UK benefits rise 4.8% for polygamous marriage spouses from April 2026
The UK’s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed a 4.8% increase in benefits for additional spouses in polygamous marriages from April 2026. This adjustment affects a small number of claimants under legacy benefits like Pension Credit and Housing Benefit. The new rates for 2026-27 set the weekly allowance for the claimant and first spouse at £363.25 (€420). Each additional spouse will now receive £125.25 (€145) per week, up from £119.50 (€138) in 2025-26. Over a year, this means an extra £6,513 (€7,529) for each additional spouse, with the weekly rise worth £5.75 (€6.65).
The provision applies only to polygamous unions formed abroad, where partners later moved to Britain. Polygamy remains illegal in the UK, and only monogamous marriages are legally recognised. However, older benefit systems still accommodate these cases, while Universal Credit does not. The DWP expects the number of claimants to fall as Universal Credit replaces legacy benefits. Officials believe the current pool of additional spouses receiving payments is already small.
The change reflects a wider adjustment in benefit rates. It applies to a limited group under existing rules for legacy benefits. The DWP anticipates fewer claims as the system transitions to Universal Credit.
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