Social Security and Medicare Parity Act of 2015

To amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide for equal treatment of individuals in same-sex marriages, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Social Security and Medicare Parity Act of 2015 2. Determination of valid marriage under the Social Security Act (a) In general Section 216(h)(1)(A)(i) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 416(h)(1)(A)(i) is domiciled the District of Columbia, and such applicant were married (or, if such insured individual and such applicant were not married in any State but were validly married in another jurisdiction, the courts of any State) (b) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to all final determinations of family status made after June 26, 2013. 3. Alternative method of meeting nine-month requirement for widows, stepchildren, or widowers in certain cases Section 216(k) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 416(k) (1) in the section heading, by striking in Case of Accidental Death or in Case of Serviceman Dying in Line of Duty, or in Case of Remarriage to the Same Individual in certain cases (2) in paragraph (1), by striking or (3) in paragraph (2)(B), by adding or (4) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following: (3) (A) in the case of a widow or widower of such individual whose marriage to such individual would not have been treated as a marriage for purposes of Federal law prior to June 26, 2013, such widow or widower— (i) became the wife or husband of such individual (or was deemed to be the wife or husband of such individual under subsection (h)(1)(A)(ii))— (I) if such widow or widower is domiciled in a State that recognized same-sex marriages, civil unions, or registered domestic partnerships as of June 26, 2013, before March 26, 2014; and (II) if such widow or widower is domiciled in any other State— (aa) before March 26, 2014; or (bb) if applicable, during the 9-month period beginning with the 1st date on which such State recognized same-sex marriages, civil unions, or registered domestic partnerships; and (ii) provides a sworn affidavit that the widow or widower was married to, or in a domestic partnership with, such individual throughout the 9-month period ending on the date of the individual’s death; or (B) the stepchild of such individual— (i) became the stepchild of such individual as a result of a parent of the stepchild becoming the wife or husband of such individual (or being deemed to be the wife or husband of such individual under subsection (h)(1)(A)(ii))— (I) if such parent is domiciled in a State that recognized same-sex marriages, civil unions, or registered domestic partnerships as of June 26, 2013, before March 26, 2014; and (II) if such parent is domiciled in any other State— (aa) before March 26, 2014; or (bb) if applicable, during the 9-month period beginning with the 1st date on which such State recognized same-sex marriages, civil unions, or registered domestic partnerships; and (ii) provides a sworn affidavit that such parent was married to, or in a domestic partnership with, such individual throughout the 9-month period ending on the date of the individual’s death; . 4. Alternative method of meeting 1-year requirement for wives, stepchildren, or husbands in certain cases The requirement in section 216(b)(2) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 416 (1) in the case of a wife or husband of such individual whose marriage to such individual would not have been treated as a marriage for purposes of Federal law prior to June 26, 2013, such wife or husband— (A) became the wife or husband of such individual (or was deemed to be the wife or husband of such individual under subsection (h)(1)(A)(ii) of such Act)— (i) if such wife or husband is domiciled in a State that recognized same-sex marriages, civil unions, or registered domestic partnerships as of June 26, 2013, before June 26, 2014; and (ii) if such wife or husband is domiciled in any other State— (I) before June 26, 2014; or (II) if applicable, during the 1-year period beginning with the 1st date on which such State recognized same-sex marriages, civil unions, or registered domestic partnerships; and (B) provides a sworn affidavit that the wife or husband was married to, or in a domestic partnership with, such individual throughout the 1-year period ending on the date of the application for wife’s or husband’s insurance benefits; or (2) the stepchild of such individual— (A) became the stepchild of such individual as a result of a parent of the stepchild becoming the wife or husband of such individual (or being deemed to be the wife or husband of such individual under subsection (h)(1)(A)(ii) of such Act)— (i) if such parent is domiciled in a State that recognized same-sex marriages, civil unions, or registered domestic partnerships as of June 26, 2013, before June 26, 2014; and (ii) if such parent is domiciled in any other State— (I) before June 26, 2014; or (II) if applicable, during the 1-year period beginning with the 1st date on which such State recognized same-sex marriages, civil unions, or registered domestic partnerships; and (B) provides a sworn affidavit that such parent was married to, or in a domestic partnership with, such individual throughout the 1-year period ending on the date of the application for child's insurance benefits. 5. Notification of changes in law; outreach campaign (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner of Social Security shall conduct a comprehensive and effective 3-year outreach campaign to encourage individuals newly eligible for benefits under title II of the Social Security Act as a result of changes in law relating to same-sex marriage and occurring on or after June 26, 2013, including this Act and the amendments made thereby, to apply for such benefits. Such outreach campaign shall include direct notification regarding such changes in law to current beneficiaries and to individuals approaching retirement. (b) Report to Congress Not later than December 31 of each of the 1st 3 calendar years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner of Social Security shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Finance of the Senate, and the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report that includes— (1) a description of the educational and outreach activities conducted by the Commissioner of Social Security under subsection (a) during the preceding year; (2) the number of applications for benefits under title II of the Social Security Act filed as a result of changes in law relating to same-sex marriage and occurring on or after June 26, 2013, including this Act and the amendments made thereby, in the preceding year; and (3) the number of such applications which resulted in entitlement to benefits.

Summary: Social Security and Medicare Parity Act of 2015 Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act with respect to the determination of a valid marriage to account for marriages in jurisdictions other than a state. Authorizes the courts of any state to find that an OASDI benefit applicant and an insured individual were validly married in a jurisdiction other than a state at the time the applicant files a benefit application or, if the insured individual is dead, at the time the individual died. Waives the nine-month marriage requirement to make eligible for widow or widower benefits certain widows or widowers whose marriage to a deceased individual would not have been treated as a marriage for federal law purposes before June 26, 2013. Waives the same requirement for anyone who became a stepchild of the deceased individual as a result of such a marriage. Waives the one-year marriage requirement to make eligible for husband's or wife's OASDI benefits certain husbands and wives whose marriage to an individual would not have been treated as a marriage for federal law purposes before June 26, 2013. Waives the same requirement for anyone who became a stepchild of the individual as a result of such a marriage. Directs the Commissioner of Social Security to conduct a comprehensive and effective three-year outreach campaign to encourage benefit applications by individuals newly eligible for OASDI benefits as a result of changes in law relating to same-sex marriage and occurring on or after June 26, 2013.