Britain is increasing welfare payments for spouses in certain overseas polygamous marriages, even though entering into a polygamous marriage in the UK is illegal.
New figures published by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that from April 2026, second, third, and fourth spouses in qualifying households can receive £125.25 per week in Pension Credit or Housing Benefit—up 4.8% from £119.50 last year.
The payments apply only to marriages legally contracted abroad in countries where polygamy is permitted before the families moved to Britain. Under the rules, the main claimant and first spouse can receive £363.25 per week, with an extra £125.25 added for each “additional spouse” living in the same household.
The increase has triggered criticism amid wider debates over immigration, welfare reform, and the recognition of foreign marital arrangements that would be unlawful if conducted inside the UK.
A 2023 House of Commons briefing stated that “all marriages which take place in the United Kingdom must be monogamous,” and noted that successive governments had sought to prevent the creation of polygamous households in Britain.
However, the welfare system still recognises some overseas polygamous marriages for legacy benefit purposes.
The policy does not apply to the newer Universal Credit system, which treats adults in polygamous households as separate individual claimants. But older “legacy” benefits—including Pension Credit and Housing Benefit—continue to recognise a small number of such households.
In a 2024 parliamentary reply, Conservative minister Viscount Younger of Leckie said: “Polygamous marriages are illegal in the UK. Universal Credit does not recognise polygamous households in the benefit system.”
He added that older benefits still recognise “a small number of polygamous marriages which took place in a jurisdiction where polygamy is permitted”.
The DWP has not disclosed how many households are affected, but said the number is believed to be very small and is expected to decline as legacy benefits are phased out.
The issue resurfaced this week after British newspaper columns and online commentary highlighted the payments, with critics questioning why additional spouses can still receive state support despite Britain’s ban on polygamy and bigamy.
