Same-Sex Couples Will Now Be Eligible For Spousal Related Social Security Benefits

Thanks to this year’s Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage same-sex couples across the country will now be eligible for Social Security spousal or survival benefits.  Under the old regulations people were not deemed eligible for spousal-related Social Security benefits unless their marriage was recognized by their state.  There were 11 States that did not recognize same-sex marriage before Obergefell v. Hodges changed everything.  The Justice Department put out a statement that the Supreme Court’s ruling will be applied retroactively, which means that if couples previously filed claims for Social Security benefits that they will now be able to collect on those claims. 

See Toi Williams, Same Sex Couples Now Eligible For Social Security Benefits, IRA Market Report, August 24, 2015.