Ban welfare payments to polygamous families

Rejected 21 signatures

What the petition asks

Polygamy (having more than one spouse) is illegal. Despite that, it still goes on in some countries. Some governments have banned welfare payments to such families. It's possible that such families can take home more money through welfare payments than working couples. We should do the same

Throughout the world, there are millions of hard-working, tax-paying law-abiding couples with one husband and one wife who are struggling to make ends meet. It is not fair that those who break the law can take advantages of legal loopholes. Such people can take home more money in social security benefits than those hard-working, tax-paying couples who work. It puts a disproportionate strain on the taxpayer.

Why it was rejected

It was not clear what the petition asked the UK Government or Parliament to do.

While it is true that all marriages which take place in the United Kingdom must be monogamous and must be carried out in accordance with the requirements of the relevant legislation, a polygamous marriage can be considered valid in the UK if the parties were domiciled in a country where polygamous marriage is permitted and entered into the marriage in a country which permits polygamy.

The 2010 Government decided that the Universal Credit rules would not recognise additional partners in polygamous relationships. We're not sure what more you'd like the Government or Parliament to do.

Timeline

23 May 2020	Petition opened for signatures
3 Aug 2020	Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 21

Status Rejected

Rejected 3 Aug 2020

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