After talking with SSA (took FOREVER to reach someone), I found out something that might help you. Once you've reported your self-employment to them, they'll send you a form called "Report of Work Activity" where you have to estimate your hours and earnings. After you file taxes, they'll adjust based on your actual net earnings. The key is REPORTING PROACTIVELY! Don't wait for them to discover your work activity later - that's how people end up with huge overpayment notices!!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through a similar situation. I'm also on survivor benefits and do freelance work from home. The most important thing I learned is that SSA cares more about your NET income than your hours for the earnings test, but you still need to be prepared to justify your hour calculations if they ask. For pet sitting specifically, I'd recommend creating a simple daily log format: - Date/time: feeding, walking, playtime - Administrative tasks: responding to messages, scheduling - Any other direct care activities Don't count passive time when the dogs are just sleeping or hanging out while you're doing your own activities. But DO count time spent actively supervising if the dogs require constant attention due to behavioral issues, medical needs, etc. Also, make sure you're deducting ALL legitimate business expenses - dog food you provide, cleaning supplies, wear and tear on your home, even a portion of utilities if you're using extra electricity/water. These deductions can really help keep your net earnings under the limit. The most important advice: Report your work activity to SSA as soon as you start. It's so much easier to work with them upfront than deal with overpayment issues later!

Lmao good luck. I've been trying to set up an appointment for weeks. At this point I'm convinced their customer service is run by clowns 🤡

I've had success calling around 2-3 PM on weekdays - seems like there's a lull after lunch when wait times are shorter. Also, if you get disconnected, don't hang up right away! Sometimes the system will automatically call you back within a few minutes. Another trick is to navigate to the "report a problem" or "technical issues" menu option - those lines often have shorter waits and they can usually transfer you to the right department anyway.

I'm so confused about all this FRA stuff!!! Is that the same as the retirement age? I'm 62 and thinking about taking my benefits early but I'm still working part time at Walmart. Will they reduce my benefits? I make about $22,000 a year.

I'm in a similar boat - just turned 66 and still working part-time as a nurse. Can confirm what others have said about no benefit reduction at FRA! I've been collecting my full $2,400/month while earning about $30k from my nursing shifts. The SSA doesn't care how much you make once you hit your FRA. One thing I learned the hard way though - definitely plan for the tax hit. Between my SS benefits, part-time income, and some retirement account withdrawals, I ended up owing way more than expected last year. Now I have taxes withheld from my SS payments (10% federal) and make quarterly payments. Also watch out for the Medicare IRMAA increases if your income gets too high - that caught me by surprise too. Bottom line: work as much as you want at FRA without worrying about benefit reductions, just plan for the tax implications!

Update: I finally got through to Social Security! The agent confirmed I am eligible for ex-spouse benefits and it will increase my monthly payment by about $370! They're processing my application now. They said I'll only get 6 months of back payments though, which is disappointing considering I could have been receiving this higher amount for nearly 20 years. Still, I'm grateful for the increase going forward. Thanks to everyone for your help and advice!

Congratulations on getting through and securing that increase! $370 more per month is significant and will really help with your finances going forward. It's unfortunate about the limited back pay, but you're absolutely right to focus on the positive - you'll be receiving this higher amount for the rest of your life. Your story is a great reminder for others to research all their Social Security options thoroughly. The SSA really should do a better job of informing people about benefits they're entitled to, especially for situations like divorced spouse benefits that aren't always obvious. Thanks for sharing your update - it will definitely help others in similar situations!

One important technical point no one has mentioned yet: When you reach FRA, SSA also recalculates your benefit amount to restore some of the benefits that were withheld due to earnings limits before FRA. So not only do the limits end at FRA, but you eventually get credit for some of those earlier reductions. The formula is complex, but it essentially increases your monthly benefit to account for months when benefits were withheld.

This thread has been so helpful! As someone approaching FRA myself (though not until 2027), I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and knowledge. @Angelina Farar, it sounds like you've gotten some great clarification here. Just to summarize what I'm understanding from all the responses: 1) No earnings limit after FRA in January 2026 for you, 2) SSA should automatically stop applying the test but it's worth monitoring, 3) You may even get a benefit adjustment for any prior withheld amounts, and 4) The only thing to potentially consider is income tax on your combined income, not benefit reductions. I'm bookmarking this discussion for when I get closer to my own FRA!