to marriage. I think in my state (WA) I can get those benefits with a domestic partnership, but they only apply to the state specific ones, not federal benefits. #38 kathy @ 4:23 am March 15th, 2011 I know an older couple.. maybe on social security, or disability ( he walks with a walker). They just got married a couple months ago. A good christian couple. They were recently very sad to discover "her" check was decreased by $600. and they have to repay for the months, they were "overpaid," that is their only income. I don't know why the woman's check was the decreased check, or why somehow they are entitled to less.. they were already living together prior to marriage, so for them it was a huge hit. #39 Jeroen @ 5:51 am March 15th, 2011 Trent, none of the advantages you cite have anything to do with marriage. Being in a commited living together relationship has all the same benefits. If there are legal benefits to marriage in the US, maybe you should list those, instead of the above. This can be discussed and argued forever if marriage is only discussed in financial terms -- which I know was the case of the post. The crux is that the beauty and nobility of marriage cannot be measured in numbers. The economic benefits are icing on the cake. The real benefits are having a loving, secure, peaceful place to live, to be, to raise kids. A good marriage