Working while collecting Social Security before FRA - how many hours is safe for self-employed?
I'm 63 and started collecting SS retirement benefits last month, but I still need to work some as a freelance graphic designer to make ends meet. I know there's an earnings limit of $22,320 for 2025 before they start deducting $1 for every $2 I earn above that, but I'm confused about how they track hours for self-employed folks. Do I need to keep a detailed log of my hours? Or do they just care about the income? My CPA mentioned something about a 45-hour/month rule for self-employed people, but I can't find clear info on the SSA website. I'm trying to stay under the earnings limit, but some months I might need to work more than others. Anyone else navigating this successfully as self-employed? How many hours are you working monthly while collecting SS before FRA?
18 comments
Join the conversation
Eduardo Silva
The SSA primarily cares about your earnings, not your hours worked. However, for self-employed people, there is indeed a "substantial services" test that can apply. Working more than 45 hours per month in self-employment is generally considered substantial, regardless of how much you earn. Working between 15-45 hours can be considered substantial depending on the skill required or if you're managing a business. I'm self-employed as a consultant and I've kept my work to 40 hours per month maximum, with earnings below the annual limit. I keep a detailed log of both hours and income to document everything in case of an audit. The key thing is reporting accurately on your tax return, as that's how SSA tracks your earnings.
0 coins
Freya Andersen
•Thanks for this explanation! So it sounds like I need to watch both my earnings AND my hours. Do you track your hours daily or just make weekly estimates? I'm worried about how detailed I need to be with my time tracking.
0 coins
Leila Haddad
My brother got in big trouble last year because he kept working his side hustle while on SS. They made him pay back like $6000!!! Just be super careful, the gov doesn't mess around with this stuff.
0 coins
Freya Andersen
•Oh no, that's exactly what I'm afraid of! Did he have to pay it all back at once or did they set up a payment plan? I'm being very careful about tracking everything, but I'm worried I might accidentally go over.
0 coins
Emma Johnson
The rules are actually a bit complicated for self-employed individuals. While there is the annual earnings limit ($22,320 in 2025 before FRA), the SSA also looks at something called the "substantial services test" for self-employed people. Basically: - If you work MORE than 45 hours a month in your business, it's considered substantial work - If you work LESS than 15 hours, it's considered not substantial - If you work BETWEEN 15-45 hours, it depends on skill required and if you're managing a business I'm a semi-retired accountant (age 64) and I keep myself under 40 hours per month with seasonal adjustments (more during tax season, less in summer). I maintain a detailed log of both hours and earnings just to be safe. You can find this info in SSA Publication No. 05-10069.
0 coins
Freya Andersen
•Thank you for the specific publication number! I'll look that up right away. Do you use any specific app or method to track your hours? I'm trying to figure out the easiest way to maintain accurate records.
0 coins
Ravi Patel
I'VE BEEN FIGHTING WITH SSA FOR 8 MONTHS over this exact issue!!! I'm a self-employed carpenter and they decided I worked too many hours even though I stayed under the earnings limit. Now they say I owe $8,400 in "overpayments" and cut my monthly benefit. The whole system is DESIGNED to trap us. They don't make the rules clear and then they punish you for breaking them. I'd say stay WELL under 40 hours if you don't want to deal with this nightmare!!!
0 coins
Freya Andersen
•That sounds awful! I'm so sorry you're dealing with that. Did you have documentation of your hours worked? I'm wondering if keeping detailed records would have helped in your case.
0 coins
Astrid Bergström
Im 62 and run a small etsy shop. I work maybe 25-30 hrs a month and make about $800-1000. My SS worker told me that was fine as long as I stay under the yearly limit. But maybe thats because my work isnt very skilled? Not sure how they judge that part.
0 coins
Emma Johnson
•Your situation is a good example of the 15-45 hour middle ground. At 25-30 hours with modest earnings, you're likely fine. The SSA would consider factors like whether you're doing skilled work that others couldn't easily do, and whether you're managing employees or just doing the work yourself. For most Etsy shops where the owner is doing craft production directly, they tend to be more lenient.
0 coins
PixelPrincess
I tried calling SSA three times to get clarification on this and got disconnected every time after waiting 1+ hour. So frustrating.
0 coins
Omar Farouk
•I had the same issue trying to reach SSA about my self-employment situation. After my third disconnection, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. It was really helpful since I needed specific answers about my consulting work hours. The agent clarified that I needed to keep logs of both my hours and earnings since they look at both for self-employed individuals.
0 coins
Astrid Bergström
Has anyone here actually had SSA audit their work hours? Im wondering how common that is. Been collecting for 6 months and just got a letter asking for verification of my work and income. Kinda panicking!
0 coins
Eduardo Silva
•Yes, audits happen especially for self-employed individuals because it's harder for SSA to verify your work activity through standard wage reporting. Be honest and provide all documentation you have - hours logs, invoices, contracts, business records. If you've been keeping good records and stayed under the limits, you should be fine. The key is being transparent and having documentation to back up your claims.
0 coins
Leila Haddad
My friend says u can work as many hours as u want as long as u don't go over the money limit. is that right?
0 coins
Emma Johnson
•That's not correct for self-employed individuals. For people who work for an employer (W-2 workers), only the earnings matter. But for self-employed people, the SSA looks at both earnings AND hours worked. Over 45 hours a month is considered substantial work regardless of earnings, which could affect benefits even if you're under the annual earnings limit. It's a common misunderstanding that leads to many overpayment issues.
0 coins
Freya Andersen
Thanks everyone for your helpful responses! Based on what I'm learning here, I'll plan to: 1. Keep my monthly hours under 40 to be safe 2. Start a detailed daily log of both hours and earnings 3. Look up that SSA Publication No. 05-10069 4. Talk to my CPA about reporting requirements I think I'll aim for about 30 hours/month and adjust my rates to make the most of that time. It seems like there's some wiggle room between 15-45 hours but I'd rather be conservative. Really appreciate all the insights!
0 coins
Eduardo Silva
•That sounds like a solid plan. One additional suggestion - when you file your taxes, include a detailed statement about your self-employment activities with your tax return. This can help establish your work patterns and hours upfront. Also, remember that the year you reach your FRA, the rules change - the earnings limit increases and only applies until the month you reach your FRA, not the whole year. Good planning now will save you headaches later!
0 coins