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Wow, it never occurred to me that same-sex couples

Posted: Jan 7, 2014

would be able to receive social security benefits based on their spouse. Don't know why I never thought of it, just didn't.

;

Only because DOMA was finally overturned - Until then, even if recognized by state

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They were not eligible for federal benefits.

I'm sure that was one of the bones of contention AGAINST - Kitty

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same-sex marriage, aside from morality/religious issues.

This would surely kill SS as we know it, for every participant to suddenly have his/her boyfriend/girlfriend or same-sex husband or wife receive benefits based on earnings of only 1 partner. What is left for the rest of us who have actually contributed earnings toward SS?

Divorced spouses can receive benefits (edited) - Is this right? sm

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I think divorced spouses should receive benefits. I think any form of discrimination is wrong, including discriminating against married same-sex couples.

We cannot pick and choose who should receive benefits,salary,civil rights. Before comparable worth legislation, employers justified paying women less "because they did not need as much pay because their husbands could provide." Much of the 60s and 70s were spent making sure women received comparable benefits and breaking through the glass ceiling. I think many of the younger women do not know the effects of discrimination.

Why is this important now? The average Social Security benefit for women 65 and older is about $12,700 per year, compared to about $16,700 for men 65 and older. The years of being paid less than men will eventually show up in your social security payment.

This is why the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 is so important. We all need to be vigilant to fight for the rights of all.

So what you are saying - is that a same-sex

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couple is more likely to have a working partner hook up with a non working partner? I think the rationale of having SS go to a spouse after death is that the spouse collecting it was far more likely to be a wife who did not work (outside the home), thus not contribute to SS, to avoid poverty after she was predeceased by hubby.

Furthermore, even though it is a hot topic now and it may be difficult for some "straights" to wrap their heads around it, not every "gay" will find a suitable marriage partner or even want to be married if they do. Likely the biggest beneficiaries of marriage equality and changes in SS law will be the children of same-sex couples, and I hope we all want what's best for the children, even the poor, unfortunate ones who have 2 mommies or 2 daddies.

I don't even know what this means! - Confused!

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So, if every gay person decided they were "straight" and married a person of the opposite sex, this would change and make it okay? Also, why ASSume that one partner only one partner would work? MANY women don't work, because they want to stay home and raise children and while gay marriages could of course have children, it isn't to the extent of a marriage heterosexual couple where the woman can just have as many children as she so chooses.

What on earth makes you think gay people - don't contribute to SS?!?

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That was exactly the face I made when I read - that post...hahaha

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It's just too bad that people with closed minds will not close their mouths!!!

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