10 Strange Social Security Facts Everyone Should Know

3. Just got married? You might still have to wait

If you get married hoping to score spousal or survivor Social Security benefits, you’ll find that the strategy doesn’t pay off immediately. Typically, a new spouse must wait a year before claiming spousal benefits. Moreover, if your new spouse passes away before you’ve been married for nine months, then you won’t be able to claim survivor benefits unless you can establish that the death was due to an accident or in the line of duty for members of the Armed Forces.