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Forum Home  →  Discussion  →  Housing costs  →  Thread

Non dependent deductions and temporary absence

Paul_Treloar
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Welfare benefits caseworker, Mary Ward Legal Centre

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Total Posts: 148

Joined: 18 October 2013

This one has me scratching my head, so any pointers gratefully received.

Client is, or was, single parent, youngest son left school in September 2013, started part-time low-paid work as taking gap year before university in September 2014. HB department adjusted payments due to WTC/CTC/CHB stopping, and applied £13.60 p/w non-dep deduction for him.

He wants to go to a Camp America thing in USA for 3 months. Will be paid ~£1,000 for doing so. My primary question is what does this mean iro the non-dep deduction i.e. will it be suspended? It’s a temporary absence but I can’t find anything specifically about the situation - my feeling is that as this remains his “normal home”, that the non-dep deduction might simply continue to be made until he starts uni.

Secondary to that I suppose though is if he was taken to be absent and non-dep deduction ceased, would the bedroom tax than be applied instead as under-occupying (not a problem I think when he actually starts university next year)?

Anyone have any thoughts? Many thanks in anticipation.