Thursday, January 22, 2009

This is why it is a big deal...

Okay, there is an honest question why is marriage a big deal.  Well here, with the company name removed, is why it is a big deal.  By the way, the answer is kind of bullshit since you can have better benefits than the feds require - and I think California forces them to acknowledge same sex spouses - but you can see why it is a big deal-io.
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Hi Ed,

Thank you for the email and sharing your concerns with us.   I partnered with the ** Benefits team at corporate in Fairfield and confirmed the following information:

 The ** pension plan survivor annuity benefit does not treat a same-sex partner/spouse on essentially the same basis as an opposite-sex spouse .   The spousal definition in this plan tracks to the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as solely between members of the opposite sex.    Since our ** pension plan is federally governed (ERISA), state same-sex marriage and civil union laws do not apply.   This is the situation regardless of the state in which the ** employee resides.