Cash Help for 16 to 19 year olds and Their Parents

Housing Benefit/Non Dependent Deductions for Young People

Apart from the following exceptions the majority of young people can claim Housing Benefit (HB) for their own tenancy.

Exceptions:

• Care leavers age 16/17 (please refer to the separate section for care leavers)
• Young people in advanced education. (Unless lone parent, couple responsible for care of a child, disabled.)
• 19 year olds starting a full time non-advanced course of education.

Single Room Rent
The award of Housing Benefit is limited for young people under age 25.
In most cases, a single room rent will be identified. This is the mid point of rents in the area for bedsit accommodation or a single room within shared accommodation. (Living room, kitchen, toilet and bathroom will be communal areas.)  
This figure will be the maximum payable for a young person unless they are a housing association tenant, someone with entitlement to a severe disability premium, or a care leaver under the age of 22 years.
(There are a few other exceptions but these are the main ones.)

Non-dependant deductions
Housing benefit/council tax benefit may be reduced if there are other adults in the household. These reductions are called ‘Non-dependant deductions’. 
A non-dependant deduction is made where accommodation is shared but not on a commercial basis. Eg a young person living at home with their parents.
NB No non-dependent deduction applies if the tenant or partner is registered blind or receiving the care component of Disability Living Allowance.
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Non-dependant deductions will not be made for the following non-dependents:

• under age 18
• an 18 or 19 year old in relevant education
• a full time student during the academic year
• a full time student during the summer vacation (for HB, this applies only if they do not work or they work less than 16 hours per week.)
• a full time student during the academic year or summer vacation if the HB claimant or their partner is aged 65 or over-whether or not  the student is working.
• Receiving Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance (income based)- (for Housing Benefit they must be under 25)
•   Anyone receiving a youth training allowance like skillseekers.
• Someone that normally lives elsewhere.

For Council Tax Benefit only: additional situations where a non-dependant does not apply is where the young person is a recent school leaver under age 20, a student nurse, an apprentice or a foreign language assistant. 
(Warning: There are other non-dependant categories out with this age group.)