For LGBT Couples, Retirement Becomes A Financial And Legal Minefield

[Purveyor]

By Ken Sweet
The Associated Press

For Kathy Murphy, the difference between being gay or straight is $583 a month.

Retirement should have been a "slam dunk," the 62-year-old Texas widow says. She saved, bought a house with her spouse and has a pension through her employer.

But Murphy's golden years have not been as secure as they should have been. She is missing out on thousands of dollars a year in Social Security benefits simply because she was married to a woman, not a man.

Murphy fell into a loophole in Social Security that denies survivor benefits to same-sex couples depending on what state they live in. Had Murphy and her wife, Sara Barker, lived next door in New Mexico, a state that does recognize same-sex marriage, this wouldn't have been an issue.

"If I had been straight, getting widow's benefits would have been a slam dunk," Murphy says. "I never thought I would live to see same-sex marriage, but the government still minimizes my marriage and my relationship of 32 years."

MORE...

http://www.denverpost.com/smart/ci_27030129/lgbt-couples-retirement-becomes-financial-and-legal-minefield

[uppityperson]

1. Why the hell is this even an issue? grrrrrr

[RKP5637]

2. It's criminal. How can the US allow SS benefits in one state and not the next. It is stupid and

extremely uncivil. Enough of this BS, SCOTUS needs to get off their asses and legalize gay marriage for all states. The denial of a federal benefit by a stupid backward state is outrageous.

[99th_Monkey]

3. Haven't you heard, retirement is so yesterday

We appear to be entering GOP dystopia where us older folks are supposed to become destitute
& homeless.

I know this doesn't relate directly to LGBT, but it does remind that we're all in this together; i.e.
facing the "financial & legal minefield" being laid down by our 1%-Olygarchs via cutting Soc. Sec.,
cutting any and all benefits, opposing health care for all, etc.