St. Augustine, Fla. – Same-sex spouses of Florida National Guard members are officially eligible to receive benefits.
The Florida National Guard issued a press release stating that they are “in full compliance with both federal and state statutes and governing policies.”
On Sept. 3, the Pentagon ruled that same-sex spouses of military members are eligible for all of the healthcare, housing and other benefits heterosexual spouses receive, but a number of states have been reported not in compliance with the policy, Florida among them.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel criticized those states Oct. 31, stating that they are violating federal law and creating hardship and inequality by forcing couples to travel long distances to federal military bases to obtain the ID cards they’re entitled to.”
The Florida National Guard’s Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System’s enrollment became effective Nov. 5.
