County Durham Council Tax Non-Dependant Deduction: The £10 Per Week Rule
What a Non-Dependant Deduction Is
When another adult lives in your home — an adult child, a sibling, a friend — the council assumes they contribute toward the household's council tax. Under Durham's 2026/27 working-age scheme, the council deducts a flat £10 per week from your Council Tax Reduction award for each non-dependant adult in the property.
A non-dependant is any adult (18 or older) who lives with you and is not:
- Your partner or spouse
- A paying lodger or commercial tenant
- A child you receive child benefit for
The deduction is flat-rate regardless of what the non-dependant earns. Whether they're on a £40,000 salary or unemployed, the deduction is the same £10 per week per person.
How It Affects Your Bill
The deduction comes off your CTR award, not your total bill. Here's an example:
- You're in Band 1 (90% discount) on a Band A property paying £25 per week
- Your CTR award would normally be £22.50 (90% of £25)
- One non-dependant means a £10 deduction from the award
- Your net CTR award drops to £12.50
- You pay £12.50 per week instead of £2.50
Two non-dependants in the same situation would cost you £20 in deductions, reducing your £22.50 award to just £2.50 — effectively wiping out most of the benefit of being in the highest discount band.
When the Deduction Is Waived Entirely
The deduction drops to zero — no matter how many non-dependants live with you — if the CTR applicant or their partner:
- Receives PIP daily living component (either rate)
- Receives DLA middle or high rate care component
- Receives Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP)
- Is registered severely sight-impaired or blind
This is a significant protection for disabled claimants and their households. If you qualify for any of these, adult children or other relatives can live with you without eroding your CTR.
No deduction is made for non-dependants who are:
- Under 18 years old
- Full-time students
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What to Do About Non-Dependant Deductions
If you think the council has applied a non-dependant deduction incorrectly — perhaps the person has moved out, or you qualify for a disability waiver that wasn't applied — report the change to the council within 21 days and request a reconsideration of your CTR award.
If a non-dependant is moving in, be aware of the impact on your CTR before it happens. Factor in the £10 per week reduction when budgeting, and report the change to the council promptly to avoid an overpayment that gets clawed back later.
The County Durham Council Tax Reduction guide includes a non-dependant deduction worksheet that helps you calculate the impact on your specific bill and check whether a waiver applies.
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