Congresswoman Linda Sánchez to Introduce Legislation Allowing Same Sex Couples Social Security Benefits

Congresswoman Linda Sánchez (CA-39) is expected today to introduce the Social Security Equality Act of 2012, which aims to end a discriminatory policy that denies same-sex couples Social Security benefits, during a morning news conference in Washington, DC. 

Congresswoman Sánchez will be joined outside the U.S. Capitol by LGBT activist and actor George Takei, actor and comedian Hal Sparks, L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center CEO Lorri L. Jean, and “Rock for Equality” Spokeswoman Alice Herman, who has experienced this discrimination first-hand. 

What is the Social Security Equality Act of 2012?

The Social Security Equality Act of 2012, which has 94 original co-sponsors, would eliminate the SSA's policy that denies same-sex couples from receiving the same benefits as their heterosexual counterparts.  Because the federal government does not recognize their relationships, same-sex couples are currently not eligible to receive spousal, survivor, and death benefits that Social Security provides to married, heterosexual couples. As a result, gay couples receive 18% less in Social Security benefits than heterosexual couples while lesbian couples receive 31% less than heterosexual couples.

Congresswoman Sánchez also introduced the Social Security Equality Act in 2010.