Retirement and working person living in the same accommodation

Wintermoon

Some advice please...
My parents rent a maisonette from the Council. Their names are on the rent book.
My dad is due to retire in the next few months and will start claiming his basic state pension (he will also be claiming state pension on behalf of my mother).
My sister has always lived with them (she is in her forties and works full time earning £22,000) .
What they would like to know is because my sister works full time would she have to pay the full rent on the property herself including the Council tax or will she only have to make a contribution as my parents will be claiming the basic state pension?
Also they live in a 4 bedroom property – will they have to start paying “bedroom tax” – from what I understand pensioners are exempt but if my sister will be paying full rent/part rent does this still apply (her name is not on the rent book).
Many thanks for your help.

rogerblack

Your sister is a 'non-dependant' - she will reduce the amount of council tax benefit payable.
As I understand it, your parents will not be affected by the bedroom tax - because they're pensioners, which are one of the protected groups.
Similarly - they won't be affected by the localisation of council tax, being pensioners.

If someone is living in a property, and not paying rent, and they are not eligible for child benefit to be paid in respect of them, then they will generally be treated as a 'non-dependant' - the fact that they are a child of their parents stops being important once they stop being eligible for child benefit.