In 1935, the Social Security Act was created to help ensure the economic safety of America's elderly. As of July 2010, the United States Social Security Administration does not recognize same-sex marriages or domestic partnerships as valid relationships. Consequently, thousands of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender seniors are denied Social Security benefits every year. Ineligible for Social Security survivors benefits, and faced with undue economic burdens, many LGBT seniors are often forced to give up their homes after losing their partner.