Barnet Council Tax Non-Dependant Deductions

If another adult lives in your Barnet home — an adult child, a sibling, an elderly parent — the council assumes they should contribute to your council tax. It deducts a fixed weekly amount from your Council Tax Reduction award whether or not that person actually gives you any money. These non-dependant deductions are one of the most frustrating parts of the scheme for families sharing a home.

The Deduction Rates

Barnet's 2026/27 scheme uses two tiers based on the non-dependant's gross weekly income:

Each non-dependant generates a separate deduction. If you have two adult children living with you — one earning £150/week and another earning £250/week — the council deducts £5.00 + £11.00 = £16.00 per week from your award, totalling £832 a year.

Who Counts as a Non-Dependant

A non-dependant is a person over the age of 18 who lives in your home and is not your partner (your partner is assessed jointly with you).

Your adult children, siblings, friends, or relatives all count. The council assumes they should share the council tax cost, and makes the deduction from your CTR regardless of whether they actually contribute.

Students and people on certain benefits are still classified as non-dependants, but their income level determines which deduction tier applies.

When No Deduction Applies

The deduction is waived entirely if you or your partner receives:

• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) — Daily Living component
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA) — middle or high rate Care component
• A Carer Premium in your income assessment

In these cases, the council assumes you need the non-dependant present for care or support purposes, and no deduction applies regardless of how much they earn.

The Real-World Impact

Take a lone parent in a Band C property earning £450/month (Band 2, 50% discount). Gross annual CTR would be £947.82. Now add an adult child earning £250/week:

• Non-dependant deduction: £11.00/week × 52 = £572.00
• Net CTR award: £947.82 − £572.00 = £375.82
• Annual bill after CTR: £1,519.82 (£126.65/month)

Without the non-dependant, the bill would have been £947.82 per year. The adult child's presence more than doubles the parent's council tax liability, even though the child might not be contributing anything towards the bill.

What You Can Do

You're required to declare all non-dependants and provide proof of their income when you apply. The council will ask for their payslips or benefit letters.

If your non-dependant moves out, report it immediately via the Benefits General Form — the deduction stops from the Monday after the change, provided you report within one month.

If the combined effect of non-dependant deductions and the standard 70% cap leaves you in hardship, Barnet's Council Tax Discretionary Relief may be able to help. The Barnet Council Tax Reduction guide covers the non-dependant rules and explains when discretionary relief can bridge the gap.

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