That’s what they want you to think. The truth is the money you paid in went to fund the SS benefits of those already retired. You get essentially an IOU that next working generation will pay your benefits. It’s not your money there have been several federal court decisions that say you have no asset rights to the paid in. It’s a tax like any other with a promise to pay you something later. We now have 2.3-2.8 workers paying in for each worker receiving benefits. In 1940 it was 168 to 1.