Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit are normally reduced if you have other adults (non dependants), living in your property.

Some non-dependants may pay you money to help with the cost of the household expenses.  This money is not taken as income for benefit purposes.  The amounts by which your benefit will be reduced are fixed sums which are set by the government and based on the gross income of each non dependants.

You must give us details of any non-dependants living with you, their income, and evidence of that income.  You must still advise us of non-dependants with no income (for example a child over 18 who is a student).  You must also tell us if you are receiving child benefit for a child over 18, and provide a copy of your award letter.

There are some circumstances when a non-dependant deduction will not be made, for example

• An 18 year old for who child benefit is still in payment
• A non-dependant under 25 getting Jobseekers Allowance (Income Based) or Income Support
• Non-dependants who have been in hospital for more than 52 weeks
• If you have a boarder or sub tenant
• If you or your partner are registered blind
• If you or your partner receive care component of disability living allowance
• If you or your partner receive attendance allowance
• A non-dependant receiving Guarantee Pension Credit

If the claimant or partner are aged 65 or more certain changes will not affect the Housing or Council Tax Benefit until 26 weeks after the change occurred, namely if

-        a non-dependant moves into the property or

-        there is a change in the non-dependant’s circumstances which would increase the amount of the current non-dependant deduction

However, the details should still be provided to us at the date of the change occuring.  When the 26 week period has finished, you should then contact us to inform of your non-dependant’s current circumstances.

Other people who live in the dwelling but are not regarded as being part of the household (or family) include:

• Boarders
• (Sub) tenants
• Carers
• Joint occupiers
• Foster Children

Boarder can make their  own claim for benefit.  The money they pay the landlord (our claimant) for rent is counted as unearned income for the landlord.  Boarders pay an inclusive rent, which includes an element of food.  They are not liable for Council Tax Benefit.

(Sub) Tenants can also make their own claim for benefit.  Again the rent they pay their landlord (our claimant) is counted as unearned income for the landlord.  The rent they pay does not include food.  There is no real difference between a sub tenant and a tenant.  A sub tenant pays the landlord who in turn pays his landlord.  A tenant pays the landlord who owns the property.

Carers who are hired by voluntary or charitable organisation to look after either the claimant or partner and who make a charge for the service are ignored for Housing Benefit purposes.

Joint Occupier is someone other than the claimant's partner who is jointly responsible to pay rent or council tax for the property.  They must make their own claim for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.

Foster Children are not included as part of the claimant's family and are ignored for Housing Benefit purposes.