Working while collecting Social Security before FRA - how many hours is safe for self-employed?

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.

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.

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.

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!!!

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.

I tried calling SSA three times to get clarification on this and got disconnected every time after waiting 1+ hour. So frustrating.

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!

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?

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!

I'm in a similar situation as a freelance writer at 64. What I've learned from my experience and talking to SSA is that documentation is absolutely key. I use a simple spreadsheet to track daily hours and project earnings, and I photograph my work calendar at the end of each week as backup. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you do go over the earnings limit accidentally, you can sometimes avoid penalties by stopping work immediately when you realize it. SSA has a monthly earnings test where they won't withhold benefits for any month you earn under $1,860 (in 2025), even if your annual total goes over. This can be helpful if you have an unexpectedly busy month. Also, as a graphic designer, your work would likely be considered "skilled" so SSA might scrutinize hours more closely than someone doing simpler tasks. I'd definitely stick to that under-40-hours plan you mentioned. Better safe than dealing with overpayments later!

I'm 65 and just went through this exact situation last year as a freelance photographer. Here's what I learned the hard way: SSA does distinguish between "employee" work and "self-employment" work, and the rules are definitely stricter for us self-employed folks. What saved me was creating a simple tracking system: I use a basic calendar app where I log start/stop times daily, plus a separate spreadsheet for income tracking. Every Sunday I total up my weekly hours and make sure I'm on track to stay under 40 hours for the month. The "substantial services" rule is real - I had a friend who got caught working 50+ hours even though his income was low, and SSA still considered it substantial work. They don't just look at your tax return; they can request detailed work logs during an audit. One tip: if you have months where you anticipate needing more hours, try to balance it with lighter months. I do more work in fall/winter and take it easier in summer to average out. Just make sure you document everything meticulously. The peace of mind is worth the extra paperwork!