Written question asked by Baroness Buscombe (Conservative) on Wednesday, 8 May 2024, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 22 May 2024. It was answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie (Conservative) on Wednesday, 22 May 2024 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.
Social Security Benefits: Polygamy
- Question
-
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the benefits system continues to recognise polygamy in social security regulations and, if so, why.
- Answer
-
Polygamous marriages are illegal in the UK
Universal Credit does not recognise polygamous households in the benefit system. Any adults living in the household would each have to claim as a single person on the basis of their own circumstances.
Benefits such as Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance and Housing Benefit do recognise a small number of polygamous marriages which took place in a jurisdiction where polygamy is permitted. This number is very small and declining, since the Immigration Act 1988, it has not been possible for people polygamously married overseas to bring second wives to the UK through the spouse visa route.
Secondary information
- Type
- Written question
- Reference
- HL4445
- Session
- 2023-24
- Subjects
- Social security benefits Polygamy
- Link
- View this Written question on www.parliament.uk
Librarians' tools
- Timestamp
- 2024-05-22 17:33:35 +0100
- URI
- http://data.parliament.uk/writtenparliamentaryquestion/lords/2023-24/HL4445
- In Indexing
- http://indexing.parliament.uk/Content/Edit/1?uri=http://data.parliament.uk/writtenparliamentaryquestion/lords/2023-24/HL4445
- In Solr
- https://search.parliament.uk/claw/solr/?id=http://data.parliament.uk/writtenparliamentaryquestion/lords/2023-24/HL4445