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LEGAL

The Claim

Asylum seekers in England can claim UK welfare benefits for more than one wife.

Verified by Lenz ·

The Short Version

The claim is not supported by current UK law. Asylum seekers in England generally cannot claim mainstream welfare benefits at all; they receive a separate asylum-support system instead. Historical rules for a small number of legacy benefit cases involving polygamous marriages do not apply to asylum seekers and do not show that asylum seekers can claim benefits for more than one wife.

Caveats

  • The claim conflates asylum support with mainstream welfare benefits; they are different legal systems.
  • References to payments for multiple wives come from older legacy benefit rules, not the current Universal Credit system for new claimants.
  • Even where historic polygamy-related provisions existed, they did not create a general entitlement for asylum seekers.

The Receipts

  1. House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee: Universal Credit and polygamous households

    UK Parliament

  2. The Universal Credit Regulations 2013 No. 376 – Regulation 3

    Legislation.gov.uk

  3. Submission to DWP Secretary of State – 9 November 2006

    GOV.UK

  4. Universal Credit Regulations 2013, Regulation 23

    legislation.gov.uk

  5. Income Support (General) Regulations 1987, Regulation 18

    legislation.gov.uk

  6. Polygamous Marriages: State Retirement Pensions

    UK Parliament

  7. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2006

    legislation.gov.uk

  8. The State Pension Credit Regulations 2002 (as amended)

    legislation.gov.uk

  9. Submission to DWP Minister and Secretary of State – Polygamous marriages in the benefits system

    GOV.UK

  10. Written question 20466: Polygamous marriages and benefits

    UK Parliament

+ 19 more sources — see the full list on Lenz

Filed Under

Kingdom of EnglandUnited Kingdom

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