Breaking news: Change in policy regarding Social Security benefits for same-sex married couples living in states that do not recognize their marriage


Cheryl Coon

Previously, although the Windsor decision established that same-sex couples are entitled to federal benefits, SSA denied benefits to couples if they lived in states that did not recognize their marriage.  It now appears, based on a statement by the Department of Justice in a status conference in the ongoing Williams case, that there is an imminent change of policy to remove this barrier.

We will provide more information as it becomes available.