UK Benefit for "Additional Spouses" in Overseas Polygamous Marriages to Reach £6,513 Annually

London – The UK benefits system continues to recognize certain overseas polygamous marriages for specific entitlements, with "additional spouses" eligible for Pension Credit payments set to increase to £125.25 per week, totaling £6,513 annually, from April 2026. This policy, which applies to a small and declining number of households, has drawn public scrutiny and highlights a complex legal distinction within British law. Social commentator Wesley Yang recently brought attention to the issue, stating in a tweet, "Polygamy is illegal in the UK but the UK recognizes polygamous marriages from abroad and lavishes funds on extra wives brought from abroad with the state appropriated earnings of Britons who are forbidden to enter into polygamous marriages."

While bigamy, or entering into a polygamous marriage within the UK, remains a criminal offense, the UK has historically recognized polygamous marriages legally formed abroad under specific conditions. For such a marriage to be considered valid, both partners must have been domiciled in a country where polygamy is permitted, and the marriage must have been conducted in a jurisdiction that legally allows it. This recognition primarily exists for legacy purposes, particularly within the Pension Credit system, which accounts for households married abroad decades ago.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) confirms that a claimant and their first spouse combined can receive £363.25 per week, with each additional spouse living in the same household eligible for £125.25 per week. This means a household with a claimant, a first spouse, and two additional spouses could receive a total of £613.75 per week before other Pension Credit elements. The increase for additional spouses reflects a 4.8% boost in line with wage growth, adding £299 per year to their benefit.

However, the landscape of benefit recognition for polygamous marriages is changing. Universal Credit, which is replacing many legacy means-tested benefits for working-age individuals, does not recognize polygamous marriages. This reform means that over time, the number of households receiving additional spouse benefits is expected to decline significantly, with recognition primarily remaining within Pension Credit.

Successive governments have maintained a "pragmatic but restrictive" approach, acknowledging valid overseas marriages while preventing the formation of new polygamous households on UK soil. Since the Immigration Act 1988, a UK resident cannot sponsor a second spouse via the spouse-visa route, though additional spouses may enter the UK independently through other visa pathways like work or study. The government maintains that the number of eligible claimants is very small, and there is no financial incentive for claiming from a polygamous household, as the additional spouse amount is lower than what a single pensioner would receive.