Ealing Council Tax Reduction Non-Dependant Deductions Explained

What Is a Non-Dependant Deduction?

If another adult lives in your home — an adult child, a relative, a friend — Ealing Council assumes they're contributing toward the household's council tax. The council subtracts a fixed weekly amount from your Council Tax Reduction award to reflect that assumed contribution. This is the non-dependant deduction, and it applies regardless of whether that person actually hands you any money.

The deduction is subtracted from your weekly CTR entitlement after the council calculates your percentage award from the income banding table. So even if you qualify for an 80% award, the non-dependant deduction can eat into what you actually receive.

Who Counts as a Non-Dependant?

A non-dependant is any adult living in your home who isn't your partner and isn't a dependent child. The most common scenario is an adult son or daughter who still lives at home. It also includes parents, siblings, friends, or any other adult household member.

People who don't count as non-dependants (and don't trigger a deduction):

• Your partner — their income is assessed jointly with yours for the CTR calculation
• Children under 18 — they're dependants, not non-dependants
• Lodgers or sub-tenants who pay you formal rent — their income is treated differently, with a £20 per week disregard
• Full-time students — a non-dependant who is a full-time student has a £0 deduction

The 2026/27 Deduction Rates

The amount deducted depends on the non-dependant's own income:

If you have more than one non-dependant, a separate deduction applies for each. Two adult children living at home — one unemployed, one earning £250 per week — would generate deductions of £8.35 + £23.13 = £31.48 per week from your CTR award.

When the Deduction Is Completely Waived

This is the rule that catches most people by surprise: if you or your partner receives Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA), all non-dependant deductions are waived entirely. It doesn't matter how much your non-dependant earns — the deduction is £0.

This waiver applies even if the non-dependant is a high earner. A disabled applicant receiving PIP who lives with a working adult child earning £400 per week would normally face a £23.13 weekly deduction. With the PIP waiver, that deduction disappears completely, and the full CTR percentage applies.

If you or your partner starts receiving PIP or DLA, report the change within one calendar month. Ealing says a change that increases your benefit and is reported later will usually take effect from the Monday after you notify the council; check your revised notice for the effective date.

How Deductions Affect Your Award in Practice

Here's what the maths looks like for a non-protected household in a 2026/27 Band D property (£2,138.53 annual council tax). If your income falls in Band 1, you get an 80% award — that's £1,710.82 per year, or £32.81 per week.

An unemployed adult child living with you triggers an £8.35 weekly deduction:

• Weekly CTR before deduction: £32.81
• Non-dependant deduction: −£8.35
• Net weekly CTR: £24.46
• Annual CTR: £1,275.41
• Annual bill after CTR: £863.12

Compare that to a working adult child earning over £235.16:

• Weekly CTR before deduction: £32.81
• Non-dependant deduction: −£23.13
• Net weekly CTR: £9.68
• Annual CTR: £504.74
• Annual bill after CTR: £1,633.79

The non-dependant deduction can effectively halve your award or more, depending on how many adults live with you and what they earn.

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

The council uses your non-dependant's gross income to choose the deduction rate. If you're unsure which rate was applied, check your decision notice or ask the council. The difference between the lowest and highest listed rates is £14.78 per week, or about £771 per year.

Navigate the Full Non-Dependant Rules

The Ealing Council Tax Reduction guide includes the complete non-dependant deduction table, worked examples for multiple-adult households, and the specific circumstances where deductions are waived — so you can check whether you're being charged correctly.

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