having trouble getting domestic partner benefits

[Alternatives to Marriage Project <http://www.unmarried.org/~atmp>]

Hi, Robert --

Only subscribers can post to ATMP-Talk, so your message didn't make it to
the list (though you're welcome to subscribe and then unsubscribe as soon
as you get your needs met).

>I'm having trouble convincing my company to give my partner and me domestic
>partner benefits.  They just started the program, but they have somewhat
>strict requirements about enrollment -- a shared bank account, a shared
>lease, or a shared mortgage.  All of my partner's and my bills are separate
>and our bank statements come to different addresses.  (They'd only consider
>bank statements 1 year old, anyway.)

At the very least, you might open a joint bank account now (even with no $
in it!), just so you'll have it a year from now!  Or get the other
partner's name added to your lease if it isn't already.

This is a tough one -- perhaps you have ideas of other joint documentation
you have that that shows (a) that you've been living together for 8 years,
(b) that your relationship is serious and committed, and (c) that you are
economically interdependent?  I don't know if they will have any
flexibility, but it seems like if you make a formal presentation of a bunch
of documents that look serious, they should at least consider it.  Another
idea would be to show them that you *do* fit the affidavits of many other
employers that offer DP benefits (ideally, companies that they consider
their competitors!), pointing out to them that their criteria are unusually
narrow.

>Anybody have any ideas on how to convince them to permit us to enroll?  Would
>"The Domestic Partnership Organizing Manual for Employee Benefits" book help
>in this case?  (We don't own this book.)

You can download sections of the book from the NGLTF website
(http://www.ngltf.org) for free -- the sample affidavits might be helpful
to you.

Good luck!

Dorian Solot
Executive Director

Alternatives to Marriage Project
box 991010, Boston, MA 02199
phone (781) 793-0296
fax (781) 394-6625
http://www.unmarried.org/~atmp
http://www.unmarried.org