federal marriage benefits? not for everyone

[xchrom]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_GAY_MARRIAGE_BENEFITS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-06-30-09-16-08

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Like other married couples, same-sex couples are about to learn that federal benefits for being married might not be all they're cracked up to be.

Social Security benefits for spouses can be generous, but only for couples with big disparities in their incomes. Taxes are a decidedly mixed bag, and there are still a lot of unanswered questions for the Internal Revenue Service.

Many middle-income couples should get welcome tax breaks now that they can change their filing status from "single" to "married filing jointly." The biggest benefits will go to couples in which one spouse makes more money than the other.

But those at the top and bottom of the income scale could face significant tax increases.

[Freddie]

1. And this is only for those in states that recognize same sex marriage

Everyone else, even if you married in another state (like PA residents who married in NY) are SOL. Essentially double-screwed now. Time for the next Supreme Court case.