Ruling: Children of same-sex parents entitled to federal benefits

Children of same-sex couples are entitled to Social Security benefits, despite the federal Defense of Marriage Act's denial of benefits to gay and lesbian couples, the U.S. Department of Justice has determined. The ruling was made in a case involving a Vermont lesbian couple with a child; the nonbiological parent in 2005 started receiving benefits in the child's name, under a provision of the law that allows such benefits for children whose parents are on disability. Advocate.com