The UK still pays extra benefits in some polygamous households even though polygamy is illegal there

by
For each additional spouse who is a member of the same household as the claimant and one or more of the members are State Pension age or over 121.60 127.35
If the claimant is a member of a polygamous marriage and all of the members of the marriage have attained pensionable age on or after 1 April 2021 Rates 2025/26 Rates 2026/27
For the claimant and the other party to the marriage 346.60 363.25
For each additional spouse who is a member of the same household as the claimant 119.50 125.25

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-and-pension-rates-2026-to-2027/proposed-benefit-and-pension-rates-2026-to-2027

Section 57 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

This law makes bigamy a criminal offence punishable by up to 7 years in prison. Additionally, the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 confirms that a marriage is void if either party was already lawfully married at the time.

Primary Legal Sources:

  • Offences Against the Person Act 1861 (Section 57): This is the criminal statute. It states that anyone who, being married, marries any other person during the life of the former husband or wife is guilty of a felony.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/24-25/100/section/57

Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (Section 11): This civil law states that a marriage is “void” (legally non-existent) if it is polygamous and was entered into by a person domiciled in England and Wales.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1973/18/section/11

House of Commons Library – Polygamy (2023): This is a clean, non-technical briefing that confirms polygamy is illegal and explains how the U.K. handles marriages that took place abroad.

https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn05051/