Had they remained in Massachusetts, things would be different. But the couple went home to Austin, where Ms. Barker died in early 2012. Social Security won’t approve spousal or survivors benefits for same-sex spouses in Texas and the 16 other states (at the moment) that still don’t recognize their marriages.
via The New York Times.
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#lgbt #lgbtq #politics #social security #seniors #retirement #retirement crisis #p2Max Ritchman, President and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare: “America’s seniors understand all too well that our nation faces a retirement crisis and improving Social Security benefits is vital to keeping millions from poverty. Rep. Linda Sanchez’s ‘Strengthening Social Security Act’ makes several important improvements for seniors by: phasing out the payroll tax cap so that the wealthy pay their fair share, creating a Cost of Living adjustment for the elderly and boosting benefits for all retirees including widows/widowers. NCPSSM strongly supports this legislation and applauds Congresswoman Sanchez for doing the right thing for America’s seniors and their families.”
![Earlier this week, Members of Congress and allies met to discuss Social Security and the GOP Congress’ manufactured crisis.
““Seniors, I stand with you all the way [on Social Security].”
- Rep. Jan Schakowsky
“We are in a crisis right now. A...](https://64.media.tumblr.com/93d9258801da499ce7712598d0be22b4/tumblr_njo11hjqsI1qd3gmvo1_1280.jpg)
Earlier this week, Members of Congress and allies met to discuss Social Security and the GOP Congress’ manufactured crisis.
“Seniors, I stand with you all the way [on Social Security].”
- Rep. Jan Schakowsky“We are in a crisis right now. A retirement crisis. Not a Social Security crisis.” - Rep. Jan Schakowsky
“Stop manufacturing a crisis with the Social Security disability trust fund.”
- Senator Bernie Sanders“This week anyone earning a million dollars a year will have paid 100% of their payroll taxes for 2015.”
- Max Richtman
The Dec. 1 Fed Page article “LGBT baby boomers face hurdles at retirement time” was a fairly comprehensive look at the hardships faced by many older, married lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender couples, especially those who have been denied Social Security survivor’s benefits due to a state’s failure to recognize their same-sex marriage.
Oakland LGBT leaders hosted Town Hall on Social Security. Experts panel provide guidance for SSI, Disability, Social Security & Medicare benefits for individuals, spouses, ex-spouses, and children.
Webster Phillips, from the National Committee, was on the panel offering his expertise on how Social Security benefits have changed for the LGBT community.
You can learn more about our ‘Know Your Rights’ campaign here.
Discussions about Social Security in politics and the media often focus on its role as a retirement program that provides vital protections to seniors. But the fact is that Social Security provides vital retirement, disability, and survivors’ insurance for all generations of Americans. In addition to significantly reducing senior poverty, Social Security is the nation’s largest children’s program and lifted 6.9 million Americans under age 65 out of poverty in 2014. And no generation has a greater stake in the fight to protect and expand Social Security benefits than today’s young workers, the millennial generation.
via Talk Poverty.
There is a misconception that Social Security is just for “old people” when in fact, about 4.4 million American children receive approximately $2.7 billion in Social Security benefits each month because at least one of their parents is disabled, retired or deceased.
Today, in a status conference with Lambda Legal in federal court in Chicago, the Department of Justice announced that the Social Security Administration ( SSA ) will apply the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent landmark marriage ruling retroactively and process pending spousal benefits claims for same-sex couples who lived in states that did not previously recognize their marriages.
via Windy City.
Same-Sex Marriage Ruling Will End Social Security Discrimination for Families Nationwide.
The ruling will affect everything from access to spousal pension and retirement accounts, health benefits and more. But Social Security really is the headliner. Recognition of same-sex marriage in all 50 states will guarantee access to Social Security’s spousal and survivor benefits, which are the most valuable features of the program.
via Reuters.
Same-Sex Marriage Ruling Will End Social Security Discrimination for Families Nationwide.
The future of Social Security is shaping up to be a major contention in the 2016 presidential campaign and women, who depend more heavily on the system, have much at stake.
“Social Security is often women’s only asset,” said Sylvia Allegretto, a labor economist…
Eleanor’s Hope
To alleviate the retirement crisis, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare launched a national initiative in October to modernize the Social Security system. Called Eleanor’s Hope, in honor of first lady Eleanor Roosevelt who championed passage of the Social Security Act in 1935, the initiative takes a comprehensive long-range approach to reflect women’s contributions as breadwinners as well as family caregivers.
In addition to public retirement credits for people who take time off from paid employment to serve as family caregivers and for retirees who have worked in low-wage occupations, the plan also calls for strengthening the Social Security cost-of-living allowance and boosting benefits of all current and future beneficiaries.
via Womens E-News.
Congress Member Mike Honda opened the LGBT Town Hall in San Jose with a thanks to the LGBT community for its grassroots work over the years that created a better world in which his Trans granddaughter will grow up. He pledged to continue his work in Congress to make sure all same-sex couples have access to Social Security as we do in California.
More about the ‘Know Your Rights’ campaign can be found here.
The Supreme Court’s June decision to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide was an enormous civil-rights victory for same-sex couples across the United States. Now it looks as if it could be a financial victory as well: The Social Security Administration recently made it clear that Social Security benefits will be fully available to same-sex couples. Here’s what we know so far and how it could possibly affect the finances of newly married couples.
via Motley Fool.
