Non-Dependant Deductions for Council Tax Reduction in Newham
If another adult lives in your home — an adult child, a relative, a friend — the council assumes they're contributing to household costs and reduces your Council Tax Reduction accordingly. These non-dependant deductions can take a significant chunk out of your award, and the amounts went up in April 2026.
Who Counts as a Non-Dependant
A non-dependant is any person aged 18 or over who lives in your home and is not your partner, not a commercial boarder or lodger, and not a joint tenant. The most common examples are adult children who still live at home, elderly parents, or other relatives.
Their income is never added to yours in the means test. Instead, a fixed weekly amount is subtracted from your CTR award based on what they earn.
The 2026/27 Deduction Rates
The deduction depends on the non-dependant's gross weekly income and whether they work full-time (30+ hours):
| Non-Dependant's Situation | Weekly Deduction |
|---|---|
| On Income Support, income-based JSA, income-related ESA, Pension Credit, or UC with no earnings | £0.00 |
| Working full-time, earning under £183/week | £7.54 |
| Working full-time, earning £183–£315.99/week | £14.96 |
| Working full-time, earning £316–£393.99/week | £18.84 |
| Working full-time, earning £394+/week | £22.61 |
| Any other adult 18+ (including part-time work) | £7.54 |
The highest deduction — £22.61 per week — wipes out more than the entire maximum CTR for a Band A property (£13.09). A working adult child on a decent salary can effectively eliminate their parent's council tax support.
When No Deduction Applies
The deduction is zero if the non-dependant:
- Receives Income Support, income-based JSA, income-related ESA, or Pension Credit
- Receives Universal Credit with no earned income
- Is under 18 (they're not a non-dependant by definition)
- Is a full-time student
- Has been in hospital for more than 52 weeks
- Is a member of the armed forces away on duty
If you have a non-dependant on one of these passported benefits, make sure the council has evidence of it. Without proof, they may apply the default £7.54 deduction.
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Multiple Non-Dependants
Each non-dependant in the household generates their own separate deduction. If you have two adult children living with you — one earning £350/week and one on UC with no earnings — the deductions are £18.84 + £0.00 = £18.84 per week subtracted from your CTR.
A Common Problem: Incorrect Income Bands
The council assigns each non-dependant to an income band based on the evidence you provide. If the non-dependant's gross income is even slightly misclassified — placed one band too high — the deduction jumps by several pounds a week. This is one of the most frequent errors on CTR decision notices.
Check the band by looking at your non-dependant's payslips. The figure that matters is gross weekly income (before tax and NI), not take-home pay. If they're paid monthly, divide the gross monthly figure by 52/12 (≈ 4.333) to get the weekly equivalent.
How to Challenge a Non-Dependant Deduction
If you believe the council has applied the wrong deduction amount, request a recalculation informally first (call 020 8430 2000). If that doesn't resolve it, submit a formal Section 16 written grievance. You'll need to provide updated payslips or benefit letters for the non-dependant in question.
Our Newham CTR guide includes a non-dependant deduction worksheet that helps you calculate the correct amount for each person in your household and compare it to what the council applied.
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