White House Extends Benefits for Same-Sex Couples
Washington, D.C. (Worthy News)– When the Supreme Court struck down the constitutionality of part three of the Defense of Marriage act, the Obama Administration proceeded to review all federal regulations and their application to same-sex couples. Nearly a year later, the Labor Department plans changes to the “Family and Medical Leave Act” to include same-sex couples. President Obama also plans changes to all federal benefits, including Social Security, are extended to same-sex couples, the Washington Examiner reported.
The Labor Department plans to change Family and Medical Leave Act regulations to clarify that all of the provisions apply to same-sex couples, who are eligible to take leave to assist their spouses, according to a White House official.
Other federal agencies have already clarified their regulations. For instance, the Department of Defense has declared that the same benefits that are available to spouses in traditional marriages are available to same-sex spouses, and Health and Human Services published guidance clarifying that if insurances companies offer spousal coverage, they cannot decline to offer the same coverage to same-sex spouses.
In the same way, the Department of Homeland Security, through the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services, announced that immigration law will apply to same-sex marriages the same way it applies to traditional marriages and the Internal Revenue Service now recognizes same-sex marriages for all federal tax purposes. — Source