A marriage qualifies you for spousal Social Security benefits.
Military spousal benefits as well-but all I had to furnish for that was my marriage certificate signed by the priest and 2 witnesses-that can be taken by SS as well, I’m sure. And if they want to honor civil contracts for SS, why not between homosexuals, multiple spouses, etc ? Some wily lawyer will find a way to see to it that SS benefits are provided to all surviving spouses-and that is the slippery slope of having marriage be a “civil” matter.