Non-Dependant Deductions for Council Tax Support in Cheshire East

What's a Non-Dependant?

A non-dependant is any adult aged 18 or over who lives in your home but isn't your partner and isn't a commercial tenant or lodger paying you rent. The most common non-dependants are adult children who've finished education and are still living at home, elderly parents you've taken in, or adult siblings sharing the house.

When a non-dependant lives with you, Cheshire East Council assumes they contribute toward household costs — including council tax. The council deducts a fixed amount from your Council Tax Support award for each non-dependant, regardless of whether that person actually hands you any money.

The Standard Deduction: £11.16 Per Week

Under Section 58.0 of Cheshire East's local scheme rules, the standard non-dependant deduction is £11.16 per week per non-dependant. This applies whether the person works or not. A working adult child living at home and an unemployed one both trigger the same deduction.

The deduction is calculated on a daily basis (£11.16 ÷ 7 per day) and removed from your weekly Council Tax Support award. If you're receiving the maximum 80% support, a single non-dependant deduction reduces your effective support by roughly £580 per year.

If two non-dependants are a couple, only one joint deduction is applied (at the higher rate if the figures differ). If a non-dependant lives with two or more jointly liable council taxpayers, the deduction is split equally between them.

When Deductions Are Waived

The council does not apply a non-dependant deduction if you or your partner:

• Are registered blind or treated as blind
• Receive Attendance Allowance
• Receive the Care Component of Disability Living Allowance
• Receive the Daily Living Component of Personal Independence Payment
• Receive Armed Forces Independence Payment

These exemptions exist because the disability benefits indicate a higher level of need. If you qualify for any of them, non-dependant deductions are removed entirely from your calculation — no matter how many adults live with you.

The Adult Children Problem

This is where the deduction causes the most friction. Your 19-year-old finishes college, gets a part-time job, and stays at home. The council immediately applies the £11.16/week deduction to your support. Your award drops, your council tax bill rises, and your child may not even realise they've cost you money.

Three things to know:

1. Full-time students are disregarded — if your child goes to university or is on a qualifying full-time course, they're not treated as a non-dependant. No deduction applies. But the day their course ends, they become a non-dependant.

2. The deduction applies regardless of what they earn — whether your child earns £50/week or £500/week, the deduction is the same flat rate. The council doesn't means-test individual non-dependants.

3. You must report the change — when a non-dependant moves in (or when a student finishes their course), you have 21 days to tell the council. Failing to report can result in an overpayment recovery.

Can Your Non-Dependant Help You?

The non-dependant deduction assumes they're contributing to household costs. In practice, many non-dependants don't — or can't. But the council applies the deduction regardless.

If the deduction tips you into genuine hardship (your remaining council tax is more than you can afford), you may be able to apply for Exceptional Hardship relief under Section 13A. This won't remove the deduction itself, but can provide temporary additional support to cover the shortfall.

The Cheshire East Council Tax Reduction Guide explains how non-dependant deductions interact with the rest of the award calculation, with worked examples showing the impact on different household types.

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