Non dependant deductions for a couple

My client (aged 63) has her non dep granddaughter and fiance living with her. Both have started work, for 12.5 hrs per week.

I know that there will not be a change to the level of the HB/CTB deduction for 26 weeks, but I’m not sure what will happen then. If it was a single non dependant, there would only be a deduction of £7.40 pw (for HB). The regs are clear that income for a couple is added together, but it’s not clear if the couple’s hours are added together, or if they are both treated as not in full time remunerative work, and hence the £7.40 deduction still applies

Any thoughts/caselaw is appreciated, thanks

I agree with Tony.  The aggregation requirement only applies to income; not hours.

Thanks for that - it’s what i had thought should happen, I just wondered if there was any caselaw that clarified it.

Now i just have to wait and see what the council do…