02-02-2015, 08:03 PM
Social Security Benefits for LGBT Surviving Spouses
President Barack Obama's budget for fiscal year 2016 includes a major change for legally married same-sex couples, making them eligible to receive Social Security spousal benefits regardless of where they live. Currently, these couples are unable to get such benefits if they live in a state that does not recognize gay marriage.
"This means that for a couple that marries in one state where same-sex marriage is recognized and then moves to another state where it is not, the protection that Social Security spousal benefits provides to families is unavailable," says the budget proposal, which was released Monday. "Under the (new) proposal, such married couples would have access to these benefits."
This proposed change to the Social Security Act was welcome news for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocates, who have been pushing for equal benefits.
Full story: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/02...98406.html
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Obama's budget will need to be approved by the Republican-controlled Congress. I think he's gonna have a hard time pushing through equal SS benefits for gay widows and widowers nationwide, but I hope he succeeds.
President Barack Obama's budget for fiscal year 2016 includes a major change for legally married same-sex couples, making them eligible to receive Social Security spousal benefits regardless of where they live. Currently, these couples are unable to get such benefits if they live in a state that does not recognize gay marriage.
"This means that for a couple that marries in one state where same-sex marriage is recognized and then moves to another state where it is not, the protection that Social Security spousal benefits provides to families is unavailable," says the budget proposal, which was released Monday. "Under the (new) proposal, such married couples would have access to these benefits."
This proposed change to the Social Security Act was welcome news for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocates, who have been pushing for equal benefits.
Full story: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/02...98406.html
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Obama's budget will need to be approved by the Republican-controlled Congress. I think he's gonna have a hard time pushing through equal SS benefits for gay widows and widowers nationwide, but I hope he succeeds.