My wife, a public school teacher in Michigan (retired) was required to draw her SS at age 62 due to her school contract. When she was 66.7 yrs, I who was same age (one month difference in age) began to draw spousal benefits, even though I still worked. She continued to draw as I did. At 70 I retired and begin to draw SS. If she drew SS at half my rate it would be larger than her current draw from her account.
Can she draw 1/2 of my social security as a spouse, which would increase her draw.
Hi. No. First of all, unreduced spousal benefits are calculated based on 50% of the worker's primary insurance amount (PIA), not their age 70 rate. A person's PIA is equal to their Social Security retirement benefit rate if they start drawing their benefits at full retirement age (FRA). And, since you wife is already collecting her own benefit, the only way that she could collect spousal benefits during your lifetime is if your PIA is more than twice as much as her PIA.
The reduction for age applied to your wife's own benefit rate for starting her benefits early is permanent. If her PIA is less than half as much as your PIA, then she could apply for an additional excess spousal benefit equal to the difference between her PIA and 50% of your PIA. But, if her own PIA is more than half as much as your PIA, she wouldn't qualify for any spousal benefits.
For example, say Amy filed for her benefits at age 62. Amy's primary insurance amount (PIA), or full retirement age rate, would be $1,000, but Amy's rate is reduced for age to $750. Five years later, Amy's husband, Bill, files for his benefits when he turns age 70. Bill's PIA is $2,000, but with delayed retirement credits his monthly benefit rate is increased to $2,640. However, even though Bill's monthly rate is more than 3 times as much as Amy's rate (i.e. $2640 vs. $750), Amy isn't eligible for any spousal benefits because Bill's PIA isn't more than twice as much as Amy's PIA. If Amy applied for spousal benefits, her unreduced spousal rate would be calculated by subtracting her PIA from 50% of her husband's PIA, which in Amy's case is zero (i.e. $2000/2 - $1000).
Best, Jerry