Will Social Security count my small flower business as work or hobby? Receiving survivor benefits at 65

I was in a very similar situation with my handmade jewelry business when I started collecting my widow's benefits. The SSA looks at the TOTAL time you spend - both growing AND selling - when determining if it's work or a hobby. The key is whether you're doing it for profit. Since you're selling the flowers and making money, they'll likely count ALL those hours as work. I got caught in an overpayment situation because I didn't realize this and had to pay back $3,700! I would definitely call SSA directly to get this clarified for your specific situation. And if you're having trouble getting through to someone (I was on hold for HOURS multiple times), I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual SSA agent in about 20 minutes instead of the usual 2+ hour wait. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - completely worth it given the hours of frustration it saved me.

my sister has a little herb garden business and SSA only counts the hours she sells at farmers market not the growiing time. shes on early retirement not survivors tho

I love gardening too! Have you tried selling cut flower subscriptions? That's what I did before I hit my FRA and it was so much fun. Best of luck with your flower business! 🌸🌺🌷

Social Security's rules on this are actually quite specific. What determines whether your activity is a business or hobby isn't just about hours - it's about your intent. If you're engaged in the activity with the intention of making a profit (even if small), the IRS and SSA will generally consider it a business. Since you're 65 and receiving survivor benefits, you're subject to the earnings test if you're under your Full Retirement Age (which would be 66-67 depending on your birth year). For 2025, you can earn up to $22,320 without affecting your benefits if you're under FRA. You lose $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above that limit. For your flower business, you should track: 1. ALL hours spent (growing and selling) 2. ALL expenses (seeds, soil, pots, etc.) 3. ALL income If you consistently show losses rather than profits over time, the SSA might eventually classify it as a hobby. But initially, they'll likely consider it a business with all hours counting toward work activity. I strongly recommend scheduling an appointment with SSA to discuss your specific situation. They can provide guidance for your exact circumstances.

Just to clarify some potential misinformation in this thread: Social Security uses the IRS guidelines for determining whether an activity is a business or hobby. If you're doing this consistently and with the intent to make a profit, it's likely considered a business even if you're not very profitable yet. For survivor benefits at age 65, you're subject to the earnings test until you reach your Full Retirement Age. The annual exempt amount for 2025 is $22,320 if you're under FRA. Based on your description ($150-400/month), you're well below this limit, so your benefits shouldn't be affected at all. However, you still need to report this income to both the IRS and SSA. You should call SSA to verify your specific situation, but you likely have nothing to worry about given the small amount you're earning.

When I was receiving my SS benefits before reaching full retirement age, I had a similar situation with my woodworking. What helped me was keeping a detailed log separating what I did purely for enjoyment versus what was specifically for selling. I consulted with my accountant who helped me file Schedule C properly, showing legitimate business expenses against the income. The key with Social Security is being transparent and proactive. Don't wait for them to discover your activity - report it. In my experience, they were reasonable when I explained my situation clearly and had documentation. At your earnings level, you're likely well under the annual limit anyway.

Has anyone tried growing lavender? I heard it's really profitable and easy to grow!

To answer your follow-up question about reporting: You should report changes to SSA when they happen, not just at tax time. You can report changes in work activity or earnings by calling SSA directly, visiting your local office, or in some cases through your my Social Security account online. Given that you're close to your FRA (66 and 4 months), it's worth noting that in the year you reach FRA, the rules become more lenient. For 2025, in the months before you reach FRA during your FRA year, the exempt amount increases to $59,520, and SSA only deducts $1 for every $3 you earn above the limit. Once you reach your FRA in August 2026, the earnings test no longer applies, and you can earn any amount without affecting your benefits.