More People May Now Be Eligible to Collect Social Security Survivor Benefits

A recent development is changing the rules on who can qualify to receive Social Security survivor benefits. Surviving members of same-sex couples may now be eligible to collect benefits. According to an article in The New York Times, many supporters believe this is a long time coming. Despite now being able to legally wed in this country, many same-sex couples have faced challenges receiving the same benefits as heterosexual couples. This new ruling, which stems from two class-action lawsuits, applies to couples in which one member may have passed away before same-sex marriage was permitted in their state. According to notices on its website, the Social Security Administration is now encouraging survivors who had been denied benefits to contact the agency. 

The Seniors Trust wants America’s seniors to receive the benefits to which they are entitled. It is working diligently to pass the Social Security Expansion Act which would provide retirees with bigger benefits and a fairer annual cost-of-living adjustment, It also would shore-up long-term solvency to ensure Social Security is here now and in the future. To show your support for this bill, please add your name to our petition to Congress.