How housing benefit is calculated

Non-dependants

All people over 18 years of age living with you as part of your family are assumed to make a contribution to your housing costs, and therefore a deduction, known as a non-dependant deduction is made from the maximum entitlement in respect of each of those persons.

The non-dependant's income is used to determine the level of deduction made from your benefit. Failure to provide details will result in the highest level of deduction. The lowest level of deduction is made in respect of non-dependants in receipt of state benefits.

The amount of the deductions made from your benefit entitlement is decided by Central Government and not the borough council. It will depend on the circumstances of your non-dependants and the amount of income that they have. The deductions will be made irrespective of whether the non-dependants pay you a contribution or not.

Deductions

Deduction from your rent allowance entitlement if you are a private tenant from 1 April 2023
Situation	Deduction
Person is under 25 and on Income Support, Income-Based Jobseeker's Allowance, Employment Support Allowance Income Related assess phase, or standard Universal Credit with no earned income.	Nil
Person is over 25 on Income Support/Jobseeker's Allowance Income Based, or aged over 18 and not in remunerative work. Receives Employment Support Allowance main phase (any age)	£19.30
In receipt of Pension Credit	Nil
Earnings less than £176pw	£19.30
Earning £176 - £255.99pw	£44.40
Earning £256 - £333.99pw	£60.95
Earning £334 - £444.99pw	£99.65
Earning £445 - £553.99pw	£113.50
Earning £554+ pw	£124.55

Deduction from your rent allowance entitlement if you are an Aspire Housing or William Sutton Trust Tenant from 3 April 2023
Situation	Deduction
Person is either aged over 25 and in receipt of Income Support or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance/Universal Credit with no earnings/Pension Credit. Person is over 18 and not employed or in receipt of main phase ESA. Person is working with a gross income of less than £162.00.	£19.61
Person is working and has a gross income of between £162.00 and £235.99 per week	£45.07
Person is working and has a gross income of between £236.00 and £307.99 per week	£61.86
Person is working and has a gross income of between £308.00 and £409.99 per week	£101.18
Person is working and has a gross income of between £410.00 and £510.99 per week	£115.21
Person is working and has a gross income of £511.00 or more per week	£126.48

These amounts are the same as for Private Tenants but have been converted to 48 week basis (as with rent collection).

Deduction from your Council Tax reduction for all householders from 1 April 2023
Situation	Deduction
Person is 18 and over, not employed and not in receipt of Income Support/ income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or working part-time for less than 16 hours per week. Also non Pension Credit Pensioner (not in remunerative work) Person is working and maybe receiving Universal Credit with earnings and has a gross income up to £236.00 per week.	£4.60
Person is working and maybe receiving Universal Credit with earnings and has a gross income between £236.00 and £409.99 per week	£9.40
Person is working and maybe receiving Universal Credit with earnings and has a gross income between £410.00 and 510.99 per week	£11.80
Person is working and maybe receiving Universal Credit with earnings and has a gross income of £511.00 or more per week	£14.15

Please note: “Gross income” includes any earnings (before deductions are made for tax and national insurance contributions), social security benefits and the interest paid on savings. It does not include Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, maintenance payments made in respect of a child or payments from the Macfarlane Trusts, The Fund, The Eileen Trust and The Independent Living Fund.

There is no deduction for non-dependants under 18, and those on youth training, or those on Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance (income-based), Employment and Support Allowance (assessment phase aged under 25), standard rate Universal Credit without any earned income or in receipt of a Pension Credit and not in remunerative work.

No deductions are made in respect of non-dependants if you or your partner is registered blind, in receipt of Attendance Allowance, Care Component of Disability Living Allowance or the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment.