Extend Social Security to heterosexual Domestic Partners.

Social Security benefits should extend to heterosexual seniors in legally recognized Domestic Partnerships. These benefits are NOT currently available to Domestic Partners, even in states which otherwise fully recognize older heterosexual couples in Domestic Partners as having the same status as marriage. (The government rationale for these unions is to encourage persons over 62 to share the benefits of health insurance in situations in which one partner is still employed, or to receive necessary death benefits.) These heterosexual Domestic Partnerships currently fall between the cracks as far as Social Security benefits are concerned. We should recognize these heterosexual Domestic Partners for the purpose of Social Security benefits as a means of insuring more equitable senior benefits.