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Non-dependant deductions

Housing Costs Contributions (non-dependant deductions)

Non-dependant deductions that reduce your Housing Costs Element are called ‘Housing Costs Contributions’.

The government assumes that non-dependant adults living in your home will contribute towards your household costs, including rent and Council Tax.

Non-dependants are certain adults who live with you who are aged 21 or over.

Typically, an adult son or daughter will be considered to be a non-dependant.

The following people do not count as non-dependants:

  • Your partner
  • A joint tenant
  • A lodger/boarder.

The DWP will deduct a sum of money from the Housing Costs Element included in your Universal Credit award for each non-dependant aged 21 or over living with you (unless special rules apply – see below). The DWP call this a Housing Costs Contribution.

These deductions are applied regardless of whether or not the non-dependant gives you any money for rent, electricity etc.

The Housing Costs Contribution rules are complicated, there are some situations when no deduction is taken (see below) and deductions can sometimes be taken when they shouldn’t – making a big difference to your Universal Credit award.

Use the information below to work out if the correct deduction is being made, and if not, you can request a ‘Mandatory Reconsideration’ of the Housing Costs Contribution on your UC journal.

NOTE: A lodger/boarder is someone who is not a close relative and they pay you on a formal commercial basis to live in your home.

What are the non-dependant deduction rates?

Regardless of the non-dependant’s income, the Housing Costs Contribution taken from the Housing Costs Element included in your Universal Credit award is £77.87 a month (from April 2021) per non-dependant.
If you have more than one non-dependant living with you then £77.87 is deducted for each, even if they are a couple.

But in some circumstances nothing should be taken.

No non-dependant deduction (Housing Costs Contribution) should be taken from your Housing Costs Element where the non-dependant is:

  • Only staying with you temporarily (your home is not their normal home).
  • Under 21 (regardless of their circumstances).
  • Responsible for a child under 5.
  • On the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment.
  • On the care component of Disability Living Allowance at the middle or high rate.
  • On Attendance Allowance or Constant Attendance Allowance.
  • On Armed Forces Independence Payment.
  • On Carers Allowance.
  • On Pension Credit.
  • A prisoner, whether on remand or sentenced.
  • A non-dependant son, daughter, step-son or step-daughter who is temporarily away from home because they are currently on operations with the Armed Forces.

Example:
Greg lives with grown up daughter in a rented two bedroom house. Greg’s Housing Costs Element is reduced by £77.87 a month because his daughter is aged 21, works full time and none of the exceptions apply. Greg needs to pay his full rent every month and his daughter gives him £200 a month ‘keep’.

No non-dependant deduction (Housing Costs Contribution) should be taken from your Housing Costs Element where you are or your partner is: 

  • On the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment.
  • On the care component of Disability Living Allowance at the middle or high rate.
  • On Attendance Allowance or Constant Attendance Allowance.
  • On Armed Forces Independence Payment.
  • Certified as severely sight impaired or blind by a consultant opthalmologist.

Example:
Trevor and Yvonne live with their two grown up sons in a rented three bedroom house. When they were on Housing Benefit there were no non-dependant deductions because Trevor gets Personal Independence Payment. Now they are on Universal Credit their Housing Costs Element has been reduced by two Housing Costs Contributions. They explain to their Housing Officer that they are worse off. Their Housing Officer explains that due to Trevor’s daily living Personal Independence Payment there shouldn’t be any Housing Costs Contributions but this is sometimes missed by DWP. She helps them request a review of their award on their UC journal and request a back payment. Next time their Universal Credit is paid it’s increased by £155.74 and they also get a back payment of over £900.

Frequently Asked Questions

Non Dependent Deductions

There should be no deduction taken in respect of someone who is only staying with you temporarily. Provide the DWP with as much information and evidence as you can, to show that she hadn’t intended to make your house her home. If the DWP decide not to remove the Housing Costs Contribution (non-dependant deduction), contact a Benefits Adviser for help.
If your partner is registered blind or getting a daily living component of Personal Independence Payment, the mid or high care component of Disability Living Allowance, Armed Forces Independence Payment,  Attendance Allowance or Constant Attendance Allowance then no Housing Costs Contribution (non-dependant deduction) should be taken from your Housing Costs Element. If your partner is not on one of these benefits, a Housing Costs Contribution may be taken based on your nephew’s circumstances. If you think you or your partner might be entitled to one of these benefits, then apply as soon as possible – contact a Benefits Adviser to help you make the claim.
The DWP can remove the Housing Costs Contribution (non-dependant deduction) even where you have no forwarding address for her, if you explain why you are unable to provide this. You could give them her National Insurance number (if you know it) and ask them to check on their system, to see if she is now claiming a benefit from another address. If they can tell from this that she is not living with you, then they should remove the deduction. If this doesn’t help (or you don't know her NI number), you can challenge the DWP's decision. An appeal tribunal has to decide on the balance of probabilities whether they believe that your daughter is still living with you. The more information you can provide about why she left, the more likely they are to believe you.
There will be a Housing Costs Contribution (non dependant deduction) for each of them – the rate from April 2021 is £75.53 a month each – so your Housing Costs Element will be reduced by £151.06 per month.