WASHINGTON, DC - Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI) today released the following statement after the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced a policy change to protect same-sex spouses who received Supplemental Security Income (SSI) from being unfairly penalized:
“The Supreme Court’s ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges last year stated that same-sex couples have an equal right to marry and have equal rights under the law. However, in the process of updating its policies following the Court’s ruling, a number of SSA beneficiaries were unfairly penalized through no fault of their own. SSA has taken an important step by fully revising its policy, ensuring all Americans receiving SSI are treated fairly, and I look forward to continuing to work with SSA to make sure all eligible Americans receive the benefits they need."
Since Obergefell v. Hodges, Rep. Levin has closely worked with SSA to make sure the agency fully implements the Supreme Court’s decision for Social Security and SSI beneficiaries. Last July, Rep. Levin and all the Ways and Means Committee Democratic Members pressed SSA to notify same-sex spouses, widows, widowers, and their children of their eligibility to receive Social Security benefits.
