Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will provide a breakdown of the number of claimants claiming the 'Additional amount for additional spouse' of Pension Credit for the years i.2024/25, ii.2025/26, iii.26-date.

The information requested is not held by the department.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 1 June 2026 to Question UIN 2859:

"Polygamous marriages are illegal in the UK. Immigration rules have generally prevented the formation of polygamous households in this country since 1988. Benefit support is only available where the marriage took place in a country where the practice is legal.

There is no financial benefit in these cases as more would be paid in benefits if the additional spouse claimed as a single person."