The Social Security Administration announced Monday (16 December) that claims filed by surviving spouses of same-sex partners are now being processes by the US government.

This is a step made possible by the US Supreme Court’s striking down of a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act which had prohibited the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriage.

‘Our goal is to treat all Americans with dignity and respect,’ Carolyn W. Colvin, Acting Commissioner of Social Security, says in a statement.

Colvin added that the government is also ‘able to pay some one-time lump sum death benefit claims to surviving same-sex spouses.’

‘We ask for continued patience from the public as we work closely with the Department of Justice to develop policies that are legally sound so we can process claims,’ she states.

Colvin encourages those who believe they may be eligible for Social Security to apply now in order to protect against the loss of any potential benefits.

‘We will process claims as soon as additional instructions become finalized,’ she states.

Same-sex marriage is now legal in 15 states plus the District of Columbia. The first state to legalize the marriages was Massachusetts in 2004.