Government to provide marriage benefits to same-sex couples in all states

Same-sex married couples can start applying for Social Security and veterans benefits in all 50 states even though there are still issues to fix as the federal government works to implement the Supreme Court ruling allowing gay couples to marry nationwide.

 

Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced Thursday every same-sex couple will have marriage benefits made available to them amid the landmark ruling.

 

Most of the federal marriage benefits were already available to same-sex couples, following a 2013 Supreme Court ruling that struck down the federal ban on gay marriage. However, some Social Security and veterans benefits for spouses were still denied to those couples if they lived in states that didn’t recognize same-sex marriage.

 

“I am proud to announce that the critical programs for veterans and elderly and disabled Americans, which previously could not give effect to the marriages of couples living in states that did not recognize those marriages, will now provide federal recognition for all marriages nationwide,” Lynch said in a statement. “The agencies are currently working towards providing guidance to implement this change in law.”

 

Before the Supreme Court’s 5-4 ruling on same-sex marriage last month, 13 states still didn’t recognize same-sex marriage. Lynch said the government will strive to “fulfill our commitment to equal treatment for all Americans.”

 

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