Is there ANY exception to the 9 month rule?

Hi,

I assume that you are referring to the duration of marriage requirement to qualify for widow's benefits. If that's the case, the answer is yes. In fact there are several exceptions, the most common of which is if the worker's death was accidental. For more exceptions, refer to these sections of the Social Security operations manual: https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0300207001 & https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0200305100.

Best, Jerry