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Will other adults living in my home affect my housing benefit?

Other adults are people aged 18 years or above who live in your home. They are usually grown-up children or other relatives living with you. They could also be friends. Your partner (if you have one) is not treated as another adult. People living in your home and paying you rent, such as boarders or subtenants, do not usually count as other adults.

Other adults are expected to pay something towards the rent of the home they live in. Due to this, your housing benefit will be reduced if other adults live in your home.

We make fixed deductions from housing benefit, no matter what the other adults pay.

There are six levels of deduction. In some cases we do not make any deduction.

The deduction for each other adult depends on:

  • your circumstances
  • your partner's circumstances (if you have one) and
  • the circumstances of each adult

However, we do not make a deduction for any other adult if you or your partner:

  • get attendance allowance
  • get the care component of Disability Living Allowance or
  • get the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment
  • are registered blind

Where a customer/partner is 65 or above, there is a concession where a non-dependant moves in or has a change in their income, causing a change in the deduction band to apply.

In these cases the change of circumstances applies from the date 26 weeks after the actual change.

Other adult deductions from housing benefit each week (from 1 April 2024)

People for whom deductions are not made

There is no 'other adult deduction' for those:

  • aged under 18
  • aged 18 to 24 and receiving Income Support
  • aged 18-24 and receiving income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
  • who are full time students
  • receiving a work based training allowance
  • in prison or on remand
  • in hospital for more than 52 weeks or more
  • in receipt of Pension Credit
  • aged under 25 and receiving Employment and Support Allowance Income Related: Assessment Phase.

Deductions for people who are not working

  • We make a £19.30 deduction for those aged 25 or over and getting Income Support, Income-Based Job Seekers Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance Income Related: Main Phase.
  • We make a £19.30 deduction for those aged 18 or over and not working.

Deductions for people who are working

  • we make a £19.30 deduction for those working 16 hours or more a week and earning less than £176 before tax and so on
  • we make a £44.40 deduction for those working 16 hours or more a week and earning between £176 and £255.99 before tax and so on
  • we make a £60.95 deduction for those working 16 hours or more a week and earning between £256 and £333.99 before tax and so on
  • we make a £99.65 deduction for those working 16 hours or more per week and earning between £334 and £444.99 before tax and so on
  • we make a £113.50 deduction for those working 16 hours or more per week and earning between £445 and £553.99 before tax and so on
  • we make a £124.55 deduction for those working 16 hours or more per week and earning more than £554 before tax and so on

What to do if another adult pays less than the deduction taken from my housing benefit or  council tax support 

We have to use the deductions previously stated. The law says we cannot use any other figures. You are responsible for recovering any shortfall from the other adults.

What happens if other adults move out of my home?

  • if you tell us that another adult has permanently moved out of your home, we will stop taking a deduction for them
  • we will also stop the deductions for any other adult who is taken into custody or who has been in hospital for more than 52 weeks
  • wf another adult is only away from your home temporarily (for example, while on holiday), we must still make the deductions

You must tell us about any changes that may affect your housing benefit or council tax support or any other adult deductions we make from your benefit. If you do not, we could pay you the wrong amount.

If we pay you too much benefit, you must repay the amount we have overpaid. You, not the other adult, would be responsible for the repayment.

How boarders and subtenants affect housing benefit or council tax support

Any money you get from a boarder or subtenant is treated as part of your weekly income. We completely ignore some of it and add the rest to any other income you get. As this increases your total income, it may reduce your benefit.

What to do if you disagree with the 'other adult deductions'

If you disagree about any of the adult deductions, you can ask us to review any decision we have made about your housing benefit or council tax support.