Social Security survivors benefits question - does Airbnb income count toward my earnings limit?

Good news - rental income, including from Airbnb, is generally considered unearned income by Social Security. This means it should NOT count toward your earnings limit for survivors benefits. The earnings limit only applies to wages from a job or net earnings from self-employment. However, there's an important distinction: if you're providing substantial services to your renters beyond just basic property management, the IRS and SSA might consider it self-employment income instead of passive rental income. Based on what you described (just basic cleaning and messaging), it sounds like you're in the passive rental income category, which wouldn't count toward your $23,000 limit.

my sister has airbnb and she gets survivors too, they never counted it as earned income for her. but she doesnt clean it herself she has a cleaning lady. i think as long as your not doing hotel type stuff like cooking breakfast and giving massages lol your fine. i wouldnt worry about it

I'm actually dealing with something similar but with a rental property. I called SSA about this THREE TIMES and got different answers each time!!! So frustrating! First person said rental income doesn't count toward earnings limit, second said it depends on how involved I am with management, third said I should talk to a tax professional. What a waste of my time!!! I ended up hiring an accountant who specializes in Social Security issues, and he confirmed rental income is usually NOT counted for the earnings test unless you're essentially running it like a bed and breakfast where you're providing substantial services.

This is a common question with Airbnb hosts receiving Social Security benefits. Here's the technical breakdown: 1. The Social Security earnings test only applies to EARNED income (wages and self-employment income). 2. Rental income is generally considered UNEARNED income and doesn't count toward your earnings limit. 3. However, the distinction depends on whether you're providing "substantial services" to your guests. If you provide substantial services primarily for your tenants' convenience (like regular cleaning during their stay, breakfast, shuttle services, etc.), the income may be considered self-employment income rather than rental income. Based on what you described (basic cleaning between guests and messaging), your Airbnb income would likely be considered passive rental income that doesn't count toward the $23,000 earnings limit for 2025. For documentation purposes, keep records of exactly what services you provide. The IRS publication 527 covers this distinction in detail.

Wait I thought Airbnb was definitely self employment?? My tax guy said all my airbnb income is self employment because of the 1099 form. Now I'm confused

congrats on the tiny house! been wanting to build one myself 😊 do you mind sharing how much it cost to build? thinking about doing something similar when i retire

Great question about Airbnb income! I work with retirees as a financial advisor, and this comes up frequently. The key factor is your level of involvement: • If you're just renting out property (cleaning between guests, providing linens, basic maintenance) = NOT counted toward earnings limit (unearned income) • If you're providing "substantial services" like daily housekeeping, meals, guided tours, etc. = LIKELY counted as self-employment income toward earnings limit The fact that your only involvement is basic cleaning between guests and messaging puts you firmly in the "rental income" (unearned) category. Just make sure to properly report it on your tax return (typically Schedule E rather than Schedule C). Also, keep in mind that at FRA (Full Retirement Age), which is 67 for most people now, the earnings limit goes away completely. At that point, you can earn as much as you want without affecting benefits.

WATCH OUT with Social Security! They can be really picky about these things and sometimes they make mistakes. My friend lost half her benefits because she didn't report some income correctly and then had to pay everything back! Make sure you document EVERYTHING about your Airbnb and maybe even get something in writing from SSA about your specific situation.

I'm so sorry for your loss, and it's great that you're being proactive about understanding how your Airbnb income affects your survivors benefits. Based on what you've described, your income should qualify as passive rental income rather than self-employment earnings. The key test SSA uses is whether you provide "substantial services" to your guests. Since you're only doing basic cleaning between stays and responding to messages (not daily housekeeping, meals, or other hotel-like services), this should be considered unearned income that doesn't count toward your $23,000 earnings limit. That said, given the horror stories others have shared about SSA making errors or giving inconsistent information, I'd strongly recommend getting documentation of your specific situation. You might want to: 1. Keep detailed records of exactly what services you provide 2. File your taxes correctly (likely Schedule E for rental income rather than Schedule C for business income) 3. Consider getting written confirmation from SSA about your specific circumstances Better to be overly cautious now than deal with potential overpayment issues later. Your financial security is too important to leave to chance!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation! I'm 63 and receiving survivors benefits after losing my spouse two years ago. I've been renting out a room in my house through Airbnb for about 8 months now, bringing in around $800-1000/month. Like you, I was really worried about how this would affect my benefits. After reading through all these responses, I feel much more confident that what we're doing qualifies as passive rental income rather than self-employment. I provide clean linens, basic toiletries, and respond to questions, but that's it - no daily services or anything that would make it hotel-like. One thing I did was start keeping a detailed log of exactly what I do for each guest (time spent cleaning, any maintenance issues, guest communications, etc.) just in case SSA ever questions it. I figure having documentation can only help if there's ever a dispute. It's such a relief to know that others in similar situations haven't had their benefits affected. The extra income has really helped me stay financially stable during this difficult time. Thanks for asking this question - the responses have been incredibly helpful!

As someone who recently went through a similar situation, I wanted to share my experience. I'm 66 and have been receiving survivors benefits since my husband passed three years ago. I rent out our guest house on Airbnb and was initially terrified about how it would affect my benefits. After consulting with both a tax professional and calling SSA multiple times (yes, I got different answers too!), here's what I learned that might help: 1. The activities you described - basic cleaning between guests and responding to messages - definitely sound like passive rental income, not self-employment. 2. I've been reporting my Airbnb income on Schedule E (rental income) rather than Schedule C (business income) for the past two years with no issues from SSA. 3. The key documentation I keep includes: time logs of cleaning/maintenance activities, records of any services provided (or NOT provided), and copies of guest communications to show the minimal nature of my involvement. One practical tip: I actually wrote a brief letter to SSA describing my specific rental activities and asked them to confirm in writing that this would be considered unearned income. It took about 6 weeks, but I got an official response that has given me peace of mind. The extra income has been a blessing during a really difficult time, and I'm so glad you're exploring this option too. Based on everything you've described, you should be fine - just keep good records!

I'm sorry for your loss and understand how important it is to get clarity on this issue. Based on the excellent responses here, I wanted to add one more perspective that might be helpful. As someone who works in benefits administration, I can confirm that the distinction between passive rental income and self-employment income is crucial for Social Security purposes. Your situation - basic cleaning between guests, responding to messages, with neighbor help for maintenance - clearly falls into the passive rental category. However, I'd strongly recommend taking Melody's approach and getting written confirmation from SSA about your specific situation. Here's why: even though the law is clear, individual SSA representatives sometimes apply rules inconsistently, and having official documentation protects you from future disputes or audits. When you contact them, be very specific about your level of involvement. Emphasize that you: - Only clean between guest stays (not during) - Don't provide daily services, meals, or other hotel-like amenities - Have minimal guest interaction beyond basic communication - Don't actively manage the property as a business Also consider consulting with a tax professional who specializes in Social Security issues to ensure you're reporting the income correctly (likely Schedule E rather than Schedule C). The small cost upfront could save you significant headaches later. Your Airbnb income should not affect your survivors benefits, but getting proper documentation will give you the peace of mind you deserve during an already difficult time.

I'm really glad you asked this question - it's clearly something many people in similar situations are wondering about! Based on all the excellent responses here, it sounds like you're in good shape with your Airbnb income being considered passive rental income rather than earned income that would count against your survivors benefits limit. What strikes me most is how consistent the advice has been from multiple people with direct experience. The key factors everyone keeps mentioning - minimal services, no daily housekeeping, basic cleaning only between stays - all point to this being unearned income that shouldn't affect your $23,000 earnings limit. I especially appreciate the practical suggestions about documentation and getting written confirmation from SSA. Given the stories about inconsistent information from phone representatives, having something official in writing seems like the smart way to go. It's also heartening to see how this extra income is helping people stay financially stable during such a difficult time. Losing a spouse is devastating enough without having to worry about financial security on top of everything else. The fact that you can generate some additional income from your property while staying within Social Security rules is really encouraging. Thanks for starting this conversation - I'm sure it's going to help a lot of people in similar situations!

I'm so sorry for your loss, and I really admire how proactive you're being about understanding your benefits while navigating this difficult time. Based on everything you've described about your Airbnb operation, it definitely sounds like passive rental income rather than self-employment. What you're doing - basic cleaning between guests, responding to messages, minimal maintenance with neighbor help - is exactly the type of low-involvement rental activity that Social Security typically doesn't count toward earnings limits. The fact that you're not providing daily services, meals, or other substantial guest services puts you squarely in the unearned income category. That said, I'd echo the excellent advice others have given about getting written confirmation from SSA about your specific situation. Given the inconsistent information some people have received over the phone, having official documentation would give you valuable peace of mind. When you contact them, be sure to emphasize the minimal nature of your involvement and that you're not operating it like a hotel or bed & breakfast. Your tiny house Airbnb sounds like a wonderful way to generate some financial stability during this transition. At $1,200-1,500/month, it's making a real difference in your ability to maintain your independence, and it's great that you can do this without jeopardizing your survivors benefits. Keep good records of your activities, and you should be all set!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share some additional perspective that might be helpful. As someone who recently went through a similar evaluation with SSA, I can confirm that the level of services you're providing clearly indicates passive rental income rather than self-employment. The key factors that work in your favor are: - You only clean between guest stays (not during their visit) - No meals, daily housekeeping, or other hotel-like services - Minimal guest interaction beyond basic communication - You're not actively marketing or managing multiple properties as a business One thing I'd add to the excellent advice already given: when you do contact SSA for written confirmation, consider mentioning that your neighbor helps with maintenance issues. This further demonstrates that you're not personally providing substantial services that would classify this as self-employment income. Also, keep in mind that even if you were somehow classified as self-employment initially, you could appeal that determination with documentation showing the passive nature of your involvement. But based on everything you've described, that shouldn't be necessary. The $1,200-1,500/month you're earning is well within reasonable limits for passive rental income, and combined with your minimal service level, should have no impact on your survivors benefits. Best of luck with everything, and I hope the written confirmation from SSA gives you the peace of mind you deserve!

I'm new to this community and wanted to thank everyone for such an incredibly thorough and helpful discussion! As someone who may face a similar situation in the future, this thread has been incredibly educational. What really stands out to me is how consistent everyone's advice has been - from people with direct experience to those with professional expertise. The clear distinction between passive rental income (what you're doing) and self-employment income seems well-established, and your minimal service level definitely puts you in the right category. I'm particularly impressed by the practical suggestions about documentation and getting written confirmation from SSA. Given the horror stories about inconsistent phone support, having official documentation seems like the smart approach. The suggestion to emphasize specific details like cleaning only between stays (not during), no daily services, and neighbor assistance with maintenance really helps paint a clear picture of passive rental activity. Your situation gives me hope that there are ways to maintain financial stability during difficult life transitions while staying within Social Security rules. The fact that you can generate meaningful income ($1,200-1,500/month) from your property without jeopardizing your survivors benefits is really encouraging for others who might be in similar circumstances. Thanks for asking this important question and creating such a valuable resource for the community!

I'm new to this community and wanted to add my perspective as someone who recently navigated a very similar situation. I'm 64 and have been receiving survivors benefits since my wife passed away 18 months ago. I started renting out our finished basement through Airbnb about 6 months ago, bringing in roughly $900-1200/month. Like many others here, I was initially worried about how this would affect my benefits. After reading through this excellent thread, I decided to follow the advice about getting written confirmation from SSA. I wrote them a detailed letter describing my minimal involvement (basic cleaning between guests, providing clean linens, responding to basic questions) and asked for official confirmation that this would be considered unearned rental income. It took about 8 weeks, but I received an official letter confirming that my Airbnb activities constitute passive rental income that does NOT count toward the earnings limit for survivors benefits. Having that documentation has given me tremendous peace of mind. For anyone in a similar situation, I'd strongly recommend the written confirmation approach. The peace of mind is worth the wait, and it protects you from any future disputes or inconsistent interpretations. Based on what you've described - basic cleaning between stays, minimal guest services, neighbor help with maintenance - you should definitely be in the clear for passive rental income classification.

Welcome to the community! I'm so sorry for your loss, and I really admire how thoughtfully you're approaching this important financial question during such a difficult time. Based on everything you've described about your Airbnb operation, you're absolutely in the right category for passive rental income. The activities you mentioned - basic cleaning between guests, responding to messages, and having your neighbor help with maintenance - are exactly the type of minimal involvement that Social Security doesn't count toward earnings limits. What's been so valuable about this thread is seeing the consistency in responses from people with actual experience. Multiple community members have confirmed that similar Airbnb setups have been successfully treated as unearned income without affecting their Social Security benefits. I'd strongly echo the advice about getting written confirmation from SSA about your specific situation. After reading about the inconsistent phone support some people have experienced, having official documentation seems crucial. When you write to them, be sure to emphasize the minimal nature of your services and that you're not providing hotel-like amenities or daily guest services. Your tiny house investment sounds like it's been a real blessing - generating $1,200-1,500/month in additional income while staying within Social Security rules is exactly the kind of financial stability that can make all the difference during this transition. Best of luck with everything, and thank you for asking such an important question that's clearly helped many people in similar situations!

I'm new to this community and wanted to express how incredibly helpful this entire discussion has been! As someone who may face a similar situation in the future with Social Security benefits and rental income, reading through all these detailed responses has been so educational. What really stands out is the unanimous consensus from community members with actual experience - your Airbnb situation clearly falls into the passive rental income category rather than self-employment. The minimal services you provide (basic cleaning between guests, responding to messages) combined with your neighbor helping with maintenance creates a clear picture of passive rental activity that shouldn't count toward your earnings limit. The practical advice about getting written confirmation from SSA is brilliant. Given all the stories about inconsistent phone support, having official documentation seems absolutely essential. I love how specific everyone has been about what to emphasize when contacting them - the distinction between cleaning only between stays versus daily hotel-like services really helps clarify the difference. It's also really touching to see how this rental income is helping people maintain financial stability during such a challenging life transition. Your tiny house investment sounds like it's providing exactly the kind of financial cushion that can make all the difference while staying within Social Security rules. Thank you for asking such an important question - this thread is going to be an invaluable resource for anyone in similar circumstances!