Social Security is one of the most important benefits programs in the U.S. It has played an instrumental role in keeping millions of seniors out of poverty. Many older Americans rely on it to provide a significant portion of their income after leaving work.

Despite its importance, it's also often misunderstood. Many people just don't really know how it works or what exactly affects the amount of money the program will provide. And that's understandable because a number of the rules are pretty confusing.

In particular, here are a few weird rules you might not know about that can impact the amount of Social Security income you have to live on as a retiree.

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Source Fool.com