Council Tax Reduction Non-Dependant Deductions in Milton Keynes

When an adult who isn't your partner lives in your home, Milton Keynes City Council assumes they're contributing toward the household bills. A fixed weekly amount — the non-dependant deduction — gets subtracted from your Council Tax Reduction award, whether that person actually pays you anything or not.

Who Counts as a Non-Dependant

A non-dependant is any adult aged 18 or over living in your property who isn't your spouse, civil partner, or cohabiting partner, and who isn't a tenant paying you a commercial rent. The most common examples:

• Adult children still living at home
• Elderly parents or relatives staying with you
• Friends sharing your home without a formal tenancy

If they're paying you rent at a market rate under a written agreement, they're treated as a lodger or sub-tenant, not a non-dependant. The distinction matters because lodgers don't trigger a deduction — their rent income may be counted differently instead.

How the Deduction Works

The council applies a standard weekly deduction to your CTR award based on the non-dependant's gross weekly income. The deduction comes straight off the top of your maximum award — so if you'd otherwise get 80% of your council tax covered, the non-dependant deduction reduces that 80% further.

Milton Keynes City Council's published 2026/27 Council Tax non-dependant deductions are:

• Working 16 hours or more: £5.20 per week if gross income is under £279; £10.60 for £279–£484.99; £13.30 for £485–£604.99; and £15.95 for £605 or more.
• Not working or working fewer than 16 hours: No deduction applies for people receiving State Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based JSA, income-related ESA, or Universal Credit calculated with no earned income. The deduction is £5.20 per week for people receiving Universal Credit with earned income while working fewer than 16 hours, or in other circumstances, including where the non-dependant is not working.
• Under 18: No deduction.

The exact figures are uprated annually in line with the Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Prescribed Requirements) Regulations. Milton Keynes City Council applies the current year's rates as part of the annual scheme update delegated to the Director of Finance and Resources.

If you have more than one non-dependant, the council calculates deductions using their incomes. If two non-dependants are partners, it may apply the higher deduction and combine their income if both are working.

When the Deduction Is Waived Entirely

This is the part most people miss. Non-dependant deductions are completely waived — set to zero — if the CTR applicant or their partner:

• Receives the daily living component of PIP (either rate)
• Receives the care component of DLA (any rate)
• Receives Attendance Allowance
• Is registered blind

Notice: the waiver depends on the applicant's disability status, not the non-dependant's. If you're a disabled person receiving PIP daily living and your working adult child lives with you, no non-dependant deduction applies regardless of how much they earn. This protection recognises that disabled residents often need a carer or family member present and shouldn't be penalised for it.

The non-dependant's own circumstances also matter in limited ways. If the non-dependant is under 18 or a full-time student, they don't generate a deduction. For a full-time student, the council asks for a student certificate from their place of education.

What If the Non-Dependant Won't Share Their Income Details

The council needs to know the non-dependant's income to set the deduction rate. If the non-dependant refuses to provide their details, ask the council what evidence it can accept and how it will assess the deduction.

To avoid this, ask the non-dependant for a recent payslip or benefit statement. You can submit it with your CTR application or when reporting a change of circumstances. If the relationship is difficult and they genuinely won't cooperate, explain the situation in writing to the council — they may accept alternative evidence or exercise discretion.

Reporting Changes in Non-Dependant Circumstances

You're legally required to report changes in your household within 21 days — that includes a non-dependant moving in, moving out, or their income changing significantly. If a non-dependant moves out, the deduction should stop, which could increase your CTR award. Report it promptly through MyCouncil Tax Online.

If a non-dependant's income drops (they lose their job, for instance), reporting the change means the council can apply a lower deduction band or remove the deduction entirely.

How This Affects Your Overall Award

Take a practical scenario: you're on a low income in a Band C property, eligible for the full 80% CTR award. Your annual council tax is about £1,800, so the maximum CTR award covers roughly £1,440. If your working adult child earns £350 per week gross, the 2026/27 non-dependant deduction is £10.60 per week and is subtracted from your award.

Understanding this calculation matters because it's one of the most common reasons people receive less CTR than they expected. The deduction isn't visible on the initial bill — it only shows up in the CTR decision notice.

If your non-dependant deduction seems wrong, or if you think the waiver should apply, you can challenge the decision through Milton Keynes City Council's formal grievance process. The Milton Keynes Council Tax Reduction guide covers the full appeals process, including the Section 16 grievance and Valuation Tribunal route.

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