Just to clarify an important point about self-employment: While the 45-hour rule isn't relevant for survivor benefits, SSA does have a special test for self-employed people that can be applied in certain circumstances. They can evaluate if you're providing significant services to your business despite low reported income. However, this is primarily applied in situations where there's reason to suspect income manipulation - like a business owner suddenly reporting minimal income after retirement while continuing to work the same hours. For a small flower farm with modest income like yours, this is extremely unlikely to be an issue. Just keep good records, report your income honestly, and you should be fine with your survivor benefits as long as you stay under the annual earnings limit.

I work part-time for a local nonprofit while also receiving survivor benefits, and I've been through this exact concern! The key thing to remember is that for survivor benefits, SSA only cares about your earnings, not your hours worked. The confusion often comes from disability benefits (SSDI) where they do have that substantial gainful activity test that looks at hours. For your flower farm, as long as your net self-employment earnings stay under $23,380 for 2025 (assuming you haven't reached full retirement age), you're good to go regardless of whether you work 45 hours or 85 hours a month. Just make sure you're tracking all your legitimate business expenses properly since those reduce your countable income. I'd still recommend calling SSA to confirm for your peace of mind, but based on my experience and what I've learned, your hours shouldn't be an issue at all. Good luck with your flower farm - it sounds lovely!

Welcome to the community! This has been such an educational thread for me too. I'm actually facing a similar decision timeline and hadn't fully grasped how all these pieces fit together until reading everyone's experiences. Your question about Medicare IRMAA is spot-on and something I think many people overlook in their planning. From what I understand, those IRMAA surcharges can really add up - we're talking potentially $2,000+ per year in additional premiums for higher income brackets. Combined with the 10-year inherited IRA rule that forces distributions, it could create some expensive years down the road. It sounds like the key takeaway from this whole discussion is that while RMDs won't hurt you on the Social Security earnings test (which is great!), they create this ripple effect through Social Security taxation and eventually Medicare premiums that requires some serious long-term planning. Has anyone here worked with a fee-only financial planner who specializes in Social Security optimization? I'm thinking I might need professional help to model out all these scenarios properly.

As someone who's been working in retirement planning for over 15 years, I want to echo what many others have said and add a few practical tips. RMDs from inherited IRAs are indeed NOT counted toward the Social Security earnings test - this is unearned income, not wages or self-employment income. However, I'd strongly recommend creating a year-by-year projection that includes: 1. Your expected RMD amounts (which will grow each year) 2. Your Social Security benefit amounts 3. Any other income sources 4. Estimated tax liability including SS taxation thresholds The "combined income" formula for SS taxation is: AGI + nontaxable interest + 50% of SS benefits. Once this hits $25,000 (single) or $32,000 (married filing jointly), up to 50% of benefits are taxable. At $34,000/$44,000, up to 85% becomes taxable. Also consider that with the inherited IRA 10-year rule, you might want to take larger distributions in early years when you have more control, rather than being forced into large distributions later that could push you into higher brackets right when Medicare IRMAA kicks in. Every situation is unique, but having a comprehensive plan that looks at the full picture will serve you much better than trying to optimize each piece separately.

After reviewing the other comments, I want to add something important: The suspension might be temporary and administrative rather than punitive. When your Medicare enrollment processes at the same time as earnings limit calculations, SSA sometimes places a temporary hold on benefits while their system updates. This doesn't always mean you'll miss a payment. When you call, ask specifically if this is an administrative suspension related to multiple simultaneous changes in your record. If so, it might resolve automatically before your January payment date. Also, confirm whether they're using your estimated earnings from your Medicare enrollment paperwork or if they've received different information that might have triggered this suspension. Sometimes employers report projected annual earnings that differ from what beneficiaries estimate.

I'm going through something similar right now! Just turned 65 in December and my survivor benefits also show a weird status change. In my case, it wasn't suspended but showed "under review" for about 3 weeks before returning to normal. What I learned from calling SSA is that their computer systems often flag accounts when multiple life events happen close together - like turning 65, Medicare enrollment, and having reportable earnings all at once. One thing that might help while you're waiting to call: log into your my Social Security account and check if there are any action items or messages you might have missed. Sometimes they send notifications about required documentation that can cause temporary suspensions if not addressed promptly. Also, if you have direct deposit set up, keep an eye on your bank account around your normal payment date. Even if the online status shows "suspended," the payment might still process normally if it's just a display glitch while their systems update. This happened to my neighbor last year - scary online status but the money still came through on time. Definitely still call on Monday to get it sorted, but don't panic if you see the suspended status over the weekend. These Medicare transition issues are unfortunately common but usually get resolved quickly once you get through to the right department.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Scarlett. Losing a parent is heartbreaking, and having to deal with all these complicated rules and denials while you're grieving just adds insult to injury. Everyone has explained the SSA death benefit rules perfectly - unfortunately, as an adult child living separately, you don't qualify no matter how much you contributed to her care or funeral costs. It's frustrating how rigid these 1950s-era rules are compared to today's family realities. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet: if your mother was receiving Medicare, there might be some medical expenses from her final illness that could still be reimbursed to you if you paid them out of pocket. Sometimes families don't realize they can submit those claims even after the person passes away. It won't be much, but every little bit helps with those overwhelming funeral costs. Also, don't forget to notify the IRS about her passing - if she was due any tax refund for this year, that would go to her estate (which could ultimately benefit you as executor). The $255 amount really is insulting when you consider funeral costs today. You've gotten some great suggestions here about other potential resources. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Scarlett. Having to navigate these bureaucratic hurdles while grieving is incredibly difficult, and I can understand your frustration with the denial. As others have explained thoroughly, the $255 death benefit rules are unfortunately very strict and outdated. Since you maintained your own residence, you wouldn't qualify even though you were her devoted caregiver - the system just doesn't account for modern caregiving arrangements. One additional resource I'd suggest checking: if your mother had any utility accounts (electric, gas, phone), some companies offer small bereavement assistance programs or final bill forgiveness for deceased customers. It's not widely advertised, but a simple phone call explaining the situation sometimes yields unexpected help with those final bills. Also, if she had any subscriptions or memberships (magazines, gyms, streaming services), most will provide prorated refunds for unused portions when you provide a death certificate. These small amounts can add up. You've received excellent advice here about checking for that final month's Social Security payment, forgotten insurance policies, and various organizational benefits. This community really has been incredibly helpful in sharing practical suggestions you wouldn't find in any official handbook. The fact that this $255 benefit hasn't increased since 1954 while funeral costs have skyrocketed is truly shameful policy. You're handling an impossible situation with grace.

I went through this exact same situation a few years ago when I turned 62! Like everyone else has mentioned, the restricted application strategy unfortunately doesn't work anymore for people born after January 1, 1954. I had the same misconception and was really disappointed when I learned about the deemed filing rules. Since your own benefit at FRA ($2,100) is already higher than what you could get in spousal benefits (50% of your husband's $2,800 = $1,400), you're actually in a pretty good position. The spousal benefit wouldn't help you anyway since your own earned benefit is higher. I ended up waiting until my FRA to claim, and I'm glad I did. The peace of mind of getting my full benefit amount was worth it for me. Just make sure you factor in your health, family longevity, and current financial needs when making your decision. Good luck!

I'm in a very similar situation and have been researching this extensively! You're right to be confused - there's a lot of outdated information floating around about Social Security strategies that don't work anymore. As others have mentioned, the restricted application strategy ended with the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015. But here's something that might help with your decision-making: since your own benefit ($2,100 at FRA) is already higher than what you'd get in spousal benefits anyway, you're essentially choosing between taking your reduced benefit now versus your full benefit later (or even larger if you wait until 70). I've been using the SSA's online calculators and also found a really helpful break-even analysis tool on their website. For most people in our situation, if you expect to live past about age 78-80, waiting until FRA usually comes out ahead financially. One thing I'd suggest is creating an account on ssa.gov if you haven't already - you can see your exact benefit estimates at different claiming ages, which might help you make a more informed decision based on your specific numbers rather than estimates.