Supreme Court’s Gay Marriage Ruling Clarifies Some Questions for People with Disabilities

The U.S. Supreme Court recently released opinions in two cases dealing with gay marriage, and by striking down a portion of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the court has made it easier for same-sex married couples to access certain types of disability benefits. However, the ruling is not all good news for same-sex couples, because in certain cases being married could harm an applicant's ability to qualify for needs-based services.