-dependant is in receipt of Pension Credit
- you or your partner are aged 65 or more and the non-dependant is a full time student,
- you, or your partner, are registered blind or treated as blind (see page 69 or 71 for an explanation of being treated as blind) or
- you, or your partner, are receiving the care component of Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance in respect of yourself or your partner or
- the non-dependant is aged 16 or 17 or the non-dependant’s normal home is somewhere else or
- the non-dependant is in receipt of a training allowance or a YTS scheme or
- the non-dependant is a full-time student (but deductions may be made during the summer vacation if the student does any paid work in this period) or
- the non-dependant is a prisoner or
- the non-dependant has been a patient in hospital for 52 weeks or more. If the non-dependant leaves hospital but is readmitted to hospital within 28 days their total number of days in hospital are added together
- The non-dependant is in receipt of ESA(IR) which does not include a component.
No deduction should be made from your rent rebate or allowance if the non-dependant is under 25 and on Income Support or income based JSA.
A deduction may be delayed for 26 weeks if you or your partner are aged 65 or more and a non-dependant moves into your home or the non-dependants circumstances change to increase the deduction. [HB Reg 2006 (working age) Reg 74 HB Reg 2006 (people over pension age) Reg 55 ]
Non-dependant deductions from CTB
Deductions are made from your CTB for non-dependants aged over 18 who normally live with you. There are four levels of deduction. If the non-dependant is working less than 16 hours a week, the lowest deduction will apply. If the non-dependant is doing paid work for 16 hours or more a week, the level of deduction will depend on the non-dependant’s gross income.
A deduction will not be made from your CTB if:
- the non-dependants' normal home is somewhere else
- you, or your partner, are registered blind or treated as blind (see page 69 or 71 for an explanation of being treated as blind) or
- you, or your partner, are receiving the care component of Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance in respect of yourself or your partner or
- the non-dependant is receiving Pension Credit,Income Support or income-based JSA or income-related Employment & Support Allowance
- the non-dependant is a prisoner or
- the non-dependant is severely mentally impaired or
- the non-dependant is over 18 but Child Benefit is still payable for them or
- the non-dependant is a student nurse or apprentice or on Youth Training or
- the non-dependant has been a patient in hospital for 52 weeks or more. If the non-dependant leaves hospital but is readmitted to hospital within 28 days, their total number of days in hospital are added together or
- the non-dependant is living in a residential care or nursing home or
- the non-dependant is a care worker
- the non-dependant is a resident of a hostel or night shelter for the homeless or
- the non-dependant is a full-time student (even if they work full-time in the summer vacation).
A deduction may be delayed for 26 weeks if you or your partner are aged 65 or more and a non-dependant moves into your home, or the non-dependants' circumstances change to increase the deduction. [CTB 2006 (working age) Reg 58 CTB Regs 2006 (people over pension age) Reg 42]
Council Tax Benefit
You may claim CTB to help pay the council tax.
Water Charges
CTB cannot provide help with water rates (or in Scotland the Community Water Charge).
