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Veteran Spouses in Same Sex Marriages to Receive Home Loan Benefits

Following the lead of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling legalizing same sex marriage nationwide, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has recently announced that it will offer home loans and other benefits to the spouses and children in all same sex veteran marriages.

“VA may recognize the same-sex marriage of all Veterans, where the Veteran or the Veteran’s spouse resided anywhere in the United States or its territories at the time of the marriage or at the time of application for benefits,” the VA told MReport.

The U.S. Supreme Court announced on June 26, 2015 in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges that the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution requires a State to license a marriage between two people of the same sex and to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out-of-State.

Susan Sommers, director of constitutional litigation for Lambda Legal told USA Today reporter Gregg Zoroya that that the VA’s new policy will offer thousands of veterans in same sex marriages VA guaranteed home loans, survivor benefits, and burial rights.

"I'm very relieved by this news," Sommers said in her interview, adding that veterans in same-sex marriages "shouldn't be without the same protections that other people in the military can count on for themselves and their families once their service is over."

Sommers pointed out in her USA Today interview that one of the most obvious examples of a denied benefit occurred with VA guaranteed home-loans. Same-sex couples that were looking to get a VA loan to purchase a home in a state where their marriage was illegal were not eligible as a couple for the benefit.

Ashley Broadway-Mack, president of the American Military Partner Association told The Hill reporter Kristina Wong that she is excited to see the new changes that the VA is implementing with same sex veteran spouses and children.

“We are thrilled the VA is acting so quickly to implement the Supreme Court’s ruling and are ready to do right by all our nation’s veterans," Broadway-Mack told the Hill. “These are important benefits our nation’s veterans have earned and it was unconscionable that some were denied based solely on where they lived.”

The VA is also working diligently to provide same sex couples with veteran benefits and making sure that all VA office are in compliance with the new rules.

“VA will work quickly to ensure that all offices and employees are provided guidance on implementing this important decision with respect to all programs, statutes, and regulations administered by VA,” the VA told MReport.  “Until this guidance has been issued, VA will temporarily wait to adjudicate all claims regarding same-sex marriage that cannot be immediately granted based on prior guidance.”

About Author: Xhevrije West

Xhevrije West is a writer and editor based in Dallas, Texas. She has worked for a number of publications including The Syracuse New Times, Dallas Flow Magazine, and Bellwethr Magazine. She completed her Bachelors at Alcorn State University and went on to complete her Masters at Syracuse University.
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