Are civil unions recognized in Social Security and Medicare benefits?
Civil unions are not recognized as valid marriages under the laws of the State of Texas, which means they are not eligible for Social Security and Medicare benefits as if they were a legally married couple. Social Security and Medicare benefits are provided through the Federal government, and the federal government does not recognize civil unions as valid marriages. Therefore, civil union partners are not eligible to receive any Social Security or Medicare benefits on the basis of the civil union. If the participants in a civil union were legally married in another state, their marriage might be recognized in Texas, and therefore they may be eligible for Social Security and Medicare benefits. For example, if two people entered into a civil union in Colorado, they may be eligible for Social Security and Medicare benefits if their marriage was legally recognized when they moved to Texas. If two people enter into a civil union in Texas, they can still apply for Social Security and Medicare benefits, but they are not eligible to receive them on the basis of the civil union. The partners must provide evidence of their relationship, such as a durable power of attorney, a joint bank account, and evidence of shared living expenses in order to prove their eligibility. In summary, civil unions are not recognized as valid marriages in the state of Texas. This means that partners in civil unions are not eligible for Social Security and Medicare benefits on the basis of the civil union. However, if a civil union was legally recognized in another state, it may be recognized in Texas and the partners may be eligible for benefits.
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