Senator Lindsey Graham's Mysterious Social Security Stance: Does He Collect and What's the Size of His Check?

In the contentious arena of Social Security and Medicare reform, Senator Lindsey Graham has been a vocal advocate for change, suggesting that seniors should "take a little less" and "pay a little more." He's even floated the idea of raising the eligibility age to address solvency issues. But as the debate rages on, one burning question remains: Does Senator Graham collect Social Security, and if so, how big is his check?

Financial disclosures filed by Senators provide only broad ranges of financial information, making it challenging to pin down exact figures. Given Graham's staunch opposition to the current state of Social Security, one might assume he has refrained from collecting benefits. And that assumption would be correct, based on his disclosures.

CBS News once claimed that Graham and his sister relied on their parents' Social Security benefits after their passing in the late 1970s. However, a closer look at Graham's financial disclosures from those years reveals numerous mutual fund and bank deposit assets, but no mention of Social Security claims or other reportable earned income.

So, why hasn't Senator Graham tapped into Social Security, especially when he reached the eligible age of 62? It's possible that, at 68, he's strategically waiting until age 70 to maximize his monthly benefit, potentially securing the maximum payout of $4,555 in 2023, given his net worth.

Graham's career has been diverse, from serving as a U.S. Air Force defense attorney and prosecutor to practicing law in South Carolina. He entered the House of Representatives in 1995, serving four terms before successfully running for the Senate in 2002. His financial profile has fluctuated over the years, with an estimated net worth of $1.02 million a decade ago, making him the 69th wealthiest person in the Senate at the time. Today, Celebrity Net Worth pegs his fortune at around $2 million, primarily stemming from his annual $174,000 Senate salary. As a lifelong bachelor, Graham doesn't have a spouse's income to bolster his earnings.

As the Social Security debate continues to rage on Capitol Hill, Senator Lindsey Graham's personal stance on the matter remains enigmatic. The mystery surrounding his decision not to collect benefits yet, and the potential windfall he may be holding out for, adds an intriguing layer to the ongoing conversation about the future of America's retirement safety net.