Written question asked by Matt Vickers (Conservative) on Friday, 29 May 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 2 June 2026. It was answered by Stephen Timms (Labour) on Tuesday, 9 June 2026 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Social Security Benefits: Polygamy

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to close legacy benefit provisions relating to polygamous marriages.

Answer: Polygamous marriages are illegal in the UK. Immigration rules have generally prevented the formation of polygamous households in this country since 1988. Under successive governments access to benefit support for additional spouses is only available where the marriage took place in a country where the practice is legal. The Department does not hold information in respect of Pension Credit. However, the most recent published data (August 2025) from the Housing Benefit Single Housing Extract (SHBE) indicates that there are fewer than ten households where claimants are recorded as being in a polygamous marriage formed in another country. In these exceptional cases, there is no financial benefit as more would be paid in benefits if the additional person claimed as a single person. There are no plans to change the existing benefit rules.

Secondary information