Social Security survivors benefits and self-employment - How does SSA count work hours for pet sitting?

This is a really good question about self-employment and survivors benefits! The Social Security Administration counts your NET earnings from self-employment (after expenses) toward the earnings limit. For 2025, if you're under FRA the whole year, you can earn up to $23,660 before they reduce benefits ($1 reduction for every $2 over the limit). As for HOURS, this is primarily important if you're trying to use the 45 hour/month substantial services rule for retirement test purposes. In your case, I'd count the hours you're actively providing services - feeding, walking, grooming, etc. - not the entire time they're in your house. Keep a detailed log of these active service hours. Also track all legitimate business expenses (dog food, toys, portion of utilities, etc) to reduce your net income.

my sister does dogsitting too and SSA gave her big headache about it last year. they counted ALL the hours the dogs were there as work hours!!!!! be careful

The key issue here is that you're engaged in self-employment, which SSA evaluates differently than regular employment. For survivor benefits under FRA, two tests apply: 1. The earnings test: Net earnings from self-employment count toward the annual limit ($23,660 in 2025) 2. The services test: If you work more than 45 hours a month in your business, SSA considers that substantial services For pet sitting specifically, I've seen SSA count the hours differently depending on the nature of services. The critical question is whether you need to be continuously present and attentive. For overnight stays, they often count 8 hours (workday equivalent) rather than 24 hours, but you need documentation to support your hour calculations. Keep meticulous records of: - Actual time spent on direct care activities - Time spent on business administration (booking, client communication) - All business expenses I'd recommend calling SSA directly to get their specific guidance for your situation. Their determinations can vary by region.

Have you tried Claimyr to get through to SSA? I was in the same boat trying to get answers about my self-employment and survivors benefits. After wasting days trying to get through, I found this service at claimyr.com that got me connected to a real SSA agent in under 10 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Totally worth it to get clear answers directly from SSA about your specific situation rather than risking an overpayment later.

im on survivors too and work part time at walmart. its easier for me cause they just count my actual hours there. but with rover dont u have to advertise and answer msgs and do admin stuff? count all that too!!!

The problem is SSA doesn't have clear guidelines for gig work like Rover or Airbnb! I went through something similar with my Airbnb income while collecting SSDI. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING! They initially counted all hours my guests were in the house as work hours, which was RIDICULOUS! I appealed and won by showing: 1. A detailed hour log of actual services (cleaning, check-ins, maintenance) 2. Proof those were the only hours I was actively "working" 3. Business expense records In your case, I'd log EXACT times when you're feeding, walking, playing with, or cleaning up after the dogs. Everything else is just having dogs present in your home, NOT active work hours. BUT! The earnings limit is separate from hours worked. Even if you only count 10 hours of actual work when a dog stays 3 days, you still have to report ALL the money you make from those 3 days toward your annual earnings limit!!

After seeing all these responses, I want to clarify something important: The 45 hour/month substantial services rule primarily applies to retirement benefits after you've reached Normal Retirement Age (NRA) but are still under age 70. For survivor benefits under FRA (your case), the earnings limit is the main concern. In 2025, you can earn up to $23,660 without reduction. For every $2 you earn above that limit, SSA will withhold $1 in benefits. However, in the month you reach your FRA, the limit jumps to $62,760 (for 2025), and the reduction is only $1 for every $3 over the limit. After FRA, there's no earnings limit at all. So while tracking hours is good practice, your primary focus should be ensuring your net earnings stay under the annual limit if possible.

Do u have any other income besides the dog sitting and survivors benefits? My mom does something similar and she also substitue teaches sometimes and SSA counts ALL of it together for the earnings limit thing

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!!